THE HUNTER AND HIS EDUCATION 



it should be at low and stifF fences, and always 

 with a rider, as the balance is different when the 

 horse is burdened ; and, as the object is to exer- 

 cise the muscles, he will do so more perfectly if he 

 carries a man. That the pen — the enclosed 

 school — is useful enough to bother about may 

 well be questioned, and a few fences made with 

 wings that will not interfere with the lunge-rein 

 answer just as well, if that sort of schooling is at- 

 tempted. These obstacles should, of course, be 

 low — not over four feet — stiff, and may be ar- 

 ranged in a small area so that the pupil on the 

 long rein may negotiate them in turn. The 

 trouble with " pens " and " lunging " is that the 

 subject is very apt to find too many things to 

 distract his attention. If he is going to his fence, 

 and you are going with (and on) him, he can at- 

 tend strictly to the matter in hand. Another 

 objection to the enclosure is that it is too handy 

 of access and too easy for you to play with. The 

 temptation is strong to show Tom, Dick or 

 Harry " how the bay horse jumps," and, as usu- 

 ally happens, when he does not " put up " the 

 clean and clear performance which delighted one 

 yesterday, one is not unlikely to keep at him un- 

 til he does, or becomes so much worse that he is 



173 



