88 TAKING A FENCE 



I am no advocate for that pully-hauley system which 

 prescribes the necessity of a man's carrying his horse, 

 instead of the horse carrying him — which, although it 

 may be apphcable to a raw five-year-old, is not to be 

 practised with a made hunter ; and even with a raw 

 five-year-old, it is far better to put a rough rider on his 

 back, with 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 breaking, 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 you, or be so much occupied with your horse 

 as to cause inattention to their movements. The art 

 of riding to hounds is easily learnt by a man of good nerve, 

 quick eye, and common observation ; but the fact is 



