PLACE WITH THE HOUNDS. 121 



instructions to let him go with a slack rein at 

 hedge and ditch; and as experimental knowledge 

 is always the best, after a roll or two he will 

 learn to take care of himself. The greatest luxury 

 in a hunter is his having a fine mouth ; but half 

 the hunters in these days are spoilt in the break- 

 ing, and their mouths, by the constant strain on 

 the bit, become as insensible and hard as shoe- 

 leather; and what would a snaffle-bridle horse 

 do with a double ditch and bank, if held tight 

 in hand by a sharp curb, but drop short on the 

 landing side ? Scores of times I have seen horses 

 thus ridden striving against the bit to get their 

 heads free, and pulled into the off ditch by a 

 timid or inexperienced rider holding on by the 

 rein. A hunter should have his head, even when 

 nearly beaten, at his fences, although your hand 

 must be ever ready to help when help is needed. 



Now for your place with the hounds, which 

 demands your first consideration, if riding to hunt. 

 Keeping wide of them, and not so forward as to 

 interfere with their turning, your eyes will be 

 fixed on the leading couples, and as they incline 

 to the right or the left, your horse's head must 

 follow the same direction; and take care you 

 don't sit staring them in the face when bending 

 towards yon, or be so much occupied with your 



