IRISH HUNTERS 



they are so accustomed to "double" all their 

 places, as to practise this accomplishment even at 

 those flying fences of the gi*azing districts which 

 ought to be taken in the stride, and that they 

 require fresh tuition before they can be trusted at 

 the staked-and-bound or the bullfinch, lest, catch- 

 ing their feet in the growers as in a net, they 

 should be tumbled headlong to the ground. I 

 can only say that I have been well and safely 

 carried by many of them on their first appearance 

 in Leicestershire, as in other English countries, 

 that they seemed intuitively to apprehend the 

 character of the fences they had to deal with, and 

 that, although being mortal, they could not always 

 keep on their legs, I cannot remember one of 

 them ofivincr me a fall because he was an Irish 

 horse ! 



How many their nationality has saved me, I 

 forbear to count, but I am persuaded that the 

 careful tuition undergone in youth, and their 

 varied experience when sufficiently advanced to 

 follow hounds over their native country, imparts 

 that facility of powerful and safe jumping, which 

 is one of the most important qualities among the 

 many that constitute a hunter. 



They possess also the merit of being universally 

 well-bred. This is an advantage no sportsman 

 will overlook who likes to be near hounds while 

 they run, but objects to leading, driving, or 



J53 



