BIUECTIONS FOR RIDING TO HOUNDS. 113 



and stirrups, by which they are kept upright in 

 the saddle ; but take away these pulleys and props, 

 and many a man who thinks himself an uncom- 

 monly fine horseman would be on his back at the 

 very first fence he should charge without them. 

 A firm, free, and easy seat in the saddle being 

 therefore considered as indispensable in a fox- 

 hunter, we may proceed to make a few remarks 

 " on riding to hounds." 



The first step to be taken in advance before you 

 can ride to hounds is to get a good start with them, 

 and to effect this most necessary arrangement it is 

 incumbent that your ideas should be collected, and 

 your whole attention engrossed by the preliminary 

 business — the w-orking of the hounds — as soon as 

 the fox is on foot. A good eye and ear are of the 

 greatest importance ; and at the first whimper of 

 a hound all discussion wdth your friends, whether 

 on politics, horseflesh, or any other interesting 

 topic, should immediately cease. When the 

 hounds begin to throw their tongues, the time has 

 arrived for yours to be silent. Should the pack be 

 Avorking their fox in a piece of gorse, you have 

 little else to do than sit patiently in your saddle, 

 awaiting the issue or exit of the animal, taking 

 care to get away from the point at which he may 

 attempt, or it may be attempted on the part of the 



