250 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



height and width are negotiated, which in cold blood seem 

 almost impossible to be compassed with success. It is 

 often a source of wonderment to me how those slight hind- 

 legs can launch such a weight — which, including the rider, 

 amounts to 12 cwt. or 13 cwt., and often more than that 

 — over high timber and wide, deep ditches ; and how 

 those slender fore-legs can receive the shock of the landing 

 without being splintered into small fragments. Think of 

 the courage and patience of the horse in carrying a heavy- 

 rider all day in all sorts of ground, and having to lift him 

 over many fences. How many men are there who can 

 carry a sack of oats one hundred yards ? It only weighs 

 twelve stones ! How many men could lift a sack and a 

 half and run with it. That is only sixteen stones. Do 

 have pity on your horse then in a long day's hunting. Do 

 not go and jump an uncalled-for fence, simply because it 

 gives you pleasure to do so, when you can walk quietly 

 through a gap or a gate without losing your place. Do 

 not gallop him unnecessarily when going from covert to 

 covert, instead of jogging quietly along with the rest of the 

 field. That extra exertion may just make the difference if 

 you have a run later on. The muscles can only do a 

 certain amount of work without tiring, and there is only a 

 certain amount of nervous energy to be expended. If you 

 use this up, when it is not wanted, there will be none at 

 your service when your moment of need arrives. It will 

 be brought home to you when your tired horse chances a 

 strong grower instead of clearing it, or drops short into a 

 wide ditch. 



On the occasion above referred to, we had done very 

 little till about 2 p.m., when, in going through Ingmanthorpe 

 Park, a fox was seen just before us, not far from 



