RIDING RECOLLECTIONS 



minutes over an enclosed country establishes the 

 partnership of man and beast on such relations 

 of confidence as much subsequent indiscretion 

 fails to efface. The same excitement that rouses 

 his courage seems to sharpen his faculties and 

 clear his brain. It is wonderful how soon he 

 begins to understand your meaning as conveyed 

 literally from "hand to mouth," how cautiously 

 he picks his steps amongst stubs or rabbit-holes, 

 when the loosened rein warns him he must look 

 out for himself, how boldly he quickens his stride 

 and collects his energies for the fence he is 

 approaching, when he feels grip and grasp tighten 

 on back and bridle, conscious that you mean to 

 "catch hold of his head and send him at it!" 

 while loving you all the better for this energy of 

 yours that stimulates his own. 



And now we come to a question admitting of 

 no little discussion, inasmuch as those practitioners 

 differ widely who are best capable of forming an 

 opinion. The advocates of the loose rein, who 

 though outnumbered at the covert-side, are not 

 always in a minority when the hounds run, 

 maintain that a hunter never acquits himself so 

 well as while let completely alone ; their adver- 

 saries, on the other hand, protest that the first 

 principle of equitation is, to keep fast hold of 

 your horse's head at all times and under all 

 circumstances. 



SO 



