RIDING RECOLLECTIONS 



mental courage, from the resolution of his rider. 

 On the racecourse and in the hunting - field, 

 Custance, the well-known jockey, possesses this 

 quality in the highest degree. The same deter- 

 mined strength in the saddle, that had done him 

 such good service amongst the bullfinches and 

 " oxers "of his native Rutland, applied at the 

 happy moment, secured on a great occasion his 

 celebrated victory with King Lud. 



There are two kinds of hunters that require 

 coercion in following hounds, and he is indeed 

 a master of his art who feels equally at home on 

 each. The one must be steered, the other 

 smuggled over a country. As he is never 

 comfortable but in front, we will take the rash 

 horse first. 



Let us suppose you have not ridden him 

 before, that you like his appearance, his action, 

 all his qualities except his boundless ambition, 

 that you are in a practicable country, as seems 

 only fair, and about to draw a covert affording 

 every prospect of a run. Before you put your 

 foot in the stirrup be sure to examine his bit — 

 not one groom in a hundred knows how to bridle 

 a horse properly — and remember that on the 

 fitting of this important article depends your 

 success, your enjoyment, perhaps your safety, 

 during the day. Horses, like servants, will 

 never let their master be happy if they are un 



i8 



