278 The Co2trse, the Camp, the Chase 



pursuit, the best way is to " Follow the money." Where 

 money is to be won, the sharpest wits and the keenest 

 intelligences are invariably set to work to find out what 

 will give the best aid in winning it. A jockey going to 

 ride over the Liverpool steeplechase fences does not 

 generally put a powerful curb bit into his horse's mouth, 

 though there are plenty of high, strong fences to be ridden 

 over on a very tired horse ; so high and so strong are they 

 that few men in an ordinary hunting field would think of 

 riding even at a single one. No, he chooses a plain, thick, 

 smooth snaffle, with a nice long martingale and noseband. 

 The hunting rider is fond of laying down the law that you 

 must have a curb bit to collect a horse at his fences, and 

 that martingales are dangerous. Again, I say, " Follow the 

 money " if you wish to have what is really the most 

 suitable for crossing a country. A curb bit, unless 

 accompanied by more perfect hands and a firmer seat than 

 most riders possess, is very apt to make a horse jump 

 short, and many a fall is the inevitable result that might 

 have been avoided if an easier bit had been used. 



Then, again, just turn to all the fads about different 

 gauges of guns in shooting. This man recommends a 20- 

 bore, that a 2 8 -bore, and again a third a 10 -bore. What 

 wins the pigeon matches at Monte Carlo or the Gun 

 Club? Invariably a 12 -bore. So again I repeat, 

 " Follow the money," and it will be found a very safe 

 guide when in doubt. 



Poor Mr. Kobinson was undoubtedly one of the very 

 finest riders that ever rode to hounds, and he was gener- 

 ally regarded as the successor of the Eev. J, Bower, who 

 again had succeeded Lord Jersey in the role of " the finest 

 rider of the day." He had undaunted nerve, most 



