,transcriber's ,note ,obvious typographical errors have been corrected4 ,a list of corrections is found at the end of the text4 ,inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been maintained4 ,a list of inconsistently spelled and hyphenated words is found at the end of the text4 ,oe ligatures have been expanded4 ,illustration3 ,zebra strapped up4 ,,horse-,,taming--,,horsemanship--,,hunt ing4 ,a ,new ,illustrated ,edition of ,j4 ,s4 ,,rarey',s ,,art ,,of ,,taming ,,horses2 ,,with ,,the ,,substance ,,of ,,the ,,lectures ,,at ,,the ,,round ,,house1 ,,and ,,additional ,,chapters ,,on ,,horsemanship ,,and ,,hunting1 ,,for ,,the ,,young ,,and ,,timid4 ,,by ,,the ,,secretary ,,to ,,the ,,first ,,subscription ,,of ,,five ,,thousand ,,guineas1 ,,author ,,of ,,gallops ,,and ,,gossips1 ,,and ,,hunting ,,correspondent ,,of ,,the ,,illustrated ,,london ,,news4 ,,london3 ,,routledge1 ,,warnes1 ,,and ,,routledge1 ,,farringdon ,,street4 #ahei4 ,the right of ,translation is reserved4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,page ,mr4 ,rarey's pamphlet first published in ,ohio4--,experience of old system4--,compiled and invented new4--,tying up the fore-leg known many years ago1 see ,stamford ,almanack4--,forgotten and not valued4--,reference to ,captain ,nolan's and ,colonel ,greenwood's works on horsemanship4--,dick ,christian missed the discovery4--,baucher's plan of laying down a horse explained4--,mademoiselle ,isabel's whip-and-spur plan4--,account of the ,irish whisperer ,dan ,sullivan4--,usual modes of taming vicious horses4--,starving4--,physic4--,sleeples s nights4--,bleeding4--,biting the ear4--,story of ,kentish coachman4--,the ,ellis system4--,value of the ,rarey system as compared with that of ordinary horse-tamers4--,systems of ,australia and ,arabia compared4--,the ,south ,american plan explained4--,a ,french plan4--,grison the ,neapolitan's advice4--,the discovery of ,mr4 ,rarey by ,mr4 ,goodenough4--,visit to ,canada4--,to ,england4--,lord ,alfred ,paget4--,sir ,richard ,airey4--,system made known to them4--,to ,mr4 ,jos4 ,anderson4--,messrs4 ,tattersall4--,sir ,matthew ,ridley's black horse tamed4--,subscription list of #ejj opened4--,stafford tamed4--,description of4--,teaching commenced with ,lords ,palmerston1 ,granville1 c4--,cruiser tamed4--,history of4--,enthusiastic crowd at ,cruiser exhibition4--,system approved by the ,earl of ,jersey and ,sir ,tatton ,sykes4--,close of first subscription list4--,anecdote of ,mr4 ,gurney's colt--,personal sketch of ,mr4 ,rarey #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,mr4 ,rarey's ,introduction4--,remarks on #bf ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,the three fundamental principles of the ,rarey ,theory4--,heads of the ,rarey ,lectures4--,editor's paraphrase4--,that any horse may be taught docility4--,that a horse should be so handled and tied as to feel inferior to man4--,that a horse should be allowed to see1 smell1 and feel all fearful objects4--,key note of the ,rarey system #cb ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,how to drive a colt from pasture4--,how to drive into a stable4--,the kind of halter4--,experiment with a robe or cloak4--,horse-taming drugs4--,the ,editor's remarks4--,importance of patience4--,best kind of head-stall4--,danger of approaching some colts4--,hints from a ,colonel of the ,life ,guards #ci ,,chapter ,v4 ,powell's system of approaching a colt4--,rarey's remarks on4--,lively high-spirited horses tamed easily4--,stubborn sulky ones more difficult4--,motto1 ,fear1 love and obey4--,use of a whalebone gig-whip4--,how to frighten and then approach4--,use kind words4--,how to halter and lead a colt4--,by the side of a horse4--,to lead into a stable4--,to tie up to a manger4--,editor's remarks4--,longeing4--,use and abuse of4--,on bitting4--,sort of bit for a colt4--,dick ,christian's bit4--,the wooden gag bit #ea ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,taming a colt or horse4--,rarey's directions for strapping up and laying down detailed4--,explanations by ,editor4--,to approach a vicious horse with half door4--,cartwheel4--,no4 #a strap applied4--,no4 #b strap applied4--,woodcuts of4--,how to hop about4--,knot up bridle4--,struggle described4--,lord ,b4's improved ,no4 #b strap4--,not much danger4--,how to steer a horse4--,laid down1 how to gentle4--,to mount1 tied up4--,place and preparations for training described #fg ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,drum4--,the ,umbrella4--,riding-habit4--,how to bit a colt4--,how to saddle4--,to mount4--,to ride4--,to break4--,to harness4--,to make a horse follow and stand without holding4--,baucher's plan4--,nolan's plan #ij ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,value of good horsemanship to both sexes4--,on teaching children4--,anecdote4--,havelock's opinion4--,rarey's plan to train ponies4--,the use of books4--,necessity of regular teaching for girls2 boys can be self-taught4--,commence without a bridle4--,ride with one pair of reins and two hands4--,advantage of hunting-horn on side-saddle4--,on the best plan for mounting4--,rarey's plan4--,on a man's seat4--,nolan's opinion4--,military style4--,hunting style4--,two examples in ,lord ,cardigan4--,the ,prussian style4--,anecdote by ,mr4 ,gould1 ,blucher1 and the ,prince ,regent4--,hints for men learning to ride4--,how to use the reins4--,pull right for right1 and left for left4--,how to collect your horse #aaa ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,on bits4--,the snaffle4--,the use of the curb4--,the ,pelham4--,the ,hanoverian bit described4--,martingales4--,the gentleman's saddle to be large enough4--,spurs4--,not to be too sharp4--,the ,somerset saddle for the timid and aged4--,the ,nolan saddle without flaps4--,ladies' saddle described4--,advantages of the hunting-horn crutch4--,ladies' stirrup4--,ladies' dress4--,hints on4--,habit4--,boots4--,whips4--,hunting -whips4--,use of the lash4--,gentleman's riding costume4--,hunting dress4--,poole1 the great authority4--,advantage of cap over hat in hunting4--,boot-tops and ,napoleons4--,quotation from ,warburton's ballads #ace ,,chapter ,x4 ,advantage of hunting4--,libels on4--,great men who have hunted4--,popular notion unlike reality4--,dick ,christian and the ,marquis of ,hastings4--,fallacy of lifting a horse refuted4--,hints on riding at fences4--,harriers discussed4--,stag-hunting a necessity and use where time an object4--,hints for novices4--,tally-ho6 expounded4--,to feed a horse after a hard ride4--,expenses of horse-keep4--,song by ,squire ,warburton1 ,a word ere we start #aed ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the ,fitzwilliam4--,brocklesby4--,a day on the ,wolds4--,brighton harriers4--,prince ,albert's harriers #agf ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,hunting ,terms #aii ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,the origin of ,fox-hunting #baj ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,the wild ponies of ,exmoor #bah ,,postscript #bcb ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations4 ,,to ,,face #a4 ,,zebra ,,strapped ,,up ,drawn by ,louis ,huard1 ,esq4 ,title-page #b4 ,,horse ,,with ,,strap ,,no4 #a ,ditto #fg #c4 ,,horse ,,with ,,straps ,,nos4 #a ,,and #b ,ditto #gf #d4 ,,the ,,horse ,,struggling ,ditto #gi #e4 ,,the ,,horse ,,exhausted ,ditto #hj #f4 ,,the ,,horse ,,tamed ,ditto #hb #g4 ,,second ,,lesson ,,in ,,harness ,ditto #ajj #h4 ,,rails ,,and ,,double ,,ditch ,ditto #aec ,,vignettes4 ,,page ,,wild ,,horse',s ,,head #be ,,halter ,,or ,,bridle #ci ,,wooden ,,gag ,,bit #ff ,,strap ,,no4 #a #gd ,,strap ,,no4 #b #gf ,,lord ,b4',s ,,improved ,,no4 #b #gg ,,surcingle ,,strap ,,for ,,no4 #b #gh ,,side ,,saddle1 ,,and ,,lady',s ,,seat ,,on #aaa ,,side ,,saddle1 ,,offside ,,view ,,of #ace ,,curb1 ,,or ,,hard ,,and ,,sharp #acf ,,plain ,,snaffle #acg ,,pelham #ach ,,hanoverian #aci ,,sitz1 ,,or ,,huntsman',s ,,bath #bcb ,,hot-,,air ,,or ,,indian ,,bath #bce ,,the ,,art ,,of ,,taming ,,horses4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,mr4 ,rarey's pamphlet first published in ,ohio4--,experience of old system4--,compiled and invented new4--,tying up the fore-leg known many years ago1 see ,stamford ,almanack4--,forgotten and not valued4--,reference to ,captain ,nolan's and ,colonel ,greenwood's works on horsemanship4--,dick ,christian missed the discovery4--,baucher's plan of laying down a horse explained4--,mademoiselle ,isabel's whip-and-spur plan4--,account of the ,irish whisperer ,dan ,sullivan4--,usual modes of taming vicious horses4--,starving4--,physic4--,sleeples s nights4--,bleeding4--,biting the ear4--,story of ,kentish coachman4--,the ,ellis system4--,value of the ,rarey system as compared with that of ordinary horse-tamers4--,systems of ,australia and ,arabia compared4--,the ,south ,american plan explained4--,a ,french plan4--,grison the ,neapolitan's advice4--,the discovery of ,mr4 ,rarey by ,mr4 ,goodenough4--,visit to ,canada4--,to ,england4--,lord ,alfred ,paget4--,sir ,richard ,airey4--,system made known to them4--,to ,mr4 ,jos4 ,anderson4--,messrs4 ,tattersall4--,sir ,matthew ,ridley's black horse tamed4--,subscription list of #ejj opened4--,stafford tamed4--,description of4--,teaching commenced with ,lords ,palmerston1 ,granville1 c4--,cruiser tamed4--,history of4--,enthusiastic crowd at ,cruiser exhibition4--,system approved by the ,earl of ,jersey and ,sir ,tatton ,sykes4--,close of first subscription list4--,anecdote of ,mr4 ,gurney's colt4--,personal sketch of ,mr4 ,rarey4 ,mr4 ,rarey is a farmer from ,ohio1 in the ,united ,states4 ,five years ago he wrote the little book which forms the text of the following complete account of his system1 with pictorial illustrations1 which are essential for explaining the means he now employs for subduing the most refractory animals4 ,without these explanations1 it would be extremely difficult for any one who had not enjoyed the advantage of hearing ,mr4 ,rarey's explanations1 to practise his system successfully1 or even safely4 ,the original work contains a mere outline of the art1 since perfected by five years' further study and practice4 ,the author did not revise his first sketch1 for very obvious reasons4 ,he was living in obscurity1 teaching his system for a few dollars in ,ohio and ,texas4 ,he never taught in the great cities or seabord states of the ,united ,states4 ,when he had imparted his art to a pupil1 he bound him to secrecy1 and presented him with a copy of his pamphlet4 ,he did not dream1 then1 of becoming the great ,lion of the ,london ,season1 and realising from ,english subscribers nearly #bj1jjjl4 ,it will be observed1 that in the original ,american edition1 the operation of tying up the foot is described in one chapter1 and1 at an interval of some pages1 that of laying a horse down1 in another2 and that neither the difficulties nor the necessary precautions1 nor the extraordinary results1 are described with the clearness their importance requires4 ,mr4 ,rarey has now very properly released his subscribers from the contract which bound them to secrecy2 and it is now in every point of view important that this valuable system of rendering horses docile and affectionate1 fit for hacks or chargers1 ladies' pads or harness1 or the safe conveyance of the aged1 crippled1 and sick1 should be placed within the reach of the thousands whose business it is to deal with horses1 as well as of that large class of gentlemen who are obliged to observe economy while keeping up their equestrian tastes4 ,after all1 it is to the horse-breeding farmers and grooms to whom ,mr4 ,rarey's art will be of the most practical use4 ,as it is1 enough of the system has oozed out to suggest to the ignorant new means of cruelty4 ,a horse's leg is strapped up1 and then the unlearned proceed to bully the crippled animal1 instead of--to borrow an expressive ,americanism--to gentle him4 ,before entering into the details for practising the ,rarey system1 it may be interesting to give a sketch of the facts that have placed ,mr4 ,rarey in his present well-deserved position1 as an invincible ,horse-,tamer1 as well as a ,reformer of the whole modern system of training horses--a position unanimously assigned to him by all the first horsemen of the day4 ,mr4 ,rarey has been a horse-breaker in the ,united ,states from his earliest youth1 and had frequently to break in horses five or six years old1 that had run wild until that mature undocile age4 ,at first he employed the old ,english rough-rider method1 and in the course of his adventures broke almost every bone in his body1 for his pluck was greater than his science4 ,but he was not satisfied with following old routine2 he inquired from the wandering horsemen and circus trainers into their methods 7it may be that he was at one time attached to a circus himself71 and read every book he could lay his hands on4 ,by inquiry and by study--as he says in one of his advertisements--he thought out the plan and the principles of his present system4 ,the methods he uses for placing a colt or horse completely in his power are not absolutely new1 although it is possible that he has re-invented and has certainly much improved them4 ,the ,russian 7i4 e4 ,courland7 ,circus ,riders have long known how1 single-handed1 to make a horse lie down by fastening up one fore-leg1 and then with a rope suddenly pulling the other leg from under him4 ,the trick was practised in ,england more than forty years ago1 and forgotten4 ,that no importance was attached to this method of throwing a horse is proved by the fact1 that in the works on horsemanship1 published during the last twenty years1 no reference is made to it4 ,when ,mr4 ,starkey1 of ,wiltshire1 a breeder and runner of race-horses1#d-99 saw ,mr4 ,rarey operate for the first time1 he said1 ,why ,i knew how to throw a horse in that way years ago1 but ,i did not know the use of it1 and was always in too great a hurry6 ,lord ,berners made nearly the same remark to me4 ,nimrod1 ,cecil1 ,harry ,hieover1 ,scrutator--do not appear to have ever heard of it4 ,the best modern authority on such subjects 7,british ,rural ,sports71 describes a number of difficulties in breaking colts which altogether disappear under the ,rarey system--especially the difficulty of shoeing4 ,captain ,nolan1 who was killed at ,balaklava1 served in an ,hungarian regiment1 in the ,austrian service1 afterwards in our own service in ,india1 and visited ,russia1 ,france1 ,denmark1 and ,south ,germany1 to collect materials for his work on the ,history of ,cavalry and on the ,training of ,horses1 although he set out with the golden rule laid down by the great ,greek horseman1 ,xenophon1 more than a thousand years ago--,,horses ,,are ,,taught1 ,,not ,,by ,,harshness1 ,,but ,,by ,,gentleness1 only refers incidentally to a plan for throwing a horse down1 in an extract from ,baucher's great work1 which will presently be quoted1 but attaches no importance to it1 and was evidently totally ignorant of the foundation of the ,rarey system4 ,the accomplished ,colonel ,greenwood1 who was equally learned in the mange of the ,haute ,ecole1 and skilled in the style of the ,english hunting-fields1 gives no hint of a method which reduces the time for taming colts from months to hours1 and makes the docility of five horses out of six merely a matter of a few weeks' patience4 ,the sporting newspapers of ,england and ,america were so completely off the true scent when guessing at the ,rarey method1 that they put faith in recipes of oils and scents for taming horses4 ,dick ,christian--a genius in his way--when on horseback unmatched for patience and pluck1 but with no taste for reading and no talent for generalizing1 used to conquer savages for temporary use by tying up one fore-foot1 and made good water-jumpers of horses afraid of water by making them smell it and wade through it2 so that he came very near the ,rarey methods1 but missed the chain of reasoning that would have led him to go further with these expedients4#e-99 ,mons4 ,baucher1 of ,paris 7misprinted ,faucher in the ,american edition71 the great modern authority in horse-training and elaborate school equitation1 under whom our principal ,english cavalry generals have studied--amongst others1 two enthusiastic disciples of ,mr4 ,rarey1 ,lord ,vivian and ,general ,laurenson1 commanding the cavalry at ,aldershott--admitted ,mr4 ,rarey's system was not only most valuable1 but quite new to him4 ,after ,mr4 ,rarey had taught five or six hundred subscribers1 some of whom of course had wives1 ,mr4 ,cooke1 of ,astley's1 began to exhibit a way of making a horse lie down1 which bore as much resemblance to ,mr4 ,rarey's system1 as ,buckstone's or ,keeley's travestie of ,othello would to a serious performance by a first-rate tragedian4 ,mr4 ,cooke pulling at a strap over the horse's back1 was1 until he grew1 by practice1 skilful1 more than once thrown down by the extension of the off fore-leg4 ,indeed1 the proof that the circus people knew neither the ,rarey plan1 nor the results to be obtained from it1 is to be found in the fact1 that they continually failed in subduing unruly horses sent to them for that purpose4 ,a friend of mine1 an eminent engineer1 sent to ,astley's1 about two years ago1 a horse which had cost him two hundred pounds1 and was useless from a habit of standing still and rearing at the corner of streets2 he was returned worse rather than better1 and sold for forty pounds4 ,six lessons from ,mr4 ,rarey would have produced1 at least1 temporary docility4 ,monsieur ,baucher1 in his ,mthode d',equitation1 says1 speaking of the surprise created by the feats he performed with trained horses1--,according to some1 ,i was a new ',carter1'#f-99 taming my horses by depriving them of rest and nourishment3 others would have it1 that ,i tied ropes to their legs1 and suspended them in the air2 some again supposed that ,i fascinated them by the power of the eye2 and part of the audience1 seeing my horses 7,partisan1 ,capitaine1 ,neptune1 and ,baridan7 work in time to my friend ,monsieur ,paul ,cuzent's charming music1 seriously argued that the horses had a capital ear for music1 and that they stopped when the clarionets and trombones ceased to play1 and that the music had more power over the horse than ,i had4 ,that the beast obeyed an 'ut' or a 'sol' or 'staccato1' but my hands and legs went for nothing4 ,could any one imagine that such nonsense could emanate from people who passed for horsemen8 ,now from this1 although in some respects the same class of nonsense that was talked about ,mr4 ,rarey1 it does not seem that any ,parisian veterinary surgeon staked his reputation on the efficacy of oils and scents4 ,m4 ,baucher then proceeds to give what he calls sixteen ,airs de ,mange1 which reflect the highest credit on his skill as a rational horseman1 using his hands and legs4 ,but he proceeds to say--,it is with regret ,i publish the means of making a horse kneel1 limp1 lie down1 and sit on his haunches in the position called the ',cheval ,gastronomie1' or ',the ,horse at ,dinner4' ,this work is degrading to the poor horse1 and painful to the trainer1 who no longer sees in the poor trembling beast the proud courser1 full of spirit and energy1 he took such pleasure in training4 ,to make a horse kneel1 tie his pastern-joint to his elbow1 make fast a longer line to the other pastern-joint1 have this held tight1 and strike the leg with the whip2 the instant he raises it from the ground1 pull at the longeing line to bend the leg4 ,he cannot help it--he must fall on his knees4 ,make much of the horse in this position1 and let him get up free of all hindrance4 ,as soon as he does this without difficulty1 leave off the use of the longeing line1 and next leave both legs at liberty3 by striking him on the shins with the whip1 he will understand that he is to kneel down4 ,when on his knees1 send his head well to the off-side1 and1 supporting him with the left rein1 pull the right rein down against his neck till he falls to the near side2 when down at full length1 you cannot make too much of him2 have his head held that he may not get up too suddenly1 or before you wish him4 ,you can do this by placing your right foot on the right reins2 this keeps the horse's nose raised from the ground1 and thus deprives him of the power of struggling successfully against you4 ,profit by his present position to make him sit up on his haunches1 and in the position of the ',cheval ,gastronomie4' ,the difference between this and ,rarey's plan of laying down a horse is as great as between ,franklin's kite and ,wheatstone's electrical telegraph2 and foremost to acknowledge the ,american's merits was ,m4 ,baucher4 ,so little idea had cavalry authorities that a horse could be trained without severity1 that1 during the ,crimean war1 a ,mademoiselle ,isabel came over to this country with strong recommendations from the ,french war minister1 and was employed at considerable cost at ,maidstone for some months in spoiling a number of horses by her system1 the principal features of which consisted in a new dumb jockey1 and a severe spur attached to a whip6 ,it is true that ,mademoiselle ,isabel's experiment was made contrary to the wishes and plans of the head of the ,cavalry ,training ,department1 the late ,general ,griffiths2 but it is not less true that within the last two years influential cavalry officers were looking for an improvement in training horses from an adroit use of the whip and spur4 ,from the time of ,alexander the ,great down to the ,northumberland ,horse-,breaker1 there have been instances of courageous men who have been able to do extraordinary things with horses4 ,but they may be divided into two classes1 neither of which have been able to originate or impart a system for the use of ordinary horsemen4 ,the one class relied and relies on personal influence over lower animals4 ,they terrify1 subdue1 or conciliate by eye1 voice1 and touch1 just as some wicked women1 not endowed with any extraordinary external charms1 bewitch and betray the wisest men4 ,the other class rely on the infliction of acute pain1 or1 stupefaction by drugs1 or other similar expedients for acquiring a temporary ascendancy4 ,in a work printed in #affd1 quoted by ,nolan1 we have a melancholy account of the fate of an ingenious horse-tamer4 ,a ,neapolitan1 called ,pietro1 had a little horse1 named ,mauroo1 doubtless a ,barb or ,arab1 which he had taught to perform many tricks4 ,he would1 at a sign from his master1 lie down1 kneel1 and make as many courvettes 7springs on his hind-legs forward1 like rearing71 as his master told him4 ,he jumped over a stick1 and through hoops1 carried a glove to the person ,pietro pointed out1 and performed a thousand pretty antics4 ,he travelled through the greater part of the ,continent1 but unfortunately passing through ,arles1 the people in that 'age of faith1' took him for a sorcerer1 and burned him and poor ,mauroo in the market-place4 ,it was probably from this incident that ,victor ,hugo took the catastrophe of ,la ,esmeralda and her goat4 ,dan ,sullivan1 who flourished about fifty years ago1 was the greatest horse-tamer of whom there is any record in modern times4 ,his triumph commenced by his purchasing for an old song a dragoon's horse at ,mallow1 who was so savage that he was obliged to be fed through a hole in the wall4 ,after one of ,sullivan's lessons the trooper drew a car quietly through ,mallow1 and remained a very proverb of gentleness for years after4 ,in fact1 with mule or horse1 one half-hour's lesson from ,sullivan was enough2 but they relapsed in other hands4 ,sullivan's own account of the secret was1 that he originally acquired it from a wearied soldier who had not money to pay for a pint of porter he had drunk4 ,the landlord was retaining part of his kit as a pledge1 when ,sullivan1 who sat in the bar1 vowed he would never see a hungry man want1 and gave the soldier so good a luncheon1 that1 in his gratitude1 he drew him aside at parting1 and revealed what he believed to be an ,indian charm4 ,sullivan never took any pupils1 and1 as far as ,i can learn1 never attempted to train colts by his method1 although that is a more profitable and useful branch of business than training vicious horses4 ,it is stated in an article in ,household ,words on ,horse-,tamers1 that he was so jealous of his gift that even the priest of ,ballyclough could not wring it from him at the confessional4 ,his son used to boast how his reverence met his sire as they both rode towards ,mallow1 and charged him with being a confederate of the wicked one1 and how the whisperer laid the priest's horse under a spell1 and forthwith led him a weary chase among the cross roads1 till he promised in despair to let ,sullivan alone for ever4 ,sullivan left three sons3 one only practised his art1 with imperfect success till his death2 neither of the others pretended to any knowledge of it4 ,one of them is to this day a horse-breaker at ,mallow4 ,the reputation of ,mr4 ,rarey brought to light a number of provincial horse-tamers1 and1 amongst others1 a grandson of ,sullivan has opened a list under the auspices of the ,marquis of ,waterford1 for teaching his grandfather's art of horse-taming4 ,it is impossible not to ask1 why1 if the art is of any value1 it has not been taught long ago8 ,in ,ireland as in ,england1 the accepted modes of taming a determined colt1 or vicious horse1 are either by a resolute rider with whip and spur1 and violent longeings1 or by starving1 physic1 and sleepless nights4 ,it was by these means combined that the well-known horseman1 ,bartley the bootmaker1 twenty years ago1 tamed a splendid thorough-bred horse1 that had defied all the efforts of all the rough-riders of the ,household ,cavalry regiments4 ,bleeding a vicious horse has been recommended in ,german books on equitation4 ,in the family ,robinson ,crusoe1 paterfamilias conquers the quagga by biting its ear1 and every farrier knows how to apply a twitch to a horse's ear or nose to secure his quietness under an operation4 ,a ,mr4 ,king1 some years since1 exhibited a learned horse1 which he said he subdued by pinching a nerve of its mouth1 called the nerve of susceptibility4 ,the writer in the ,household ,words article1 to which ,i have already referred1 tells how a coachman in ,kent1 who had been quite mastered by horses1 called in the assistance of a professed whisperer4 ,after his ghostly course the horses had the worst of it for two months1 when their ill-humour returned1 and the coachman himself immediately darkened his stable1 and held what he termed a little conversation with them1 which kept them placid till two more months had passed4 ,he did not seem altogether to approve of the system1 and plainly confessed that it was cruel4 ,putting shot in the ear is an old stupid and fatal trick of ignorant carters to cure a gibbing horse--it cures and kills him too4 ,the latest instantaneous system which acquired a certain degree of temporary popularity was that introduced from the western prairies1 by ,mr4 ,ellis1 of ,trinity ,college1 ,cambridge1 which consisted in breathing into the nostrils of a colt1 or buffalo colt1 while its eyes were covered4 ,but although on some animals this seemed to produce a soothing effect1 on others it totally failed4 ,there can be very little doubt that most of the mysterious horse-whisperers relied for their power of subduing a vicious horse partly on the special personal influence already referred to1 and partly on some one of those cruel modes of intimidating the animal4 ,it has been observed that idiots can sometimes manage the most savage horses and bulls1 and conciliate the most savage dogs at first sight4 ,the value of ,mr4 ,rarey's system consists in the fact that it may be taught to1 and successfully practised by1 a ploughboy of thirteen or fourteen for use on all except extremely vicious and powerful horses4 ,it requires patience--it requires the habit of dealing with horses as well as coolness2 but the real work is rather a matter of skill than strength4 ,not only have boys of five or six stone become successful horse-tamers1 but ladies of high rank have in the course of ten minutes perfectly subdued and reduced to death-like calmness fiery blood-horses4 ,therefore1 in dealing with ,mr4 ,rarey's plan we are not wasting our time about a trick for conquering these rare exceptions--incurably-savage horses--but considering the principles of a universally applicable system for taming and training horses for man's use1 with a perfection of docility rarely found except in aged pet horses1 and with a rapidity heretofore quite unknown4 ,the system of ,arabia and ,australia are the two extremes4 ,in ,australia1 where the people are always in a hurry1 the usual mode of breaking in the bush horses is to ride them quiet2 that is1 to let the man fight it out with the horse until the latter gives in2 for the time1 at any rate4 ,the result is1 that nine-tenths of the ,australian horses are vicious1 and especially given to the trick of buck-jumping4 ,this vile vice consists in a succession of leaps from all-fours1 the beast descending with the back arched1 the limbs rigid1 and the head as low down between the legs as possible4 ,not one horseman in a hundred can sit three jumps of a confirmed buck-jumper4 ,charles ,barter1 who was one of the hardest riders in the ,heythrope ,hunt1 in his ,six ,months in ,natal1 says1 when my horse began buck-jumping ,i dismounted1 and ,i recommend every one under the same circumstances to do the same4 ,the ,guachos on the ,south ,american ,pampas lasso a wild horse1 throw him down1 cover his head with one of their ponchos1 or cloaks1 and1 having girthed on him one of their heavy demi-piqued saddles1 from which it is almost impossible to be dislodged1 thrust a curb-bit1 capable of breaking the jaw with one tug1 into the poor wretch's mouth1 mount him with a pair of spurs with rowels six inches long1 and ride him over the treeless plains until he sinks exhausted in a fainting state4 ,but horses thus broken are almost invariably either vicious or stupid2 in fact1 idiotic4 ,there is another milder method sometimes adopted by these ,pampas horsemen1 on which1 no doubt1 ,mr4 ,rarey partly founded his system4 ,after lassoing a horse1 they blind his eyes with a poncho1 tie him fast to a post1 and girth a heavy saddle on him4 ,the animal sometimes dies at once of fright and anger3 if not1 he trembles1 sweats1 and would1 after a time1 fall down from terror and weakness4 ,the ,guacho then goes up to him1 caresses him1 removes the poncho from his eyes1 continues to caress him2 so that1 according to the notion of the country1 the horse becomes grateful and attached to the man for delivering him from something frightful2 and from that moment the process of training becomes easy1 and1 with the help of the long spurs1 is completed in a few days4 ,this plan must spoil as many horses as it makes quiet1 and fail utterly with the more nervous and high-spirited2 for the very qualities that render a horse most useful and beautiful1 when properly trained1 lead him1 when unbroken1 to resist more obstinately rough violent usage4 ,in a ,french newspaper article on ,mr4 ,rarey's system1 it is related that a ,french horse-breaker1 in #ahdf1 made a good speculation by purchasing vicious horses1 which are more common in ,france than in ,england1 and selling them1 after a few days' discipline1 perfectly quiet4 ,his remedy lay in a loaded whip1 freely applied between the ears when any symptom of vice was displayed4 ,this expedient was only a revival of the method of ,grison1 the ,neapolitan1 called1 in the fifteenth century1 the regenerator of horsemanship1 predecessor of the ,french school1 who says--,in breaking young horses1 put them into a circular pit2 be very severe with those that are sensitive1 and of high courage2 beat them between the ears with a stick4 ,his followers tied their horses to the pillars in riding-schools1 and beat them to make them raise their fore-legs4 ,we do not approve of ,grison's maxims at the present day in print1 but we leave our horses too much to ignorant colt-breakers1 who practise them4 ,the ,arabs alone1 who have no need to hurry the education of their horses1 and who live with them as we do with our pet dogs1 train their colts by degrees1 with patient gentleness1 and only resort to severe measures to teach them to gallop and stop short4 ,for this reason ,arabs are most docile until they fall into the hands of cruel grooms4 ,it was from considering the docility of the high-bred ,arab horse and intractableness of the quibly1 roughly broken prairie or ,pampas horse1 that ,mr4 ,rarey was led to think over and perfect the system which he has repeatedly explained and illustrated by living examples in his lectures1 and very imperfectly explained in his valuable1 original1 but crude little book4 ,it is very fortunate that this book did not find its way to ,england before ,mr4 ,rarey himself came and conquered ,cruiser1 and in face-to-face interviews gained the confidence and co-operation of all our horse-loving aristocracy4 ,for had the book appeared unsupported by lectures 7or such explanations written and pictorial as this edition will supply71 there would have been so many accidents and so many failures1 that ,mr4 ,rarey would have had great difficulty in obtaining a hearing1 and for many years our splendid colts would have been left to the empirical treatment of ignorant rough-riders4 ,an accident withdrew the great reformer of horse-training from obscurity4 ,in the course of his travels as a teacher of horse-taming he met with ,mr4 ,goodenough1 a sharp1 hard-fisted ,new ,englander1 of the true ,yankee breed1 so well-described by ,sam ,slick1 settled in the city of ,toronto1 ,canada1 as a general dealer4 ,in fact1 a sort of ,barnum4 ,mr4 ,goodenough saw that there was money to be made out of the ,rarey system--formed a partnership with the ,ohio farmer--conducted him to ,canada--obtained an opportunity of exhibiting his talents before ,major ,robertson1 ,aide-de-camp to ,general ,sir ,william ,eyre1 ,k4,c4,b41 ,commander of the forces1 and1 through the ,major1 before ,sir ,william himself1 who is 7as ,i can say from having seen him with hounds7 an accomplished horseman and enthusiastic fox-hunter4 ,from these high authorities the partners obtained letters of introduction to the ,horse ,guards in ,england1 and to several gentlemen attached to the ,court2 in one of the letters of introduction1 ,general ,eyre said1 that the system was new to him1 and valuable for military purposes4 ,on arriving in ,england1 ,mr4 ,rarey made known his system1 and was fortunate enough to convert and obtain the active assistance of ,sir ,richard ,airey1 ,quarter-,master ,general1 ,lord ,alfred ,paget1#af-99 and ,colonel ,hood1 the two first being noted for their skill as horsemen1 and the two latter being attached to the ,court4 ,from these gentlemen of high degree1 ,mr4 ,rarey proceeded1 under good advice1 to make known his art to ,mr4 ,joseph ,anderson of ,piccadilly1 and his prime minister1 the well-known ,george ,rice--tamed for them a black horse that had been returned by ,sir ,matthew ,white ,ridley1 as unridable from vice and nervousness4 ,the next step was an introduction to ,messrs4 ,tattersall of ,hyde ,park1 whose reputation for honour and integrity in most difficult transactions is world wide and nearly a century old4 ,introduced at ,hyde ,park ,corner with the strongest recommendations and certificates from such authorities as ,lord ,alfred ,paget1 ,sir ,richard ,airey1 ,colonel ,hood1 c41 c41 ,messrs4 ,tattersall investigated ,mr4 ,rarey's system1 and became convinced that its general adoption would confer an invaluable benefit on what may be called the great horse interest1 and do away with a great deal of cruelty and unnecessary severity now practised on the best-bred and most high-spirited animals through ignorance of colt-breakers and grooms4 ,they1 therefore1 decided1 with that liberality which has always distinguished the firm1 to lend ,mr4 ,rarey all the assistance in their power1 without taking any commission1 or remuneration of any kind4 ,as the methods used by ,mr4 ,rarey are so exceedingly simple1 the question next arose of how ,mr4 ,rarey was to be remunerated when teaching in a city where hundreds live by collecting and retailing news4 ,his previous lessons had been given to the thinly-populated districts of ,ohio and ,texas1 where each pupil was a dealer in horses1 and kept his secret for his own sake4 ,had he been the inventor of an improved corkscrew or stirrup-iron1 a patent would have secured him that limited monopoly which very imperfectly rewards many invaluable mechanical inventions4 ,had his countrymen chosen to agree to a reciprocity treaty for copyright of books1 he might have secured some certain remuneration by a printed publication of his ,lectures4 ,but they prefer the liberty of borrowing our copyrights without consulting the author1 and we occasionally return the compliment4 ,in this instance the author cannot say that the ,british nation has not paid him handsomely4 ,after a consultation with ,mr4 ,rarey's noble patrons1 it was decided that a list should be opened at ,hyde ,park ,corner for subscribers at #aj #ajs4 each1 paid in advance1 the teaching to commence as soon as five hundred subscriptions had been paid1 each subscriber signing an engagement1 under a penalty of #ejj1 not to teach or divulge ,mr4 ,rarey's method1 and ,messrs4 ,tattersall undertaking to hold the subscriptions in trust until ,mr4 ,rarey had performed his part of the agreement4#ag-99 ,to this fund1 at the request of my friends ,messrs4 ,tattersall1 ,i agreed to act as ,secretary4 ,my duties ceased when the list was filled1 and the management of the business passed from those gentlemen to ,mr4 ,rarey's partner1 ,mr4 ,goodenough1 on the #crd of ,may1 #aheh4 ,this list was opened the first day at ,mr4 ,jos4 ,anderson's1 after ,mr4 ,rarey had exhibited1 not his method1 but the results of his method on the celebrated black1 or rather iron-gray1 horse already mentioned4 ,leaving the list to fill1 ,mr4 ,rarey went to ,paris1 and there tamed the vicious and probably half-mad coaching stallion1 ,stafford4#ah-99 ,it is not generally known that having omitted the precautions of gagging this wild beast with the wooden bit1 which forms one of the vignettes of this book1 he turned round suddenly1 while the tamer was soothing his legs1 caught his shoulder in his mouth1 and would have made an end of the ,rarey system if assistance had not been at hand in the shape of ,mr4 ,goodenough and a pitchfork4 ,intense enthusiasm was created in ,paris by the conquest of ,stafford1 but #bej francs was too large a sum to found a long subscription list in a city so little given to private horsemanship1 and a ,french experiment did not produce much effect in ,england4 ,in fact1 the ,english list1 which started so bravely under distinguished patronage1 after touching some #bej names1 languished1 and in spite of testimonials from great names1 only reached #cbj1 when ,mr4 ,rarey1 at the pressing recommendation of his ,english friends1 returned from ,paris1 and fixed the day for commencing his lessons in the private riding-school of the ,duke of ,wellington1 the use of which had been in the kindest manner offered by his ,grace as a testimony of his high opinion of the value of the new system4 ,the course was commenced on the #bjth ,march1 by inviting to a private lesson a select party of noblemen and gentlemen1 twenty-one in all1 including1 amongst other accomplished horsemen and horse-breeders1 ,lord ,palmerston1 the two ex-masters of the ,royal ,buckhounds1 ,earls ,granville and ,bessborough1 the ,marquis of ,stafford1 ,vice-,president of the ,four-,horse ,driving ,club1 and the ,honourable ,admiral ,rous1 the leading authority of the ,jockey ,club on all racing matters4 ,the favourable report of these1 perhaps1 among the most competent judges of anything appertaining to horses in the world1 settled the value of ,mr4 ,rarey's lessons1 and the list began to fill speedily2 many of the subscribers1 no doubt1 being more influenced by the prevailing fashion and curiosity1 than by an inclination to turn horse-tamers4 ,but early in ,april1 when it became known that ,mr4 ,rarey had tamed ,cruiser1#bj-99 the most vicious stallion in ,england1 who could do more fighting in less time than any horse in the world1 and that he had brought him to ,london on the very day after1 that he first backed him and had ridden him within three hours after the first interview1 slow conviction swelled to enthusiasm4 ,the list filled up rapidly4 ,the school in ,kinnerton ,street1 to which ,mr4 ,rarey was obliged to remove1 was crowded1 the excitement increasing with each lesson4 ,on the day that ,cruiser was exhibited for the first time1 long before the doors were open1 the little back street was filled with a fashionable mob1 including ladies of the highest rank4 ,an admission by noble non-subscribers with notes1 gold1 and cheques in hands1 was begged for with a polite insinuating humility that was quite edifying4 ,a hatful of ten-guinea subscriptions was thrust upon the unwilling secretary at the door with as much eagerness as if he had been the allotter of shares in a ten per cent railway in the day of ,hudsonian guarantees4 ,and it must be observed that this crowd included among the mere fashion-mongers almost every distinguished horseman and hunting-man in the three kingdoms4 ,it is quite too late now to attempt to depreciate a system the value of which has been repeatedly and openly acknowledged by authorities above question4 ,as to the secret1 the subscribers must have known that it was impossible that a system that required so much space1 and involved so much noise1 could long remain a secret4 ,the ,earl of ,jersey1 so celebrated in this century as a breeder of race-horses1 in the last century as a rider to hounds1 stood through a long lesson1 and was as much delighted as his son the ,honourable ,frederick ,villiers1 ,master of the ,pytchley ,hounds4 ,sir ,tatton ,sykes of ,sledmere1 perhaps the finest amateur horseman that ever rode a race1 whose equestrian performances on the course and in the hunting-field date back more than sixty years1 was as enthusiastic in his approval as the young ,guardsman who1 fortified by ,mr4 ,rarey's lessons1 mastered a mare that had defied the efforts of all the farriers of the ,household ,cavalry4 ,in a word1 the five-hundred list was filled1 and overflowed1 the subscribers were satisfied1 and the responsibility of ,messrs4 ,tattersall as stakeholders for the public ceased1 and the ,secretary and ,treasurer to the fund1 having wound up the accounts and retired1 the connection between ,mr4 ,rarey and the ,messrs4 ,tattersall resolved itself into the use of an office at ,hyde ,park ,corner4 ,the ,london subscription list had passed eleven hundred names1 and1 in conjunction with the subscription received in ,yorkshire1 ,liverpool1 ,manchester1 ,dublin1 and ,paris1 besides private lessons at #be each1 had realised upwards of #bj1jjj for ,mr4 ,rarey and his partner1 when the five-hundred secrecy agreement was extinguished by the re-publication of the little ,american pamphlet already mentioned4 ,it was high time that it should1 for1 while ,mr4 ,rarey had been handsomely paid for his instruction1 the more scrupulous of his subscribers were unable to practise his lessons for want of a place where they could work in secrecy4 ,but although the re-publication of ,mr4 ,rarey's ,american pamphlet virtually absolved his subscribers from the agreement which he gave up formally a few days later in his letter to the ,times1 it is quite absurd to assert that the little pamphlet teaches the ,art of ,horse-,taming as now practised by ,mr4 ,rarey4 ,certainly no one but a horseman skilled in the equitation of schools could do much with a horse without great danger of injuring the animal and himself1 if he had no other instruction than that contained in ,mr4 ,rarey's clever1 original1 but vague chapters4 ,in the following work ,i shall endeavour to fill up the blanks in ,mr4 ,rarey's sketch1 and with the help of pictures and diagrams1 show how a cool determined man or boy may break in any colt1 and make him a docile hack1 harness horse1 or hunter2 stand still1 follow1 and obey the voice almost as much as the reins4 ,to say that written or oral instructions will teach every man how to grapple with savages like ,stafford1 ,cruiser1 ,phlegon1 or ,mr4 ,gurney's gray colt1 would be sheer humbug--that must depend on the man2 but we have an instance of what can be done that is encouraging4 ,when ,mr4 ,rarey was so ill that he was unable to sit ,mr4 ,gurney's gray colt1 the boasting ,mr4 ,goodenough tried his hand1 and was beaten pale and trembling out of the circus by that equine tiger2 but ,mr4 ,thomas ,rice1 the jobmaster of ,motcombe ,street1 who had had the charge of ,cruiser in ,mr4 ,rarey's absence up to that time1 although he had never before tried his hand at ,rareyfying a horse1 stuck to the gray colt1 laid down1 made him fast1 and completely conquered him in one evening1 so that he was fit to be exhibited the next day1 when ,mr4 ,goodenough1 more suo1 claimed the benefit of the victory4 ,several ladies have succeeded famously in horse-taming2 but they have been ladies accustomed to horses and to exercise1 and always with gentlemen by1 in case a customer proved too tough4 ,before concluding this desultory but necessary introductory sketch of the rise1 progress1 and success of the ,rarey system1 it will be as well1 perhaps1 for the benefit of lady readers1 to give a personal sketch of ,mr4 ,rarey1 who is by no means the athletic giant that many imagine4 ,mr4 ,rarey is about thirty years of age1 of middle height1 and well-proportioned figure1 wiry and active rather than muscular--his complexion is almost effeminately fair1 with more colour than is usually found in those of his countrymen who live in the cities of the sea-coast4 ,and his fair hair1 large gray eyes1 which only light up and flash fire when he has an awkward customer to tackle1 give him altogether the appearance of a ,saxon ,englishman4 ,his walk is remarkably light and springy1 yet regular1 as he turns round his horse2 something between the set-up of a soldier and the light step of a sportsman4 ,altogether his appearance and manners are eminently gentlemanly4 ,although a self-educated and not a book-educated man1 his conversation1 when he cares to talk1 for he is rather reserved1 always displays a good deal of thoughtful originality1 relieved by flashes of playful humour4 ,this may be seen in his writing4 ,it may easily be imagined that he is extremely popular with all those with whom he has been brought in contact1 and has acquired the personal friendship of some of the most accomplished noblemen and gentlemen of the day4 ,mr4 ,rarey's system of horse-training will infallibly supersede all others for both civil and military purposes1 and his name will take rank among the great social reformers of the nineteenth century4 ,may we have many more such importations from ,america6 ,illustration ,,footnotes3 #d-99 ,owner of ,fisherman4 #e-99 ,see ,the ,post and the ,paddock1 by ,the ,druid4 #f-99 ,carter1 one of the ,van ,amburgh showmen4 #af-99 ,son of the late ,marquis of ,anglesea1 one of the finest horsemen of his day1 even with one leg1 after he left the other at ,waterloo4 #ag-99 ,the list itself is one of the most extraordinary documents ever printed1 in regard to the rank and equestrian accomplishments of the subscribers4 #ah-99 ,stafford is a half-bred carriage stallion1 six years old4 ,for three years he has formed one of the breeding-stud at ,cluny1 where he has acquired the character of being a most dangerous animal4 ,he was about to be withdrawn from the stud and destroyed1 in consequence of the protests of the breeders--for a whole year he had obstinately refused to be dressed1 and was obliged to be closely confined in his box4 ,he rushed at every one who appeared with both fore-feet1 and open mouthed4 ,every means of subduing and restraining him was adopted2 he was muzzled1 blindfolded1 and hobbled4 ,in order to give ,mr4 ,rarey's method a trial1 ,stafford was sent to ,paris1 and there a great number of persons1 including the principal members of the ,jockey ,club1 had an opportunity of judging of his vicious disposition4 ,after being alone with ,stafford for an hour and a half1 ,mr4 ,rarey rode on him into the ,riding ,school1 guiding him with a common snaffle-bridle4 ,the appearance of the horse was completely altered3 he was calm and docile4 ,his docility did not seem to be produced by fear or constraint1 but the result of perfect confidence4 ,the astonishment of the spectators was increased when ,mr4 ,rarey unbridled him1 and guided the late savage animal1 with a mere motion of his hands or indication with his leg1 as easily as a trained circus-horse4 ,then1 dashing into a gallop1 he stopped him short with a single word4 ,mr4 ,rarey concluded his first exhibition by beating a drum on ,stafford's back1 and passing his hand over his head and mouth4 ,stafford was afterwards ridden by a groom1 and showed the same docility in his hands as in those of ,mr4 ,rarey4 ,mr4 ,rarey succeeded on the first attempt in putting him in harness with a mare1 although he had never had his head through a collar before2 and he went as quietly as the best-broken carriage-horse in ,paris4 ,mr ,rarey concluded by firing a six-chambered revolver from his back4--,paris ,illustrated ,journal4 #bj-99 ,cruiser was the property of ,lord ,dorchester1 and was a good favourite for the ,derby in ,wild ,dayrell's year1 but broke down before the race4 ,like all ,venison horses1 his temper was not of the mildest kind1 and ,john ,day was delighted to get rid of him4 ,when started for ,rawcliffe1 he told the man who led him on no account to put him into a stable1 as he would never get him out4 ,this injunction was of course disregarded1 for when the man wanted some refreshment1 he put him into a country public-house stable1 and left him1 and to get him out1 the roof of the building had to be pulled off4 ,at ,rawcliffe1 he was always exhibited by a groom with a ticket-of-leave bludgeon in his hand1 and few were bold enough to venture into his yard4 ,this animal1 whose temper has depreciated him perhaps a thousand pounds in value1 ,i think would be 'the right horse in the right place' for ,mr4 ,rarey4 ,phlegon and ,vatican would also be good patients4 ,i am sorry to hear that the latter has been blinded3 if leathern blinds had been put on his eyes1 the same effect would have been produced4--,morning ,post1 ,march #b1 #aheh4 ,mr4 ,rarey1 when here1 first subjugated a two-year old filly1 perfectly unbroken4 ,this he accomplished under half an hour1 riding on her1 opening an umbrella1 beating a drum upon her1 c4 ,he then took ,cruiser in hand1 and in three hours ,mr4 ,rarey and myself mounted him4 ,he had not been ridden for nearly three years1 and was so vicious that it was impossible even to dress him1 and it was necessary to keep him muzzled constantly4 ,the following morning ,mr4 ,rarey led him behind an open carriage1 on his road to ,london4 ,this horse was returned to me by the ,rawcliffe and ,stud ,company on account of his vice1 it being considered as much as a man's life was worth to attend to him4 ,greywell1 ,april #g4 ,,dorchester4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,mr4 ,rarey's ,pamphlet4--,introduction4 ,mr4 ,rarey's ,american ,pamphlet would make about fifty pages of this type1 if given in full2 but1 in revising my ,illustrated ,edition1 ,i have decided on omitting six pages of ,introduction1 which1 copied from ,mr4 ,rollo ,springfield1 an ,american author1 do not contain any reliable facts or useful inferences4 ,the speculations of the ,american author1 as to the early history of the horse1 are written without sufficient information4 ,so far from the polished ,greeks having1 as he states1 ridden without bridles1 we have the best authority in the frieze of the ,parthenon for knowing that1 although they rode barebacked on their compact cobby ponies1 they used reins and handled them skilfully and elegantly4 ,to go still further back1 the bas-reliefs in the ,british ,museum1 discovered by ,mr4 ,layard in the ,assyrian ,palace of ,nimroud1 contain spirited representation of horses with bridles1 ridden in hunting and in pursuit of enemies1 as well as driven in war-chariots4 ,these horses are ,arabs1 while those of the ,elgin ,marbles more resemble the cream-coloured ,hanoverians which draw the state carriage of our sovereigns4 ,in one of the ,nimroud bas-reliefs1 we have cavalry soldiers standing with the bridles of their horses in their hands1 waiting1 as ,mr4 ,bonomi tells us1 for the orders to mount2 but1 as they stand on the left side1 with the bridles in their left hands1 it is difficult to understand how they could obey such an order with reasonable celerity4 ,the ,arabian stories1 as to the performances of ,arab horses and their owners1 must be received with considerable hesitation1 for the horse is one of the subjects on which ,orientals love to found their poetical fireside stories4 ,this is certain1 that the ,arab horse being highly bred1 is very intelligent1 being reared from its birth in the family of its master1 extremely docile1 and1 being always in the open air and fed on a moderate quantity of dry food1 very hardy4 ,if we lived with our horses1 as we do with our dogs1 they would be equally affectionate and tractable4 ,in ,norway1 in consequence of the severity of the climate1 the ponies are all housed during the winter1 and thus become so familiar with their owner that there is scarcely any difficulty in putting them into harness1 even the first time4 ,english thoroughbred horses1 when once acclimatized and bred in the open air on the dry pastures of ,australia and ,south ,africa1 are found1 if not put to work too early1 as enduring as the ,arab4 ,experiments in the ,indian artillery have proved that the ,australian horse and the ,cape#bg-99 horse1 which has also been improved by judicious crosses with ,english blood1 are superior for strength and endurance to the ,eastern horses bred in the stud establishments of the ,east ,india ,company4 ,the exaggerated idea that long prevailed of the value of the ,arab horse1 as compared with the ,english thorough-bred1 which is an ,eastern horse improved by long years of care and ample food1 has been to a great extent dissipated by the large importation of ,arabs that took place after the ,crimean war--in fact1 they are on the average pretty ponies of great endurance1 but of very little use in this country1 where size is indispensable for profit4 ,in the ,east they are of great value for cavalry2 they are hardy and full of fire and spirit4 ,but1 says ,captain ,nolan1 no horse can compare with the ,english--no horse is more easily broken in to anything and everything--there is no quality in which the ,english horse does not excel--no performance in which he cannot beat all competition2 and ,nolan was as familiar with the ,eastern1 ,hungarian1 and ,german crosses with the ,arab as with the ,english thorough-bred4 ,we spoil our horses1 first by pampering them in hot stables under warm clothing2 next1 by working them too young2 and1 lastly1 by entrusting their training to rude1 ignorant men1 who rely for leading colt the way he should go on mere force1 harsh words1 a sharp whip1 and the worrying use of the longeing rein4 ,rarey has shown how easily1 quietly1 and safely horses may be tamed2 but we must also train men before we can obtain full benefit from our admirable breeds of horses4 ,proof that our horses have become feeble from pampering may be found in ,devonshire4 ,there the common hacks of the county breed on the moors1 and1 crossed with native ponies1 are usually undersized and coarse and heavy about the shoulders1 like most wild horses1 and all the inferior breeds of ,arabs1 but they are hardy and enduring to a degree that a ,yorkshire breeder would scarcely believe4 ,mean-looking ,galloways will draw a heavy dog-cart over the ,devonshire hills fifty miles a-day for many days in succession4 ,a little common sense has been introduced into the management of our cavalry1 since the real experience of the ,crimean war4 ,general ,sir ,charles ,napier was not noticed when1 nearly ten years ago1 he wrote1 ,the cavalry charger1 on a ,hounslow ,heath parade1 well fed1 well groomed1 goes through a field-day without injury1 although carrying more than twenty stone weight2 he and his rider presenting together1 a kind of alderman centaur4 ,but if in the field1 half starved1 they have1 at the end of a forced march1 to charge an enemy6 ,the biped full of fire and courage1 transformed by war-work to a wiry muscular dragoon1 is able and willing1 but the overloaded quadruped cannot gallop--he staggers4 ,our poor horses thus loaded1 are expected to bound to hand and spur1 while the riders wield their swords worthily4 ,they cannot2 and both man and horse appear inferior to their ,indian opponents4 ,the ,eastern warrior's eye is quick1 but not quicker than the ,european's2 his heart is big1 yet not bigger than the ,european's2 his arm is strong1 but not so strong as the ,european's2 the swing of his razor-like scimitar is terrible1 but an ,english trooper's downright blow splits the skull4 ,why then does the latter fail8 ,the light-weighted horse of the dark swordsman carries him round his foe with elastic bounds1 and the strong ,european1 unable to deal the cleaving blow1 falls under the activity of an inferior adversary6 ,since the war1 light men with broad chests have been enlisted for ,indian service4 ,the next step1 originally suggested by ,nolan1 that every cavalry soldier should train his own horse1 will be made easy by the introduction of the ,rarey system4 ,country horse-breakers are too ignorant1 too prejudiced1 and too much interested in keeping up a mystery that gives them three months employment1 instead of three weeks1 to adopt it4 ,the reform will probably commence in the army and in racing stables4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the following pages1 ,i have given the text of the ,american edition of ,mr4 ,rarey's pamphlet1 and added the information ,i have derived from hearing his lectures1 seeing his operations on ,cruiser1 and other difficult horses1 and from the experience of my friends and self in taming horses4 ,thus1 in ,chap4 ,,vi4 to ,mr4 ,rarey's five pages ,i have added sixteen1 and nine woodcut illustrations4 ,in ,chap4 ,,vii4 the directions for the drum1 umbrella1 and riding habit are in print for the first time1 as well as the directions for mounting with slack girths4 ,chaps4 ,,viii4 to ,,xiv4 have been added1 in order to make this little work a complete manual for those who wish to benefit in riding as well as training horses from the experience of others4 ,in my opinion1 the ,rarey system is invaluable for training colts1 breaking horses into harness1 and curing kickers and jibbers4 ,i do not profess to be a horse-tamer1 my pursuits are too sedentary during the greater part of the year1 but ,i have succeeded with even colts4 ,i tried my hand on two of them wild from the ,devonshire moors1 in ,august last1 and succeeded perfectly in an hour4 ,i made them as affectionate as pet ponies1 ready to follow me everywhere1 as well as to submit to be mounted and ridden4 ,as to curing vicious horses1 all that can be safely said is1 that it puts it into the power of a courageous1 calm-tempered horseman to conquer any horse4 ,cruiser was quiet in the hands of ,mr4 ,rarey and ,mr4 ,rice1 but when insulted in the circus of ,leicester ,square by a violent jerk1 he rushed at his tormentor with such ferocity that he cleared the ring of all the spangled troupe1 yet1 in the midst of his rage1 he halted and ran up on being called by ,rarey4 ,from this we learn that such a horse won't be bullied and must not be feared4 ,but such vicious horses are rare exceptions4 ,it is curious1 that ,mr4 ,rarey should have made his reputation by the least useful exercise of his art4 ,,footnotes3 #bg-99 ,the ,cape horse has recently come into notice1 in consequence of the publication of ,papers relating to the ,purchase of ,horses at the ,cape for the ,army of ,india4 ,it seems that not less than #ccjj have been purchased for that purpose2 that ,cape horses purchased by ,colonel ,havelock arrived from ,india in the ,crimea in better condition than any other horses in the regiment2 and that in the ,caffre ,war ,cape horses condemned by the martinets of a ,remount ,committee1 carried the #gth ,dragoons1 averaging1 in marching order1 over nineteen stone1 and no privation or fatigue could make ,general ,cathcart's horses succumb4 ,these horses are bred between the ,arabs introduced by the ,dutch and the ,english thoroughbred4 ,i confess ,i see with1 surprise that ,colonel ,apperley1 the remount agent1 recommends crosses with ,norfolk trotting and ,cleveland stallions4 ,no such cross has ever answered in this country4 ,had he recommended thoroughbred weight-carrying stallions in preference to ,arabs1 ,i could have understood his condemnation of the latter4 ,i should have hesitated to set my opinion against ,colonel ,apperley1 had ,i not found that he differs entirely from the late ,general ,sir ,walter ,gilbert1 the greatest horseman1 take him for all in all1 as a cavalry officer1 as a flat and steeple-chase rider1 and rider to hounds of his day4--,see ,napier's ,indian ,misgovernment1 p4 #bhf et seq4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,the three fundamental principles of the ,rarey ,theory4--,heads of the ,rarey ,lectures4--,editor's paraphrase4--,that any horse may be taught docility4--,that a horse should be so handled and tied as to feel inferior to man4--,that a horse should be allowed to see1 smell1 and feel all fearful objects4--,key note of the ,rarey system4 ,,first4--,that he is so constituted by nature that he will not offer resistance to any demand made of him which he fully comprehends1 if made in a way consistent with the laws of his nature4 ,,second4--,that he has no consciousness of his strength beyond his experience1 and can be handled according to our will without force4 ,,third4--,that we can1 in compliance with the laws of his nature1 by which he examines all things new to him1 take any object1 however frightful1 around1 over1 or on him1 that does not inflict pain--without causing him to fear4 ,to take these assertions in order1 ,i will first give you some of the reasons why ,i think he is naturally obedient1 and will not offer resistance to anything fully comprehended4 ,the horse1 though possessed of some faculties superior to man's1 being deficient in reasoning powers1 has no knowledge of right or wrong1 of free will and independent government1 and knows not of any imposition practised upon him1 however unreasonable these impositions may be4 ,consequently1 he cannot come to any decision as to what he should or should not do1 because he has not the reasoning faculties of man to argue the justice of the thing demanded of him4 ,if he had1 taking into consideration his superior strength1 he would be useless to man as a servant4 ,give him mind in proportion to his strength1 and he will demand of us the green fields for his inheritance1 where he will roam at leisure1 denying the right of servitude at all4 ,god has wisely formed his nature so that it can be operated upon by the knowledge of man according to the dictates of his will2 and he might well be termed an unconscious1 submissive servant4 ,this truth we can see verified in every day's experience by the abuses practised upon him4 ,any one who chooses to be so cruel can mount the noble steed and run him till he drops with fatigue1 or1 as is often the case with the more spirited1 falls dead beneath his rider4 ,if he had the power to reason1 would he not rear and pitch his rider1 rather than suffer him to run him to death8 ,or would he condescend to carry at all the vain impostor1 who1 with but equal intellect1 was trying to impose on his equal rights and equally independent spirit8 ,but1 happily for us1 he has no consciousness of imposition1 no thought of disobedience except by impulse caused by the violation of the law of his nature4 ,consequently1 when disobedient1 it is the fault of man4 ,then1 we can but come to the conclusion that1 if a horse is not taken in a way at variance with the laws of his nature1 he will do anything that he fully comprehends1 without making any offer of resistance4 ,second--,the fact of the horse being unconscious of the amount of his strength can be proven to the satisfaction of any one4 ,for instance1 such remarks as these are common1 and perhaps familiar to your recollection4 ,one person says to another1 ,if that wild horse there was conscious of the amount of his strength1 his owner would have no business with him in that vehicle3 such light reins and harness1 too--if he knew1 he could snap them asunder in a minute1 and be as free as the air we breathe2 and1 ,that horse yonder1 that is pawing and fretting to follow the company that is fast leaving him--if he knew his strength1 he would not remain long fastened to that hitching post so much against his will1 by a strap that would no more resist his powerful weight and strength than a cotton thread would bind a strong man4 ,yet these facts1 made common by every-day occurrence1 are not thought of as anything wonderful4 ,like the ignorant man who looks at the different phases of the moon1 you look at these things as he looks at her different changes1 without troubling your mind with the question1 ,why are these things so8 ,what would be the condition of the world if all our minds lay dormant8 ,if men did not think1 reason1 and act1 our undisturbed1 slumbering intellects would not excel the imbecility of the brute2 we should live in chaos1 hardly aware of our existence4 ,and yet1 with all our activity of mind1 we daily pass by unobserved that which would be wonderful if philosophized and reasoned upon2 and with the same inconsistency wonder at that which a little consideration1 reason1 and philosophy1 would make but a simple affair4 ,third--,he will allow any object1 however frightful in appearance1 to come around1 over1 or on him1 that does not inflict pain4 ,we know1 from a natural course of reasoning1 that there has never been an effect without a cause2 and we infer from this that there can be no action1 either in animate or inanimate matter1 without there first being some cause to produce it4 ,and from this self-evident fact we know that there is some cause for every impulse or movement of either mind or matter1 and that this law governs every action or movement of the animal kingdom4 ,then1 according to this theory1 there must be some cause before fear can exist2 and if fear exists from the effect of imagination1 and not from the infliction of real pain1 it can be removed by complying with those laws of nature by which the horse examines an object1 and determines upon its innocence or harm4 ,a log or stump by the road-side may be1 in the imagination of the horse1 some great beast about to pounce upon him2 but after you take him up to it1 and let him stand by it a little while1 and touch it with his nose1 and go through his process of examination1 he will not care anything more about it4 ,and the same principle and process will have the same effect with any other object1 however frightful in appearance1 in which there is no harm4 ,take a boy that has been frightened by a false face1 or any other object that he could not comprehend at once2 but let him take that face or object in his hands and examine it1 and he will not care anything more about it4 ,this is a demonstration of the same principle4 ,with this introduction to the principles of my theory1 ,i shall next attempt to teach you how to put it into practice2 and whatever instructions may follow1 you can rely on as having been proven practically by my own experiments4 ,and knowing1 from experience1 just what obstacles ,i have met with in handling bad horses1 ,i shall try to anticipate them for you1 and assist you in surmounting them1 by commencing with the first steps to be taken with the colt1 and accompanying you through the whole task of breaking4 ,these three principles have been enlarged upon and explained in a fuller and more familiar manner by ,mr4 ,rarey in his ,lectures1 of which the following are the heads4 ,principles on which horses should be treated and educated--not by fear or force--,by an intelligent application of skill with firmness and patience--,how to approach a colt--,how to halter--,how teach to lead in twenty minutes--,how to subdue and cause to lie down in fifteen minutes--,how to tame and cure fear and nervousness--,how to saddle and bridle--,how to accustom to be mounted and ridden--,how to accustom to a drum--to an umbrella--to a lady's habit1 or any other object1 in a few minutes--,how to harness a horse for the first time--,how to drive a horse unbroken to harness1 and make go steady1 single or double1 in a couple of hours--,how to make any horse stand still until called--,how to make a horse follow his owner4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in plain language1 ,mr4 ,rarey means1 that-- #ast4 ,that any horse may be taught to do anything that a horse can do if taught in a proper manner4 #bnd4 ,that a horse is not conscious of his own strength until he has resisted and conquered a man1 and that by taking advantage of man's reasoning powers a horse can be handled in such a manner that he shall not find out his strength4 #crd4 ,that by enabling a horse to examine every object with which we desire to make him familiar1 with the organs naturally used for that purpose1 viz4 seeing1 smelling1 and feeling1 you may take any object around1 over1 and on him that does not actually hurt him4 ,thus1 for example1 the objects which affright horses are the feel of saddles1 riding-habits1 harness1 and wheeled carriages2 the sight of umbrellas and flags2 loaded waggons1 troops1 or a crowd2 the sound of wheels1 of drums1 of musketry4 ,there are thousands of horses that by degrees learn to bear all these things2 others1 under our old imperfect system1 never improve1 and continue nervous or vicious to the end of their lives4 ,every year good sound horses are drafted from the cavalry1 or from hunters' barbs and carriage-horses1 into omnibuses and ,hansom cabs1 because they cannot be made to bear the sound of drums and firearms1 or will not submit to be shod1 and be safe and steady in crowded cities1 or at covert side4 ,nothing is more common than to hear that such a horse would be invaluable if he would go in harness1 or carry a lady1 or that a racehorse of great swiftness is almost valueless because his temper is so bad1 or his nervousness in a crowd so great that he cannot be depended on to start or to run his best4 ,all these varieties of nervous and vicious animals are deteriorated in value1 because they have not been educated to confide in and implicitly obey man4 ,the whole object of the ,rarey system is1 to give the horse full confidence in his rider1 to make him obedient to his voice and gestures1 and to impress the animal with the belief that he could not successfully resist him4 ,lord ,pembroke1 in his treatise on ,horsemanship1 says1 ,his hand is the best whose indications are so clear that his horse cannot mistake them1 and whose gentleness and fearlessness alike induce obedience to them4 ,the noblest animal1 says ,colonel ,greenwood1 will obey such a rider2 and it is ever the noblest1 most intelligent horses1 that rebel the most4 ,in riding a colt or a restive horse we should never forget that he has the right to resist1 and that as far as he can judge we have not the right to insist4 ,the great thing in horsemanship is to get the horse to be your party1 not to obey only1 but to obey willingly4 ,for this reason the lessons cannot be begun too early1 or be too progressive4 ,the key-note to the ,rarey system is to be found in the opening sentence of his early lectures in ,england3 ,man has reason in addition to his senses4 ,a horse judges everything by ,,seeing1 ,,smelling1 and ,,feeling4 ,it must be the business of every one who undertakes to train colts that they shall see1 smell1 and feel everything that they are to wear or to bear4 ,illustration3 ,,halter ,,or ,,bridle ,,for ,,colts4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,how to drive a colt from pasture4--,how to drive into a stable4--,the kind of halter4--,experiment with a robe or cloak4--,horse-taming drugs4--,the ,editor's remarks4--,importance of patience4--,best kind of head-stall4--,danger of approaching some colts4--,hints from a ,colonel of the ,life ,guards4 ,,how ,,to ,,drive ,a ,,colt ,,from ,,pasture4 ,go to the pasture and walk around the whole herd quietly1 and at such a distance as not to cause them to scare and run4 ,then approach them very slowly1 and if they stick up their heads and seem to be frightened1 stand still until they become quiet1 so as not to make them run before you are close enough to drive them in the direction you want them to go4 ,and when you begin to drive1 do not flourish your arms or halloo1 but gently follow them off1 leaving the direction open that you wish them to take4 ,thus taking advantage of their ignorance1 you will be able to get them into the pound as easily as the hunter drives the quails into his net4 ,for1 if they have always run in the pasture uncared for 7as many horses do in prairie countries and on large plantations71 there is no reason why they should not be as wild as the sportsman's birds1 and require the same gentle treatment1 if you want to get them without trouble2 for the horse1 in his natural state1 is as wild as a stag1 or any of the undomesticated animals1 though more easily tamed4 ,,how ,,to ,,stable ,a ,,colt ,,without ,,trouble4 ,the next step will be1 to get the horse into a stable or shed4 ,this should be done as quietly as possible1 so as not to excite any suspicion in the horse of any danger befalling him4 ,the best way to do this1 is to lead a broken horse into the stable first and hitch 7tie7 him1 then quietly walk around the colt and let him go in of his own accord4 ,it is almost impossible to get men who have never practised on this principle to go slowly and considerately enough about it4 ,they do not know that in handling a wild horse1 above all other things1 is that good old adage true1 that haste makes waste2 that is1 waste of time--for the gain of trouble and perplexity4 ,one wrong move may frighten your horse1 and make him think it necessary to escape at all hazards for the safety of his life--and thus make two hours' work of a ten minutes' job2 and this would be all your own fault1 and entirely unnecessary--for he will not run unless you run after him1 and that would not be good policy unless you knew that you could outrun him1 for you will have to let him stop of his own accord after all4 ,but he will not try to break away unless you attempt to force him into measures4 ,if he does not see the way at once1 and is a little fretful about going in1 do not undertake to drive him1 but give him a little less room outside1 by gently closing in around him4 ,do not raise your arms1 but let them hang at your side1 for you might as well raise a club3 the horse has never studied anatomy1 and does not know but that they will unhinge themselves and fly at him4 ,if he attempts to turn back1 walk before him1 but do not run2 and if he gets past you1 encircle him again in the same quiet manner1 and he will soon find that you are not going to hurt him2 and then you can walk so close around him that he will go into the stable for more room1 and to get farther from you4 ,as soon as he is in1 remove the quiet horse and shut the door4 ,this will be his first notion of confinement--not knowing how he got into such a place1 nor how to get out of it4 ,that he may take it as quietly at possible1 see that the shed is entirely free from dogs1 chickens1 or anything that would annoy him4 ,then give him a few ears of corn1 and let him remain alone fifteen or twenty minutes1 until he has examined his apartment1 and has become reconciled to his confinement4 ,,time ,,to ,,reflect4 ,and now1 while your horse is eating those few ears of corn1 is the proper time to see that your halter is ready and all right1 and to reflect on the best mode of operations2 for in horse-breaking it is highly important that you should be governed by some system4 ,and you should know1 before you attempt to do anything1 just what you are going to do1 and how you are going to do it4 ,and1 if you are experienced in the art of taming wild horses1 you ought to be able to tell1 within a few minutes1 the length of time it would take you to halter the colt1 and teach him to lead4 ,,the ,,kind ,,of ,,halter4 ,always use a leather halter1 and be sure to have it made so that it will not draw tight around his nose if he pulls on it4 ,it should be of the right size to fit his head easily and nicely2 so that the nose-band will not be too tight or too low4 ,never put a rope halter on an unbroken colt1 under any circumstances whatever4 ,rope halters have caused more horses to hurt or kill themselves than would pay for twice the cost of all the leather halters that have ever been needed for the purpose of haltering colts4 ,it is almost impossible to break a colt that is very wild with a rope halter1 without having him pull1 rear1 and throw himself1 and thus endanger his life2 and ,i will tell you why4 ,it is just as natural for a horse to try to get his head out of anything that hurts it1 or feels unpleasant1 at it would be for you to try to get your hand out of a fire4 ,the cords of the rope are hard and cutting2 this makes him raise his head and draw on it1 and as soon as he pulls1 the slip noose 7the way rope-halters are always made7 tightens1 and pinches his nose1 and then he will struggle for life1 until1 perchance1 he throws himself2 and who would have his horse throw himself1 and run the risk of breaking his neck1 rather than pay the price of a leather halter8 ,but this is not the worst4 ,a horse that has once pulled on his halter can never be as well broken as one that has never pulled at all4 ,but before we attempt to do anything more with the colt1 ,i will give you some of the characteristics of his nature1 that you may better understand his motions4 ,every one that has ever paid any attention to the horse1 has noticed his natural inclination to smell everything which to him looks new and frightful4 ,this is their strange mode of examining everything4 ,and when they are frightened at anything1 though they look at it sharply1 they seem to have no confidence in their eyesight alone1 but must touch it with their nose before they are entirely satisfied2 and1 as soon as they have done that1 all seems right4 ,,experiment ,,with ,,the ,,robe4 ,if you want to satisfy yourself of this characteristic of the horse1 and to learn something of importance concerning the peculiarities of his nature1 c41 turn him into the barn-yard1 or a large stable will do1 and then gather up something that you know will frighten him--a red blanket1 buffalo robe1 or something of that kind4 ,hold it up so that he can see it1 he will stick up his head and snort4 ,then throw it down somewhere in the centre of the lot or barn1 and walk off to one side4 ,watch his motions1 and study his nature4 ,if he is frightened at the object1 he will not rest until he has touched it with his nose4 ,you will see him begin to walk around the robe and snort1 all the time getting a little closer1 as if drawn up by some magic spell1 until he finally gets within reach of it4 ,he will then very cautiously stretch out his neck as far as he can reach1 merely touching it with his nose1 as though he thought it was ready to fly at him4 ,but after he has repeated these touches a few times1 for the first time 7though he has been looking at it all the while7 he seems to have an idea what it is4 ,but now he has found1 by the sense of feeling1 that it is nothing that will do him any harm1 and he is ready to play with it4 ,and if you watch him closely1 you will see him take hold of it with his teeth1 and raise it up and pull at it4 ,and in a few minutes you can see that he has not that same wild look about his eye1 but stands like a horse biting at some familiar stump4 ,yet the horse is never so well satisfied when he is about anything that has frightened him1 as when he is standing with his nose to it4 ,and1 in nine cases out of ten1 you will see some of that same wild look about him again1 as he turns to walk from it4 ,and you will1 probably1 see him looking back very suspiciously as he walks away1 as though he thought it might come after him yet4 ,and in all probability1 he will have to go back and make another examination before he is satisfied4 ,but he will familiarize himself with it1 and1 if he should run in that field a few days1 the robe that frightened him so much at first will be no more to him than a familiar stump4 ,we might very naturally suppose from the fact of the horse's applying his nose to everything new to him1 that he always does so for the purpose of smelling these objects4 ,but ,i believe that it is as much or more for the purpose of feeling1 and that he makes use of his nose1 or muzzle 7as it is sometimes called71 as we would of our hands2 because it is the only organ by which he can touch or feel anything with much susceptibility4 ,i believe that he invariably makes use of the four senses1 ,,seeing1 ,,hearing1 ,,smelling1 and ,,feeling1 in all of his examinations1 of which the sense of feeling is1 perhaps1 the most important4 ,and ,i think that in the experiment with the robe1 his gradual approach and final touch with his nose was as much for the purpose of feeling as anything else1 his sense of smell being so keen that it would not be necessary for him to touch his nose against anything in order to get the proper scent2 for it is said that a horse can smell a man at a distance of a mile4 ,and if the scent of the robe was all that was necessary he could get that several rods off4 ,but we know from experience1 that if a horse sees and smells a robe a short distance from him he is very much frightened 7unless he is used to it7 until he touches or feels it with his nose2 which is a positive proof that feeling is the controlling sense in this case4 ,,horse-,,taming ,,drugs 7874 ,it is a prevailing opinion among horsemen generally that the sense of smell is the governing sense of the horse4 ,and ,baucher1 as well as others1 has with that view got up receipts of strong smelling oils1 c41 to tame the horse1 sometimes using the chestnut of his leg1 which they dry1 grind into powder1 and blow into his nostrils1 sometimes using the oils of rhodium1 origanum1 c41 that are noted for their strong smell2 and sometimes they scent the hand with the sweat from under the arm1 or blow their breath into his nostrils1 c41 c4 ,all of which1 as far as the scent goes1 have no effect whatever in gentling the horse1 or conveying any idea to his mind2 though the acts that accompany these efforts--handling him1 touching him about the nose and head1 and patting him1 as they direct you should1 after administering the articles1 may have a very great effect1 which they mistake for the effect of the ingredients used4 ,and ,baucher1 in his work1 entitled ,the ,arabian ,art of ,taming ,horses1 page #ag1 tells us how to accustom a horse to a robe1 by administering certain articles to his nose2 and goes on to say that these articles must first be applied to the horse's nose1 before you attempt to break him1 in order to operate successfully4 ,now1 reader1 can you1 or any one else1 give one single reason how scent can convey any idea to the horse's mind of what we want him to do8 ,if not1 then of course strong scents of any kind can be of no use in taming the unbroken horse4 ,for1 everything that we get him to do of his own accord1 without force1 must be accomplished by conveying our ideas to his mind4 ,i say to my horse1 ,go-'long6 and he goes2 ,ho6 and he stops1 because these two words1 of which he has learned the meaning by the tap of the whip and the pull of the rein that first accompanied them1 convey the two ideas to his mind of go and stop4 ,it is impossible to teach the horse a single thing by the means of scent alone2 and as for affection1 that can be better created by other means4 ,how long do you suppose a horse would have to stand and smell a bottle of oil1 before he would learn to bend his knee and make a bow at your bidding1 ,go yonder and bring my hat1 or ,come here and lie down8 ,the absurdity of trying to break or tame the horse by the means of receipts for articles to smell at1 or of medicine to swallow1 is self-evident4 ,the only science that has ever existed in the world1 relative to the breaking of horses1 that has been of any value1 is that method which1 taking them in their native state1 improves their intelligence4 ,,editor',s ,,remarks4 ,the directions for driving colts from the pasture are of less importance in this country where fields are enclosed1 and the most valuable colts wear headstalls1 and are handled1 or ought to be1 from their earliest infancy2 but in ,wales1 and on wastes like ,exmoor#dg-99 or ,dartmoor1 the advice may be found useful4 ,under all circumstances it is important that the whole training of a colt 7and training of the boy who is to manage horses7 should be conducted from first to last on consistent principles2 for1 in the mere process of driving a colt from the field to the fold-yard1 ideas of terror may be instilled into the timid animal1 for instance1 by idle drumming on a hat1 which it will take weeks or months to eradicate4 ,the next step is to get the colt into a stable1 barn1 or other building sufficiently large for the early operations1 and secluded from those sights and sounds so common in a farm-yard1 which would be likely to distract his attention4 ,in training a colt the squeaking of a litter of pigs has lost me the work of three hours4 ,an outfield1 empty barn1 or bullock-shed1 is better than any place near the homestead4 ,it is a good plan to keep an intelligent old horse expressly for the purpose of helping to train and lead the young colts4 ,i have known horses that seemed to take a positive pleasure in helping to subdue a wild colt when first put in double harness4 ,the great point is not to force or frighten a colt into the stable1 but to edge him into it quietly1 and cause him to glide in of his own accord4 ,in this simple operation1 the horse-trainer will test himself the indispensable quality of a horse trainer--patience4 ,a word ,i shall have to repeat until my readers are almost heartily sick of the damnable iteration4 ,there is a world of equestrian wisdom in two sentences of the chapter just quoted1 he will not run unless you run after him1 and the horse has not studied anatomy4 ,the observations about rope halters are very sound1 and in addition ,i may add1 that the mouths of hundreds of horses are spoiled by the practice of passing a looped rope round the lower jaw of a fiery horse1 which the rider often makes the stay for keeping himself in his seat4 ,the best kind of head-stall for training colts is that delineated at the head of this chapter1#dh-99 called the ,bush ,bridle1 to which any kind of bit may be attached1 and by unbuckling the bit it is converted into a capital halter1 with a rope for leading a colt or picketing a horse at night4 ,the long rope is exactly what ,mr4 ,rarey recommends for teaching a colt to lead4 ,every one of any experience will agree that a horse that has once pulled on his halter can never be so well broken as one that has never pulled at all4 ,the directions for stroking and patting the body and limbs of a colt are curious1 as proving that an operation which we have been in the habit of performing as a matter of course without attaching any particular virtue to it1 has really a sort of mesmeric effect in soothing and conciliating a nervous animal4 ,the directions in ,chapter ,v4 for approaching a colt deserve to be studied very minutely1 remembering always the maxim printed at p4 #eg--;,fear and anger1 a good horseman should never feel4 ,it took ,mr4 ,rarey himself two hours to halter a savage half-broken colt in ,liverpool1 but then he had the disadvantage of being surrounded by an impatient whispering circle of spectators4 ,at ,lord ,poltimore's seat in ,devonshire1 in ,february last 7#aheh71 ,lord ,rivers was two hours alone with a very sulky biting colt1 but finally succeeded in haltering and saddling him4 ,yet his lordship had only seen one lesson illustrated on a very difficult horse at the ,duke of ,wellington's school4 ,but this operation is much more easily described than executed1 because some colts will smell at your hand one moment1 and turn round as quick as lightning1 and plant their heels in your ribs if you are not very active1 and don't stand very close to them4 ,on the directions for using the whip1 p4 #ee1 with colts of a stubborn disposition1 ,i can say nothing1 never having seen it so employed2 but it is evident1 that it must be employed with very great discretion4 ,the directions for haltering are very complete1 but to execute them with a colt or horse that paws violently1 even in play1 with his fore-feet1 requires no common agility4 ,but ,i may mention that ,i saw ,mr4 ,rarey alone put a bridle on a horse seventeen bands high that was notoriously difficult to bridle even with two men assisting in the operation4 ,in reference to the hints for treating a colt in a little work from which ,i have already quoted1 a colonel in the ,life ,guards says1 ,the great thing in horsemanship is to get your horse to be of your party2 not only to obey1 but to obey willingly4 ,for this reason1 a young horse cannot be begun with too early1 and his lessons cannot be too gradually progressive4 ,he should wear a head-stall from the beginning1 be accustomed to be held and made fast by the head1 to give up all four feet1 to bear the girthing of a roller1 to be led1 c4 ,but if all this useful preliminary education1 in which climbing through gaps after an old hunter1 and taking little jumps1 be omitted1 then the ,rarey system comes in to shorten your domesticating labours4 ,a wild horse1 until tamed1 is just as wild and fearful as a wild stag taken for the first time in the toils4 ,when a horse hangs back and leads unwillingly1 the common error is to get in front of him and pull him4 ,this may answer when the man is stronger than the horse1 but not otherwise4 ,in leading you should never be further forward than your horse's shoulder3 with your right-hand hold his head in front of you by the bridle close to his mouth or the head-stall1 and with your left hand touch him with a whip as far back as you can2 if you have not a whip you can use a stirrup-leather4 ,,footnotes3 #dg-99 ,see page #bae--,the ,wild ,ponies of ,exmoor4 #dh-99 ,made by ,stokey1 ,north ,street1 ,little ,moorfields1 ,london4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,powell's system of approaching a colt4--,haley's remarks on4--,lively high-spirited horses tamed easily4--,stubborn sulky ones more difficult4--,motto1 ,fear1 love and obey4--,use of a whalebone gig-whip4--,how to frighten and then approach4--,use kind words4--,how to halter and lead a colt4--,by the side of a horse4--,to lead into a stable4--,to tie up to a manger4--,editor's remarks4--,longeing4--,use and abuse of4--,on bitting4--,sort of bit for a colt4--,dick ,christian's bit4--,the wooden gag bit4 ,but1 before we go further1 ,i will give you ,willis ,j4 ,powell's system of approaching a wild colt1 as given by him in a work published in ,europe1 about the year #ahad1 on the ,art of ,taming ,wild ,horses4#ea-99 ,he says1 ,a horse is gentled by my secret in from two to sixteen hours4 ,the time ,i have most commonly employed has been from four to six hours4 ,he goes on to say1 ,cause your horse to be put in a small yard1 stable1 or room4 ,if in a stable or room1 it ought to be large1 in order to give him some exercise with the halter before you lead him out4 ,if the horse belongs to that class which appears only to fear man1 you must introduce yourself gently into the stable1 room1 or yard1 where the horse is4 ,he will naturally run from you1 and frequently turn his head from you2 for you must walk about extremely slow and softly1 so that he can see you whenever he turns his head towards you1 which he never fails to do in a short time1 say in a quarter or half an hour4 ,i never knew one to be much longer without turning towards me4 ,at the very moment he turns his head1 hold out your left hand towards him1 and stand perfectly still1 keeping your eyes upon the horse1 watching his motions1 if he makes any4 ,if the horse does not stir for ten or fifteen minutes1 advance as slowly as possible1 and without making the least noise1 always holding out your left hand1 without any other ingredient in it than what nature put in it4 ,he says1 ,i have made use of certain ingredients before people1 such as the sweat under my arm1 c41 to disguise the real secret1 and many believed that the docility to which the horse arrived in so short a time was owing to these ingredients3 but you see from this explanation that they were of no use whatever4 ,the implicit faith placed in these ingredients1 though innocent of themselves1 becomes 'faith without works4' ,and thus men remained always in doubt concerning the secret4 ,if the horse makes the least motion when you advance towards him1 stop1 and remain perfectly still until he is quiet4 ,remain a few moments in this condition1 and then advance again in the same slow and almost imperceptible manner4 ,take notice--if the horse stirs1 stop1 without changing your position4 ,it is very uncommon for the horse to stir more than once after you begin to advance1 yet there are exceptions4 ,he generally keeps his eyes steadfast on you1 until you get near enough to touch him on the forehead4 ,when you are thus near to him1 raise slowly and by degrees your hand1 and let it come in contact with that part just above the nostrils1 as lightly as possible4 ,if the horse flinches 7as many will71 repeat with great rapidity these light strokes upon the forehead1 going a little farther up towards his ears by degrees1 and descending with the same rapidity until he will let you handle his forehead all over4 ,now let the strokes be repeated with more force over all his forehead1 descending by lighter strokes to each side of his head1 until you can handle that part with equal facility4 ,then touch in the same light manner1 making your hands and fingers play around1 the lower part of the horse's ears1 coming down now and then to his forehead1 which may be looked upon as the helm that governs all the rest4 ,having succeeded in handling his ears1 advance towards the neck1 with the same precautions1 and in the same manner2 observing always to augment the force of the strokes whenever the horse will permit it4 ,perform the same on both sides of the neck1 until he lets you take it in your arms without flinching4 ,proceed in the same progressive manner to the sides1 and then to the back of the horse4 ,every time the horse shows any nervousness1 return immediately to the forehead1 as the true standard1 patting him with your hands1 and thence rapidly to where you had already arrived1 always gaining ground a considerable distance farther on every time this happens4 ,the head1 ears1 neck1 and body being thus gentled1 proceed from the back to the root of the tail4 ,this must be managed with dexterity1 as a horse is never to be depended on that is skittish about the tail4 ,let your hand fall lightly and rapidly on that part next to the body a minute or two1 and then you will begin to give it a slight pull upwards every quarter of a minute4 ,at the same time you continue this handling of him1 augment the force of the strokes as well as the raising of the tail1 until you can raise it and handle it with the greatest ease1 which commonly happens in a quarter of an hour in most horses1 in others almost immediately1 and in some much longer4 ,it now remains to handle all his legs2 from the tail come back again to the head1 handle it well1 as likewise the ears1 breast1 neck1 c41 speaking now and then to the horse4 ,begin by degrees to descend to the legs1 always ascending and descending1 gaming ground every time you descend1 until you get to his feet4 ,talk to the horse in ,latin1 ,greek1 ,french1 ,english1 or ,spanish1 or in any other language you please2 but let him hear the sound of your voice1 which at the beginning of the operation is not quite so necessary1 but which ,i have always done in making him lift up his feet4 ',hold up your foot'--',lve le pied'--',alza el pi'--',aron ton poda1' c42 at the same time lift his foot with your hand4 ,he soon becomes familiar with the sounds1 and will hold up his foot at command4 ,then proceed to the hind feet1 and go on in the same manner2 and in a short time the horse will let you lift them1 and even take them up in your arms4 ,all this operation is no magnetism1 no galvanism2 it is merely taking away the fear a horse generally has of a man1 and familiarizing the animal with his master4 ,as the horse doubtless experiences a certain pleasure from this handling1 he will soon become gentle under it1 and show a very marked attachment to his keeper4 ,,rarey',s ,,remarks ,,on ,,powell',s ,,treatment4 ,these instructions are very good1 but not quite sufficient for horses of all kinds1 and for haltering and leading the colt2 but ,i have inserted them here because they give some of the true philosophy of approaching the horse1 and of establishing confidence between man and horse4 ,he speaks only of the kind that fear man4 ,to those who understand the philosophy of horsemanship1 these are the easiest trained2 for when we have a horse that is wild and lively1 we can train him to our will in a very short time--for they are generally quick to learn1 and always ready to obey4 ,but there is another kind that are of a stubborn or vicious disposition2 and although they are not wild1 and do not require taming1 in the sense it is generally understood1 they are just as ignorant as a wild horse1 if not more so1 and need to be taught just as much3 and in order to have them obey quickly1 it is very necessary that they should be made to fear their master2 for1 in order to obtain perfect obedience from any horse1 we must first have him fear us1 for our motto is1 ,fear1 love and obey2 and we must have the fulfilment of the first two before we can expect the latter2 for it is by our philosophy of creating fear1 love1 and confidence1 that we govern to our will every kind of horse whatever4 ,then1 in order to take horses as we find them1 of all kinds1 and to train them to our liking1 we should always take with us1 when we go into a stable to train a colt1 a long switch whip 7whalebone buggy-whips are the best71 with a good silk cracker1 so as to cut keenly and make a sharp report4 ,this1 if handled with dexterity1 and rightly applied1 accompanied with a sharp1 fierce word1 will be sufficient to enliven the spirits of any horse4 ,with this whip in your right hand1 with the lash pointing backward1 enter the stable alone4 ,it is a great disadvantage1 in training a horse1 to have any one in the stable with you2 you should be entirely alone1 so as to have nothing but yourself to attract his attention4 ,if he is wild1 you will soon see him on the opposite side of the stable from you2 and now is the time to use a little judgment4 ,i should not require1 myself1 more than half or three-quarters of an hour to handle any kind of colt1 and have him running about in the stable after me2 though ,i would advise a new beginner to take more time1 and not be in too much of a hurry4 ,if you have but one colt to gentle1 and are not particular about the length of time you spend1 and have not had any experience in handling colts1 ,i would advise you to take ,mr4 ,powell's method at first1 till you gentle him1 which1 he says1 takes from two to six hours4 ,but as ,i want to accomplish the same1 and1 what is more1 teach the horse to lead1 in less than one hour1 ,i shall give you a much quicker process of accomplishing the same end4 ,accordingly1 when you have entered the stable1 stand still1 and let your horse look at you a minute or two1 and as soon as he is settled in one place1 approach him slowly1 with both arms stationary1 your right hanging by your side1 holding the whip as directed1 and the left bent at the elbow1 with your hand projecting4 ,as you approach him1 go not too much towards his head or croup1 so as not to make him move either forward or backward1 thus keeping your horse stationary2 if he does move a little either forward or backward1 step a little to the right or left very cautiously2 this will keep him in one place4 ,as you get very near him1 draw a little to his shoulder1 and stop a few seconds4 ,if you are in his reach he will turn his head and smell your hand1 not that he has any preference for your hand1 but because that is projecting1 and is the nearest portion of your body to the horse4 ,this all colts will do1 and they will smell your naked hand just as quickly as they will of anything that you can put in it1 and with just as good an effect1 however much some men have preached the doctrine of taming horses by giving them the scent of articles from the hand4 ,i have already proved that to be a mistake4 ,as soon as he touches your hand with his nose1 caress him as before directed1 always using a very light1 soft hand1 merely touching the horse1 always rubbing the way the hair lies1 so that your hand will pass along as smoothly as possible4 ,as you stand by his side1 you may find it more convenient to rub his neck or the side of his head1 which will answer the same purpose as rubbing his forehead4 ,favour every inclination of the horse to smell or touch you with his nose4 ,always follow each touch or communication of this kind with the most tender and affectionate caresses1 accompanied1 with a kind look1 and pleasant word of some sort1 such as1 ,ho6 my little boy--ho6 my little boy6 ,pretty boy6 ,nice lady6 or something of that kind1 constantly repeating the same words1 with the same kind1 steady tone of voice2 for the horse soon learns to read the expression of the face and voice1 and will know as well when fear1 love1 or anger prevails1 as you know your own feelings2 two of which1 ,,fear ,,and ,,anger1 ,a ,,good ,,horseman ,,should ,,never ,,feel4 ,,if ,,your ,,horse ,,is ,,of ,a ,,stubborn ,,disposition4 ,if your horse1 instead of being wild1 seems to be of a stubborn or mulish disposition2 if he lays back his ears as you approach him1 or turns his heels to kick you1 he has not that regard or fear of man that he should have1 to enable you to handle him quickly and easily2 and it might be well to give him a few sharp cuts with the whip1 about the legs1 pretty close to the body4 ,it will crack keenly as it plies around his legs1 and the crack of the whip will affect him as much as the stroke2 besides1 one sharp cut about his legs will affect him more than two or three over his back1 the skin on the inner part of his legs or about his flank being thinner1 more tender1 than on his back4 ,but do not whip him much--just enough to frighten him2 it is not because we want to hurt the horse that we whip him--we only do it to frighten vice and stubbornness out of him4 ,but whatever you do1 do quickly1 sharply1 and with a good deal of fire1 but always without anger4 ,if you are going to frighten him at all1 you must do it at once4 ,never go into a pitched battle with your horse1 and whip him until he is mad and will fight you2 it would be better not to touch him at all1 for you will establish1 instead of fear and respect1 feelings of resentment1 hatred1 and ill-will4 ,it will do him no good1 but harm1 to strike him1 unless you can frighten him2 but if you can succeed in frightening him1 you can whip him without making him mad2 for fear and anger never exist together in the horse1 and as soon as one is visible1 you will find that the other has disappeared4 ,as soon as you have frightened him1 so that he will stand up straight and pay some attention to you1 approach him again1 and caress him a good deal more than you whipped him2 thus you will excite the two controlling passions of his nature1 love and fear2 he will love and fear you1 too2 and1 as soon as he learns what you require1 will obey quickly4 ,,how ,,to ,,halter ,,and ,,lead ,a ,,colt4 ,as soon as you have gentled the colt a little1 take the halter in your left hand1 and approach him as before1 and on the same side that you have gentled him4 ,if he is very timid about your approaching closely to him1 you can get up to him quicker by making the whip a part of your arm1 and reaching out very gently with the butt end of it1 rubbing him lightly on the neck1 all the time getting a little closer1 shortening the whip by taking it up in your hand1 until you finally get close enough to put your hands on him4 ,if he is inclined to hold his head from you1 put the end of the halter-strap around his neck1 drop your whip1 and draw very gently2 he will let his neck give1 and you can pull his head to you4 ,then take hold of that part of the halter which buckles over the top of his head1 and pass the long side1 or that part which goes into the buckle1 under his neck1 grasping it on the opposite side with your right hand1 letting the first strap loose--the latter will be sufficient to hold his head to you4 ,lower the halter a little1 just enough to get his nose into that part which goes around it2 then raise it somewhat1 and fasten the top buckle1 and you will have it all right4 ,the first time you halter a colt you should stand on the left side1 pretty well back to his shoulder1 only taking hold of that part of the halter that goes around his neck2 then with your two hands about his neck you can hold his head to you1 and raise the halter on it without making him dodge by putting your hands about his nose4 ,you should have a long rope or strap ready1 and as soon as you have the halter on1 attach this to it1 so that you can let him walk the length of the stable without letting go of the strap1 or without making him pull on the halter1 for if you only let him feel the weight of your hand on the halter1 and give him rope when he runs from you1 he will never rear1 pull1 or throw himself1 yet you will be holding him all the time1 and doing more towards gentling him than if you had the power to snub him right up1 and hold him to one spot2 because he does not know anything about his strength1 and if you don't do anything to make him pull1 he will never know that he can4 ,in a few minutes you can begin to control him with the halter1 then shorten the distance between yourself and the horse by taking up the strap in your hand4 ,as soon as he will allow you to hold him by a tolerably short strap1 and to step up to him without flying back1 you can begin to give him some idea about leading4 ,but to do this1 do not go before and attempt to pull him after you1 but commence by pulling him very quietly to one side4 ,he has nothing to brace either side of his neck1 and will soon yield to a steady1 gradual pull of the halter2 and as soon as you have pulled him a step or two to one side1 step up to him and caress him1 and then pull him again1 repeating this operation until you can pull him around in every direction1 and walk about the stable with him1 which you can do in a few minutes1 for he will soon think when you have made him step to the right or left a few times1 that he is compelled to follow the pull of the halter1 not knowing that he has the power to resist your pulling2 besides1 you have handled him so gently that he is not afraid of you1 and you always caress him when he comes up to you1 and he likes that1 and would just as lief follow you as not4 ,and after he has had a few lessons of that kind1 if you turn him out in a field1 he will come up to you every opportunity he gets4 ,you should lead him about in the stable some time before you take him out1 opening the door1 so that he can see out1 leading him up to it and back again1 and past it4 ,see that there is nothing on the outside to make him jump when you take him out1 and as you go out with him1 try to make him go very slowly1 catching hold of the halter close to the jaw with your left hand1 while the right is resting on the top of the neck1 holding to his mane4 ,after you are out with him a little while1 you can lead him about as you please4 ,don't let any second person come up to you when you first take him out2 a stranger taking hold of the halter would frighten him1 and make him run4 ,there should not even be any one standing near him1 to attract his attention or scare him4 ,if you are alone1 and manage him rightly1 it will not require any more force to lead or hold him than it would to manage a broken horse4 ,,how ,,to ,,lead ,a ,,colt ,,by ,,the ,,side ,,of ,a ,,broken ,,horse4 ,if you should want to lead your colt by the side of another horse1 as is often the case1 ,i would advise you to take your horse into the stable1 attach a second strap to the colt's halter1 and lead your horse up alongside of him4 ,then get on the broken horse and take one strap around his breast1 under his martingale 7if he has any on71 holding it in your left hand4 ,this will prevent the colt from getting back too far2 besides1 you will have more power to hold him with the strap pulling against the horse's breast4 ,the other strap take up in your right hand to prevent him from running ahead2 then turn him about a few times in the stable1 and if the door is wide enough1 ride out with him in that position2 if not1 take the broken horse out first1 and stand his breast up against the door1 then lead the colt to the same spot1 and take the straps as before directed1 one on each side of his neck1 then let some one start the colt out1 and as he comes out1 turn your horse to the left1 and you will have them all right4 ,this is the best way to lead a colt2 you can manage any kind of colt in this way1 without any trouble2 for if he tries to run ahead1 or pull back1 the two straps will bring the horses facing each other1 so that you can very easily follow up his movements without doing much holding1 and as soon as he stops running backward you are right with him1 and all ready to go ahead2 and if he gets stubborn and does not want to go1 you can remove all his stubbornness by riding your horse against his neck1 thus compelling him to turn to the right2 and as soon as you have turned him about a few times1 he will be willing to go along4 ,the next thing after you have got through leading him1 will be to take him into a stable1 and hitch him in such a way as not to have him pull on the halter2 and as they are often troublesome to get into a stable the first few times1 ,i will give you some instructions about getting him in4 ,,to ,,lead ,,into ,a ,,stable4 ,you should lead the broken horse into the stable first1 and get the colt1 if you can1 to follow in after him4 ,if he refuses to go1 step unto him1 taking a little stick or switch in your right hand2 then take hold of the halter close to his head with your left hand1 at the same time reaching over his back with your right arm so that you can tap him on the opposite side with your switch2 bring him up facing the door1 tap him slightly with your switch1 reaching as far back with it as you can4 ,this tapping1 by being pretty well back1 and on the opposite side1 will drive him ahead1 and keep him close to you2 then by giving him the right direction with your left hand you can walk into the stable with him4 ,i have walked colts into the stable this way in less than a minute1 after men had worked at them half an hour1 trying to pull them in4 ,if you cannot walk him in at once in this way1 turn him about and walk him around in every direction1 until you can get him up to the door without pulling at him4 ,then let him stand a few minutes1 keeping his head in the right direction with the halter1 and he will walk in in less than ten minutes4 ,never attempt to pull the colt into the stable2 that would make him think at once that it was a dangerous place1 and if he was not afraid of it before he would be then4 ,besides1 we do not want him to know anything about pulling on the halter4 ,colts are often hurt and sometimes killed1 by trying to force them into the stable2 and those who attempt to do it in that way go into an up-hill business1 when a plain smooth road is before them4 ,if you want to tie up your colt1 put him in a tolerably wide stall1 which should not be too long1 and should be connected by a bar or something of that kind to the partition behind it2 so that1 after the colt is in he cannot go far enough back to take a straight1 backward pull on the halter2 then by tying him in the centre of the stall1 it would be impossible for him to pull on the halter1 the partition behind preventing him from going back1 and the halter in the centre checking him every time he turns to the right or left4 ,in a stall of this kind you can break any horse to stand tied with a light strap1 anywhere1 without his ever knowing anything about pulling4 ,for if you have broken your horse to lead1 and have taught him the use of the halter 7which you should always do before you hitch him to anything71 you can hitch him in any kind of a stall1 and if you give him something to eat to keep him up to his place for a few minutes at first1 there is not one colt in fifty that will pull on his halter4 ,,editors ,,remarks4 ,mr4 ,rarey says nothing about longeing1 which is the first step of ,european and ,eastern training4 ,perhaps he considers his plan of pulling up the leg to be sufficient2 but be that as it may1 we think it well to give the common sense of a much-abused practice4 ,ignorant horse-breakers will tell you that they longe a colt to supple him4 ,that is ridiculous nonsense4 ,a colt unbroken will bend himself with most extraordinary flexibility4 ,look at a lot of two-years before starting for a run2 observe the agility of their antics3 or watch a colt scratching his head with his hind foot1 and you will never believe that such animals can require suppling4 ,but it is an easy way of teaching a horse simple acts of obedience--of getting him to go and stop at your orders3 but in brutal hands more horses are spoiled and lamed by the longe than any other horse-breaking operation4 ,a stupid fellow drags a horse's head and shoulders into the circle with the cord1 while his hind-quarters are driven out by the whip4 ,a colt should be longed at a walk only1 until he circles without force4 ,he should never be compelled to canter in the longe1 though he may be permitted to do it of himself4 ,he must not be stopped by pulling the cord1 which would pull him across1 but by meeting him1 so that he stops himself straight4 ,a skilful person will1 single-handed1 longe1 and1 by heading him with the whip1 change him without stopping1 and longe him in the figure of #h4 ,no man is fit to be trusted with such powerful implements as the longe-cord and whip who cannot do this4 ,the snaffle may be added when he goes freely in the head-stall4 ,a colt should never be buckled to the pillar reins by his bit1 but by the head-stall2 for if tightly buckled to the bit1 he will bear heavily--even go to sleep3 raw lip1 which1 when cured1 becomes callous1 is the result4 ,yet nothing is more common than to see colts standing for hours on the bit1 with reins tightly buckled to the demi-jockey1 under the ignorant notion of giving him a mouth1 or setting up his head in the right place4 ,the latter1 if not done by nature1 can only be done1 if ever1 by delicate1 skilful hands4 ,a colt's bit should be large and smooth snaffle1 with players to keep his mouth moist4 ,dick ,christian liked a bit for young horses as thick as his thumb--we don't know how thick that was--and four and a half inches between the cheeks2 and there was no better judge than ,dick4 ,the ,germans use a wooden bit to make a horse's mouth1 and good judges think they are right1 as it may not be so unpleasant as metal to begin with2 but wood or iron1 the bridle should be properly put on1 a point often neglected1 and a fertile source of restiveness4 ,there is as much need to fit a bridle to the length of a horse's head1 as to buckle the girths of the saddle4 ,for conquering a vicious1 biting horse1 there is nothing equal to the large wooden gag-bit1 which ,mr4 ,rarey first exhibited in public on the zebra4 ,a muzzle only prevents a horse from biting2 a gag1 properly used1 cures2 for when he finds he cannot bite1 and that you caress him and rub his ears kindly with perfect confidence1 he by degrees abandons this most dangerous vice4 ,stafford was driven in a wooden gag the first time4 ,colts inclined to crib-bite1 should be dressed with one on4 ,illustration3 ,,wooden ,,gag ,,bit4 ,our woodcut is taken from the improved model produced by ,mr4 ,stokey2 no doubt ,mr4 ,rarey took the idea of his gag-bit from the wooden gag1 which has been in use among country farriers from time immemorial1 to keep a horse's mouth while they are performing the cruel and useless operation of firing for lampas4 ,illustration3 ,leg strapped up4 ,,footnotes3 #ea-99 ,is there such a work8 ,i cannot find it in any ,english catalogue4--,,editor4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,taming a colt or horse4--,rarey's directions for strapping up and laying down detailed4--,explanations by ,editor4--,to approach a vicious horse with half door4--,cartwheel4--,no4 #a strap applied4--,no4 #b strap applied4--,woodcuts of4--,how to hop about4--,knot up bridle4--,struggle described4--,lord ,b4's improved ,no4 #b strap4--,not much danger4--,how to steer a horse4--,laid down1 how to gentle4--,to mount1 tied up4--,place and preparations for training described4 ,in this chapter ,i change the arrangement of the original work1 and unite two sections which ,mr4 ,rarey has divided1 either because when he wrote them he was not aware of the importance of what is really the cardinal point1 the mainstay1 the foundation of his system1 or because he wished to conceal it from the uninitiated4 ,the ,rarey system substitutes for severe longeing1 for whipping and spurring1 blinkers1 physic1 starving1 the twitch1 tying the tail down1 sewing the ears together1 putting shot in the ears1 and all the cruelties hitherto resorted to for subduing high-spirited and vicious animals 7and very often the high-spirited become1 from injudicious treatment1 the most vicious71 a method of laying a horse down1 tying up his limbs1 and gagging1 if necessary1 his mouth1 which makes him soon feel that man is his superior1 and yet neither excites his terror or his hatred4 ,these two sections are to be found at pp4 #dh and #ea and at pp4 #ei and #fj1 orig4 edit41 under the titles of ,how to drive a ,horse that is very wild1 and has any vicious ,habits1 and ,how to make a ,horse lie down4 ,it is essential to unite these sections1 because1 if you put a well-bred horse in harness with his leg up1 without first putting him down1 it is ten to one but that he throws himself down violently1 breaks the shafts of the vehicle1 and his own knees4 ,the following are the sections verbatim1 of which ,i shall afterwards give a paraphrase1 with illustrative woodcuts3-- ,take up one fore-foot and bend his knee till his hoof is bottom upwards1 and nearly touching his body2 then slip a loop over his knee1 and up until it comes above the pastern-joint1 to keep it up1 being careful to draw the loop together between the hoof and pastern-joint with a second strap of some kind to prevent the loop from slipping down and coming off4 ,this will leave the horse standing on three legs2 you can now handle him as you wish1 for it is utterly impossible for him to kick in this position4 ,there is something in this operation of taking up one foot1 that conquers a horse quicker and better than anything else you can do to him4 ,there is no process in the world equal to it to break a kicking horse1 for several reasons4 ,first1 there is a principle of this kind in the nature of the horse2 that by conquering one member1 you conquer1 to a great extent1 the whole horse4 ,you have perhaps seen men operate upon this principle1 by sewing a horse's ears together to prevent him from kicking4 ,i once saw a plan given in a newspaper to make a bad horse stand to be shod1 which was to fasten down one ear4 ,there were no reasons given why you should do so2 but ,i tried it several times1 and thought that it had a good effect--though ,i would not recommend its use1 especially stitching his ears together4 ,the only benefit arising from this process is1 that by disarranging his ears we draw his attention to them1 and he is not so apt to resist the shoeing4 ,by tying up one foot we operate on the same principle to a much better effect4 ,when you first fasten up a horse's foot1 he will sometimes get very mad1 and strike with his knee1 and try every possible way to get it down2 but he cannot do that1 and will soon give up4 ,this will conquer him better than anything you could do1 and without any possible danger of hurting himself or you either1 for you can tie up his foot and sit down and look at him until he gives up4 ,when you find that he is conquered1 go to him1 let down his foot1 rub his leg with your hand1 caress him1 and let him rest a little2 then put it up again4 ,repeat this a few times1 always putting up the same foot1 and he will soon learn to travel on three legs1 so that you can drive him some distance4 ,as soon as he gets a little used to this way of travelling1 put on your harness1 and hitch him to a sulky4 ,if he is the worst kicking horse that ever raised a foot1 you need not be fearful of his doing any damage while he has one foot up1 for he cannot kick1 neither can he run fast enough to do any harm4 ,and if he is the wildest horse that ever had harness on1 and has run away every time he has been hitched1 you can now hitch him in a sulky1 and drive him as you please4 ,if he wants to run1 you can let him have the lines1 and the whip too1 with perfect safety1 for he can go but a slow gait on three legs1 and will soon be tired1 and willing to stop2 only hold him enough to guide him in the right direction1 and he will soon be tired and willing to stop at the word4 ,thus you will effectually cure him at once of any further notion of running off4 ,kicking horses have always been the dread of everybody2 you always hear men say1 when they speak about a bad horse1 ',i don't care what he does1 so he don't kick4' ,this new method is an effectual cure for this worst of all habits4 ,there are plenty of ways by which you can hitch a kicking horse1 and force him to go1 though he kicks all the time2 but this doesn't have any good effect towards breaking him1 for we know that horses kick because they are afraid of what is behind them1 and when they kick against it and it hurts them1 they will only kick the harder2 and this will hurt them still more and make them remember the scrape much longer1 and make it still more difficult to persuade them to have any confidence in anything dragging behind them ever after4 ,but by this new method you can harness them to a rattling sulky1 plough1 waggon1 or anything else in its worst shape4 ,they may be frightened at first1 but cannot kick or do anything to hurt themselves1 and will soon find that you do not intend to hurt them1 and then they will not care anything more about it4 ,you can then let down the leg and drive along gently without any further trouble4 ,by this new process a bad kicking horse can be learned to go gentle in harness in a few hours' time4#gj-99 ,,how ,,to ,,make ,a ,,horse ,,lie ,,down4 ,everything that we want to teach the horse must be commenced in such a way as to give him an idea of what you want him to do1 and then be repeated till he learns it perfectly4 ,to make a horse lie down1 bend his left fore-leg and slip a loop over it1 so that he cannot get it down4 ,then put a surcingle around his body1 and fasten one end of a long strap around the other fore-leg1 just above the hoof4 ,place the other end under the before-described surcingle1 so as to keep the strap in the right direction2 take a short hold of it with your right hand2 stand on the left side of the horse1 grasp the bit in your left hand1 pull steadily on the strap with your right2 bear against his shoulder till you cause him to move4 ,as soon as he lifts his weight1 your pulling will raise the other foot1 and he will have to come on his knees4 ,keep the strap tight in your hand1 so that he cannot straighten his leg if he rises up4 ,hold him in this position1 and turn his head towards you2 bear against his side with your shoulder1 not hard1 but with a steady1 equal pressure1 and in about ten minutes he will lie down4 ,as soon as he lies down1 he will be completely conquered1 and you can handle him as you please4 ,take off the straps1 and straighten out his legs2 rub him lightly about the face and neck with your hand the way the hair lies2 handle all his legs1 and after he has lain ten or twenty minutes1 let him get up again4 ,after resting him a short time1 make him lie down as before4 ,repeat the operation three or four times1 which will be sufficient for one lesson4 ,give him two lessons a day1 and when you have given him four lessons1 he will lie down by taking hold of one foot4 ,as soon as he is well broken to lie down in this way1 tap him on the opposite leg with a stick when you take hold of his foot1 and in a few days he will lie down from the mere motion of the stick4 ,,editors ,,detailed ,,explanations4 ,although1 as ,i before observed1 the tying up of the fore-leg is not a new expedient1 or even the putting a horse down single-handed1 the two operations1 as taught and performed by ,mr4 ,rarey1 not only subdue and render docile the most violent horses1 but1 most strange of all1 inspire them with a positive confidence and affection after two or three lessons from the horse-tamer4 ,how this is or why this is1 ,mr4 ,langworthy1 the veterinary surgeon to ,her ,majesty's stables1 observed1 ,i cannot say or explain1 but ,i am convinced1 by repeated observation on many horses1 that it is a fact4 ,if1 however1 a man1 however clever with horses1 were to attempt to perform the operations without other instruction than that contained in the ,american pamphlet1 he would infallibly break his horse's knees1 and probably get his toes trodden on1 his eyes blacked1 and his arm dislocated--for all these accidents have happened within my own knowledge to rash experimentalists2 while under proper instructions1 not only have stout and gouty noblemen succeeded perfectly1 but the slight-built1 professional horsewoman1 ,miss ,gilbert1 has conquered thorough-bred colts and fighting ,arabs1 and a young and beautiful peeress has taken off her bonnet before going to a morning fte1 and in ten minutes laid a full-sized horse prostrate and helpless as a sheep in the hands of the shearer4 ,having1 then1 in your mind ,mr4 ,rarey's maxim that a horseman should know neither fear nor anger1 and having laid in a good stock of patience1 you must make your approach to the colt or stallion in the mode prescribed in the preceding chapters4 ,in dealing with a colt1 except upon an emergency1 he should be first accustomed to be handled and taught to lead2 this1 first-rate horse-tamers will accomplish with the wildest colt in three hours1 but it is better to give at least one day up to these first important steps in education4 ,it will also be as well to have a colt cleaned and his hoof trimmed by the blacksmith4 ,if this cannot be done the operation will be found very dirty and disagreeable4 ,in approaching a spiteful stallion you had better make your first advances with a half-door between you and him1 as ,mr4 ,rarey did in his first interview with ,cruiser3 gradually make his acquaintance1 and teach him that you do not care for his open mouth2 but a regular biter must be gagged in the manner which will presently be described4 ,of course there is no difficulty in handling the leg of a quiet horse or colt1 and by constantly working from the neck down to the fetlock you may do what you please4 ,but many horses and even colts have a most dangerous trick of striking out with their fore-legs4 ,there is no better protection against this than a cart-wheel4 ,the wheel may either be used loose1 or the animal may be led up to a cart loaded with hay1 when the horse-tamer can work under the cart through one of the wheels1 while the colt is nibbling the load4 ,having1 then1 so far soothed a colt that he will permit you to take up his legs without resistance1 take the strap ,no4 #agc-99--pass the tongue through the loop under the buckle so as to form a noose1 slip it over the near fore-leg and draw it close up to the pastern-joint1 then take up the leg as if you were going to shoe him1 and passing the strap over the fore-arm1 put it through the buckle1 and buckle the lower limb as close as you can to the arm without hurting the animal4 ,illustration3 ,,strap ,,no4 #a4 ,take care that your buckle is of the very best quality1 and the leather sound4 ,it is a good plan to stretch it before using it4 ,the tongues of buckles used for this purpose1 if not of the very best quality1 are very likely to come out1 when all your labour will have to be gone over again4 ,sometimes you may find it better to lay the loop open on the ground1 and let the horse step into it4 ,it is better the buckle should be inside the leg if you mean the horse to fall toward you1 because then it is easier to unbuckle when he is on the ground4 ,in those instances in which you have had no opportunity of previously taming and soothing a colt1 it will frequently take you an hour of quiet1 patient1 silent perseverance before he will allow you to buckle up his leg--if he resists you have nothing for it but patience4 ,you must stroke him1 you must fondle him1 until he lets you enthral him4 ,mr4 ,rarey always works alone1 and disdains assistance1 and so do some of his best pupils1 ,lord ,b41 the ,marquis of ,s41 and ,captain ,s4 ,in travelling in foreign countries you may have occasion to tame a colt or wild horse alone1 but there is no reason why you should not have assistance if you can get it1 and in that case the process is of course much easier4 ,but it must never be forgotten that to tame a horse properly no unnecessary force must be employed2 it is better that he should put down his foot six times that he may yield it willingly at last1 and under no circumstances must the trainer lose patience1 or give way to temper4 ,the near fore-leg being securely strapped1 and the horse1 if so inclined1 secured from biting by a wooden bit1 the next step is to make him hop about on three legs4 ,this is comparatively easy if the animal has been taught to lead1 but it is difficult with one which has not4 ,the trainer must take care to keep behind his horse's shoulder and walk in a circle1 or he will be likely to be struck by the horse's head or strapped-up leg4 ,mr4 ,rarey is so skilful that he seldom considers it necessary to make his horses hop about2 but there is no doubt that it saves much after-trouble by fatiguing the animal2 and that it is a useful preparation before putting a colt or kicking horse into harness4 ,like every other operation it must be done very gently1 and accompanied by soothing words--,come along--,come along1 old fellow1 c4 ,a horse can hop on three legs1 if not severely pressed1 for two or three miles2 and no plan is more successful for curing a kicker or jibber4 ,when the horse has hopped for as long as you think necessary to tire him1 buckle a common single strap roller or surcingle on his body tolerably tight4 ,a single strap surcingle is the best4 ,it is as well1 if possible1 to teach colts from a very early age to bear a surcingle4 ,at any rate it will require a little management the first time4 ,you have now advanced your colt so far that he is not afraid of a man1 he likes being patted and caressed1 he will lead when you take hold of the bridle1 and you have buckled up his leg so that he cannot hop faster than you can run4 ,illustration3 ,,no4 #b ,,strap1 ,,for ,,off ,,fore-,,leg4 ,shorten the bridle 7the bit should be a thick plain snaffle7 so that the reins1 when laid loose on his withers1 come nearly straight4 ,this is best done by twisting the reins twice round two fore-fingers and passing the ends through in a loop1 because this knot can be easily untied4 ,next take strap ,no4 #b1 and1 making a loop1 put it round the off fore-leg4 ,with a very quiet horse this can easily be done2 with a wild or vicious horse you may have to make him step into it2 at any rate1 when once the off fore-leg is caught in the noose it must be drawn tight round the pastern-joint4 ,then put a stout glove or mitten on your right hand1 having taken care that your nails have been cut short1 pass the strap through the belly part of the surcingle1 take a firm short hold of it with your gloved right hand1 standing close to the horse behind his shoulders1 and with your left hand take hold of the near rein2 by pulling the horse gently to the near side he will be almost sure to hop2 if he will not he must be led1 but ,mr4 ,rarey always makes him hop alone4 ,the moment he lifts up his off fore-foot you must draw up strap ,no4 #b tightly and steadily4 ,the motion will draw up the off leg into the same position as the near leg1 and the horse will go down on his knees4 ,your object is to hold the strap so firmly that he will not be able to stretch his foot out again4 ,those who are very confident in their skill are content to hold the strap only with a twist round their hand1 but others take the opportunity of the horse's first surprise to give the strap a double turn round the surcingle4 ,illustration3 ,horse with ,straps ,nos4 #a and #b4 ,another way of performing this operation is to use with difficult violent horses the strap invented by ,lord ,b----h1 which consists first of the loop for the off fore-leg shown in our cut4 ,a surcingle strap1 at least seven feet long1 with a buckle1 is thrown across the horse's back2 the buckle end is passed through the ring2 the tongue is passed through the buckle1 and the moment the horse moves the ,tamer draws the strap tight round the body of the horse1 and in buckling it makes the leg so safe that he has no need to use any force in holding it up4 ,illustration3 ,,lord ,b4',s ,,improved ,,strap ,,no4 #b4 ,as soon as a horse recovers from his astonishment at being brought to his knees1 he begins to resist2 that is1 he rears up on his hind-legs1 and springs about in a manner that is truly alarming for the spectators to behold1 and which in the case of a well-bred horse in good condition requires a certain degree of activity in the ,trainer4 7,see page of ,horse ,struggling47 ,illustration3 ,,surcingle ,,for ,,lord ,b4',s ,,strap ,,no4 #b4 ,you must remember that your business is not to set your strength against the horse's strength1 but merely to follow him about1 holding the strap just tight enough to prevent him from putting out his off fore-leg4 ,as long as you keep close to him and behind his shoulders you are in very little danger4 ,the bridle in the left hand must be used like steering lines3 by pulling to the right or left as occasion requires1 the horse1 turning on his hind-legs1 maybe guided just as a boat is steered by the rudder lines2 or pulling straight1 the horse may be fatigued by being forced to walk backwards4 ,the strap passing through the surcingle keeps1 or ought to keep1 the ,trainer in his right place--he is not to pull or in any way fatigue himself more than he can help1 but1 standing upright1 simply follow the horse about1 guiding him with the bridle away from the walls of the training school when needful4 ,it must be admitted that to do this well requires considerable nerve1 coolness1 patience1 and at times agility2 for although a grass-fed colt will soon give in1 a corn-fed colt1 and1 above all1 a high-couraged hunter in condition1 will make a very stout fight2 and ,i have known one instance in which a horse with both fore-legs fast has jumped sideways4 ,illustration3 ,the ,horse struggling4 ,the proof that the danger is more apparent than real lies in the fact that no serious accidents have as yet happened2 and that1 as ,i before observed1 many noblemen1 and some noble ladies1 and some boys1 have succeeded perfectly4 ,but it would be untrue to assert that there is no danger4 ,when held and guided properly1 few horses resist more than ten minutes2 and it is believed that a quarter of an hour is the utmost time that any horse has ever fought before sinking exhausted to the earth4 ,but the time seems extremely long to an inexperienced performer2 and it is a great comfort to get your assistant to be tune-keeper1 if there is no clock in a conspicuous situation1 and tell you how you are getting on4 ,usually at the end of eight minutes' violent struggles1 the animal sinks forward on his knees1 sweating profusely1 with heaving flanks and shaking tail1 as if at the end of a thirty minutes' burst with fox-hounds over a stiff country4 ,then is the time to get him into a comfortable position for lying down2 if he is still stout1 he may be forced by the bit to walk backwards4 ,then1 too1 by pushing gently at his shoulder1 or by pulling steadily the off-rein1 you can get him to fall1 in the one case on the near side1 on the other on the off side2 but this assistance should be so slight that the horse must not be able to resist it4 ,the horse will often make a final spring when you think he is quite beaten2 but1 at any rate1 at length he slides over1 and lies down1 panting and exhausted1 on his side4 ,if he is full of corn and well bred1 take advantage of the moment to tie up the off fore-leg to the surcingle1 as securely as the other1 in a slip loop knot4 ,now let your horse recover his wind1 and then encourage him to make a second fight4 ,it will often be more stubborn and more fierce than the first4 ,the object of this tying-up operation is1 that he shall thoroughly exhaust without hurting himself1 and that he shall come to the conclusion that it is you who1 by your superior strength1 have conquered him1 and that you are always able to conquer him4 ,under the old rough-riding system1 the most vicious horses were occasionally conquered by daring men with firm seats and strong arms1 who rode and flogged them into subjection2 but these conquests were temporary1 and usually personal2 with every stranger1 the animal would begin his game again4 ,one advantage of this ,rarey system is1 that the horse is allowed to exhaust himself under circumstances that render it impossible for him to struggle long enough to do himself any harm4 ,it has been suggested that a blood-vessel would be likely to be broken1 or apoplexy produced by the exertion of leaping from the hind legs2 but1 up to the present time1 no accident of any kind has been reported4 ,when the horse lies down for the second or third time thoroughly beaten1 the time has arrived for teaching him a few more of the practical parts of horse-training4 ,illustration3 ,the ,horse exhausted4 ,when you have done all you desire to the horse tied up1--smoothed his ears1 if fidgety about the ears--the hind-legs1 if a kicker--shown him a saddle1 and allowed him to smell it1 and then placed it on his back--mounted him yourself1 and pulled him all over--take off all the straps4 ,in moving round him for the purpose of gentling him1 walk slowly always from the head round the tail1 and again to the head3 scrape the sweat off him with a scraper2 rub him down with a wisp2 smooth the hair of his legs1 and draw the fore one straight out4 ,if he has fought hard1 he will lie like a dead horse1 and scarcely stir4 ,you must now again go over him as conscientiously as if you were a mesmeric doctor or shampooer3 every limb must be gentled1 to use ,mr4 ,rarey's expressive phrase2 and with that operation you have completed your first and most important lesson4 ,you may now mount on the back of an unbroken colt1 and teach him that you do not hurt him in that attitude3 if he were standing upright he might resist1 and throw you from fright2 but as he is exhausted and powerless1 he has time to find out that you mean him no harm4 ,you can lay a saddle or harness on him1 if he has previously shown aversion to them1 or any part of them3 his head and his tail and his legs are all safe for your friendly caresses2 don't spare them1 and speak to him all the time4 ,if he has hitherto resisted shoeing1 now is the time for handling his fore and hind legs2 kindly1 yet1 if he attempts to resist1 with a voice of authority4 ,if he is a violent1 savage1 confirmed kicker1 like ,cruiser1 or ,mr4 ,gurney's gray colt1 or the zebra1 as soon as he is down put a pair of hobbles on his hind-legs1 like those used for mares during covering4 7,frontispiece of ,zebra47 ,these must be held by an assistant on whom you can depend2 and passed through the rings of the surcingle4 ,with his fore-legs tied1 you may usefully spend an hour1 in handling his legs1 tapping the hoofs with your hand or hammer--all this to be done in a firm1 measured1 soothing manner2 only now and then1 if he resist1 crying1 as you paralyze him with the ropes1 ,wo ho6 in a determined manner4 ,it is by this continual soothing and handling that you establish confidence between the horse and yourself4 ,after patting him as much as you deem needful1 say for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour1 you may encourage him to rise4 ,some horses will require a good deal of helping1 and their fore-legs drawing out before them4 ,it may be as well to remark1 that the handling the limbs1 of colts particularly1 requires caution4 ,a cart colt1 tormented by flies1 will kick forward nearly up to the fore-legs4 ,if a horse1 unstrapped1 attempts to rise1 you may easily stop him by taking hold of a fore-leg and doubling it back to the strapped position4 ,if by chance he should be too quick1 don't resist2 it is an essential principle in the ,rarey system1 never to enter into a contest with a horse unless you are certain to be victorious4 ,in all these operations1 you must be calm1 and not in a hurry4 ,thus1 under the ,rarey system1 all indications are so direct1 that the horse must understand them4 ,you place him in a position1 and under such restraint1 that he cannot resist anything that you chose to do to him2 and then you proceed to caress him when he assents1 to reprove him when he thinks of resisting--resist1 with all his legs tied1 he cannot--repeated lessons end by persuading the most vicious horse that it is useless to try to resist1 and that acquiescence will be followed by the caresses that horses evidently like4 ,illustration3 ,the ,horse tamed4 ,the last instance of ,mr4 ,rarey's power was a beautiful gray mare1 which had been fourteen years in the band of one of the ,life ,guards regiments1 and consequently at least seventeen years old2 during all that time she would never submit quietly to have her hind-legs shod2 the farriers had to put a twitch on her nose and ears1 and tie her tail down3 even then she resisted violently4 ,in three days ,mr4 ,rarey was able to shoe her with her head loose4 ,and this was not done by a trick1 but by proving to her that she could not resist even to the extent of an inch1 and that no harm was meant her2 her lessons were repeated many times a day for three days4 ,such continual impressive perseverance is an essential part of the system4 ,when you have to deal with a horse as savage a kicker as ,cruiser1 or the zebra1 a horse that can kick from one leg as fiercely as others can from two1 in that case1 to subdue and compel him to lie down1 have a leather surcingle with a ring sewed on the belly part1 and when the hobbles are buckled on the hind-legs1 pass the ropes through the rings1 and when the horse rises again1 by buckling up one fore-leg1 and pulling steadily1 when needful1 at the hind-legs1 or tying the hobble-ropes to a collar1 you reduce him to perfect helplessness2 he finds that he cannot rear1 for you pull his hind-legs--or kick1 for you can pull at all three legs1 and after a few lessons he gives in in despair4 ,these were the methods by which ,cruiser and the zebra were subdued4 ,they seem1 and are1 very simple2 properly carried out they are effective for subduing the most spirited colt1 and curing the most vicious horse4 ,but still in difficult and exceptional cases it cannot be too often repeated that a ,,man is required1 as well as a method4 ,without nerve nothing can be attempted2 without patience and perseverance mere nerve will be of little use2 all the quackery and nonsense that has been talked and written under the inspiration of the ,barnum who has had an interest in the success of the silent1 reserved1 practical ,rarey1 must be dismissed4 ,horse-training is not a conjuror's trick4 ,the principles may certainly be learned by once reading this book2 a few persons specially organised1 accustomed to horses all their lives1 may succeed in their first attempts with even difficult horses4 ,the success of ,lord ,burghersh1 after one lesson from ,rarey1 with a very difficult mare2 of ,lord ,elvers1 ,lord ,vivian1 the ,hon4 ,frederick ,villiers1 and the ,marquess of ,stafford1 with colts1 is well known in the sporting world4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,rice1 of ,motcombe ,street1 who has studied everything connected with the horse1 on the ,continent as well as in ,england1 and who is thoroughly acquainted with the ,spanish school1 as well as the ,english cross-country style of horsemanship1 succeeded1 as ,i have already mentioned1 the very first time he took the straps in hand in subduing ,mr4 ,gurney's gray colt--the most vicious animal1 next to ,cruiser1 that ,mr4 ,rarey tackled in ,england4 ,this brute tore off the flaps of the saddle with his teeth4 ,but it is sheer humbug to pretend that a person who knows no more of horses than is to be learned by riding a perfectly-trained animal now and then for an hour or two1 can acquire the whole art of horse-taming1 or can even safely tackle a violent horse1 without a previous preparation and practice4 ,as you must not be nervous or angry1 so you must not be in a hurry4 ,many ladies have attended ,mr4 ,rarey's lessons1 and studied his art1 but very few have tried1 and still fewer have succeeded4 ,it is just one of those things that all ladies fond of horses should know1 as well as those who are likely to visit ,india1 or the ,colonies1 although it is not exactly a feminine occupation2 crinoline would be sadly in the way-- ,those little hands were never made ,to hold a leather strap4 ,but it may be useful as an emergency1 as it will enable any lady to instruct a friend1 or groom1 or sailor1 or peasant1 how to do what she is not able to do herself1 and to argue effectively that straps will do more than whips and spurs4 ,at the ,practice ,club of noblemen and gentlemen held at ,miss ,gilbert's stables1 it has been observed that every week some horse more determined than the average has been too much for the wind1 or the patience1 of most of the subscribers4 ,one only has never been beaten1 the ,marquess of ,s----1 but then he was always in condition2 a dab hand at every athletic sport1 extremely active1 and gifted with a calmness1 as well as a nerve1 which few men of his position enjoy4 ,in a word1 the average horse may be subdued by the average horseman1 and colts usually come within the average2 but a fierce1 determined1 vicious horse requires a man above the average in temper1 courage1 and activity2 activity and skill in steering being of more importance than strength4 ,it is seldom necessary to lay a colt down more than twice4 ,perhaps the best way is to begin practising the strap movements with a donkey1 or a quiet horse full of grass or water1 and so go on from day to day with as much perseverance as if you were practising skating or walking on a tight rope2 until you can approach1 halter1 lead1 strap up1 and lay down a colt with as much calmness as a huntsman takes his fences with his eye on his hounds1 you are not perfect4 ,remember you must not hurry1 and you must not chatter4 ,when you feel impatient you had better leave off1 and begin again another day4 ,and the same with your horse3 you must not tire him with one lesson1 but you must give him at least one lesson every day1 and two or three to a nervous customer2 we have a striking example of patience and perseverance in ,mr4 ,rarey's first evening with ,cruiser4 ,he had gone through the labour of securing him1 and bringing him up forty miles behind a dog-cart1 yet he did not lose a moment1 but set to work the same night to tame him limb by limb1 and inch by inch1 and from that day until he produced him in public1 he never missed a day without spending twice a day from two to three hours with him1 first rendering him helpless by gag-bit1 straps and hobbles1 then caressing him1 then forcing him to lie down1 then caressing him again1 stroking every limb1 talking to him in soothing tones1 and now and then1 if he turned vicious1 taking up his helpless head1 giving it a good shake1 while scolding him as you would a naughty boy4 ,and then again taking off the gag and rewarding submission with a lock of sweet hay and a drink of water1 most grateful after a tempest of passion1 then making him rise1 and riding him--making him stop at a word4 ,i mention these facts1 because an idea has gone abroad that any man with ,mr4 ,rarey's straps can manage any horse4 ,it would be just as sensible to assert that any boy could learn to steer a yacht by taking the tiller for an hour under the care of an old salt4 ,the most curious and important fact of all in connection with this strapping up and laying down process1 is1 that the moment the horse rises he seems to have contracted a personal friendship for the operator1 and with a very little encouragement will generally follow him round the box or circus2 this feeling may as well be encouraged by a little bit of carrot or bread and sugar4 ,,place ,,and ,,preparations ,,for ,,training ,a ,,colt4 ,it is almost impossible to train or tame a horse quickly in an open space4 ,as his falls are violent1 the floor must be very soft4 ,the best place is a space boarded off with partitions six or seven feet high1 and on the floor a deep layer of tan or sand or saw-dust1 on which1 a thick layer of straw has been spread2 but the floor must not be too soft2 if it is1 the horse will sink on his knees without fighting1 and without the lesson of exhaustion1 which is so important4 ,to throw a horse for a surgical operation1 the floor cannot be too soft3 the enclosure should be about thirty feet from side to side1 of a square or octagonal shape2 but not round if possible1 because it is of great advantage to have a corner into which a colt may turn when you are teaching him the first haltering lesson4 ,a barn may be converted into a training-school1 if the floor be made soft enough with straw4 ,but in every case1 it is extremely dangerous to have pillars1 posts1 or any projections against which the horse in rearing might strike2 as when the legs are tied1 a horse is apt to miscalculate his distance4 ,and if the space is too narrow1 the trainer1 in dealing with a violent horse1 may get crushed or kicked4 ,it is of great advantage that the training-school should be roofed1 and if possible1 every living thing1 that might distract the horse's attention by sight or sound1 should be removed4 ,other horses1 cattle1 pigs1 and even dogs or fowls moving about or making a noise1 will spoil the effect of a good lesson4 ,in an emergency1 the first lesson may be given in an open straw-yard4 ,lord ,burghersh trained his first pupil on a small space in the middle of a thick wood2 ,cruiser was laid down the first time in a bullock-yard4 ,but if you have many colts to train1 it is well worth while to dig out a pit two feet deep1 fill it with tan and straw1 and build round it a shed of rough poles1 filled in with gorse plastered with clay1 on the same plan as a bullock feeding-box4 ,the floor should not be too deep or soft1 because if it is1 the colt will sink at once without fighting1 and a good lesson in obedience is lost4 ,this may be done for from #cjs4 to #bl4 on a farm4 ,in a riding-school it is very easy to have lofty temporary partitions4 ,it is probable that in future every riding-school will have a ,rarey box for training hacks1 as well as to enable pupils to practise the art4 ,it is quite out of the question to attempt to do anything with a difficult horse while other horses can be seen or heard1 or while a party of lookers-on are chattering and laughing4 ,as to the costume of the trainer1 ,i recommend a close cap1 a stout pair of boots1 short trousers or breeches of stout tweed or corduroy1 a short jacket with pockets outside1 one to hold the straps and gloves1 the other a few pieces of carrot to reward the pupil4 ,a pocket-handkerchief should be handy to wipe your perspiring brow4 ,a trainer should not be without a knife and a piece of string1 for emergencies4 ,spare straps1 bridles1 a surcingle1 a long whalebone whip1 and a saddle1 should be hung up outside the training inclosure1 where they can be handed1 when required1 to the operator as quickly and with as little delay and fuss as possible4 ,a sort of dumb-waiter1 with hooks instead of trays1 could be contrived for a man who worked alone4 ,if a lady determines to become a horse-trainer1 she had better adopt a ,bloomer costume1 without any stiff petticoats1 as long robes would be sure to bring her to grief4 ,to hold the long strap ,no4 #b1 it is necessary to wear a stout glove1 which will be all the more useful if the tips of the fingers are cut off at the first joint1 so as to make it a sort of mitten4 ,,footnotes3 #gj-99 ,i should not recommend this plan with a well-bred horse without first laying him down1 as he would be likely to throw himself down4--,,editor4 #gc-99 ,all these straps may be obtained from ,mr4 ,stokey1 saddler1 ,north ,street1 ,little ,moorfields1 who supplied ,mr4 ,rarey1 and has patterns of the improvements by ,lord ,b---- and ,colonel ,r----4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,drum4--,the ,umbrella4--,riding-habit4--,how to bit a colt4--,how to saddle4--,to mount4--,to ride4--,to break4--,to harness4--,to make a horse follow and stand without holding4--,baucher's plan4--,nolan's plan4 ,it is an excellent practice to accustom all horses to strange sounds and sights1 and of very great importance to young horses which are to be ridden or driven in large towns1 or used as chargers4 ,although some horses are very much more timid and nervous than others1 the very worst can be very much improved by acting on the first principles laid down in the introduction to this book--that is1 by proving that the strange sights and sounds will do them no harm4 ,when a railway is first opened1 the sheep1 the cattle1 and especially the horses1 grazing in the neighbouring fields1 are terribly alarmed at the sight of the swift1 dark1 moving trains1 and the terrible snorting and hissing of the steam-engines4 ,they start away--they gallop in circles--and when they stop1 gaze with head and tail erect1 until the monsters have disappeared4 ,but from day to day the live stock become more accustomed to the sight and sound of the steam horse1 and after a while they do not even cease grazing when the train passes4 ,they have learned that it will do them no harm4 ,the same result may be observed with respect to young horses when first they are brought to a large town1 and have to meet great loads of hay1 omnibuses crowded with passengers1 and other strange or noisy objects--if judiciously treated1 not flogged and ill-used1 they lose their fears without losing their high courage4 ,nothing is more astonishing in ,london than the steadiness of the high-bred and highly-fed horses in the streets and in ,hyde ,park4 ,but until ,mr4 ,rarey went to first principles1 and taught the reason why there were horses that could not be brought to bear the beating of a drum1 the rustling of an umbrella1 or the flapping of a riding-habit against their legs--and all attempts to compel them by force to submit to these objects of their terror failed and made them furious4 ,mr4 ,rarey1 in his lectures1 often told a story of a horse which shied at buffalo-robes--the owner tied him up fast and laid a robe on him--the poor animal died instantly with fright4 ,and yet nothing can be more simple4 ,to accustom a horse to a drum4--,place it near him on the ground1 and1 without forcing him1 induce him to smell it again and again until he is thoroughly accustomed to it4 ,then lift it up1 and slowly place it on the side of his neck1 where he can see it1 and tap it gently with a stick or your finger4 ,if he starts1 pause1 and let him carefully examine it4 ,then re-commence1 gradually moving it backwards until it rests upon his withers1 by degrees playing louder and louder1 pausing always when he seems alarmed1 to let him look at it and smell1 if needful4 ,in a very few minutes you may play with all your force1 without his taking any notice4 ,when this practice has been repeated a few times1 your horse1 however spirited1 will rest his nose unmoved on the big drum while the most thundering piece is played4 ,to teach a horse to bear an umbrella1 go through the same cautious forms1 let him see it1 and smell it1 open it by degrees--gain your point inch by inch1 passing it always from his eyes to his neck1 and from his neck to his back and tail2 and so with a riding-habit1 in half an hour any horse may be taught that it will not hurt him1 and then the difficulty is over4 ,to fire off a horse's back4--,begin with caps1 and1 by degrees1 as with the drum1 instead of lengthening the reins1 stretch the bridle hand to the front1 and raise it for the carbine to rest on1 with the muzzle clear of the horse's head1 a little to one side4 ,lean the body forward without rising in the stirrups4 ,avoid interfering with the horse's mouth1 or exciting his fears by suddenly closing your legs either before or after firing--be quiet yourself and your horse will be quiet4 ,the colt can learn1 as ,i have already observed1 to bear a rider on his bare back during his first lessons1 when prostrate and powerless1 fast bound by straps4 ,the surcingle has accustomed him to girths--he leads well1 and has learned that when the right rein is pulled he must go to the right1 and when the left rein to the left4 ,you may now teach him to bear the ,,bit and the ,,saddle--if you have not placed it upon his back while on the ground1 and for this operation ,i cannot do better than return1 and quote literally from ,mr4 ,rarey4 ,,how ,,to ,,accustom ,a ,,horse ,,to ,a ,,bit4 ,you should use a large1 smooth1 snaffle bit1 so as not to hurt his mouth1 with a bar to each side1 to prevent the bit from pulling through either way4 ,this you should attach to the head-stall of your bridle1 and put it on your colt without any reins to it1 and let him run loose in a large stable or shed some time1 until he becomes a little used to the bit1 and will bear it without trying to get it out of his mouth4 ,it would be well1 if convenient1 to repeat this several times1 before you do anything more with the colt2 as soon as he will bear the bit1 attach a single rein to it4 ,you should also have a halter on your colt1 or a bridle made after the fashion of a halter1 with a strap to it1 so that you can hold or lead him about without pulling on the bit much4 7,see ,woodcut1 p4 #ci47 ,he is now ready for the saddle4 ,,the ,,proper ,,way ,,to ,,bit ,a ,,colt4 ,farmers often put bitting harness on a colt the first thing they do to him1 buckling up the bitting as tight as they can draw it1 to make him carry his head high1 and then turn him out in a field to run a half-day at a time4 ,this is one of the worst of punishments that they could inflict on the colt1 and very injurious to a young horse that has been used to running in pasture with his head down4 ,i have seen colts so injured in this way that they never got over it4 ,a horse should be well accustomed to the bit before you put on the bitting harness1 and when you first bit him you should only rein his head up to that point where he naturally holds it1 let that be high or low2 he will soon learn that he cannot lower his head1 and that raising it a little will loosen the bit in his mouth4 ,this will give him the idea of raising his head to loosen the bit1 and then you can draw the bitting a little tighter every time you put it on1 and he will still raise his head to loosen it2 by this means you will gradually get his head and neck in the position you want him to carry it1 and give him a nice and graceful carriage without hurting him1 making him mad1 or causing his mouth to get sore4 ,if you put the bitting on very tight the first time1 he cannot raise his head enough to loosen it1 but will bear on it all the time1 and paw1 sweat1 and throw himself4 ,many horses have been killed by falling backward with the bitting on2 their heads being drawn up strike the ground with the whole weight of the body4 ,horses that have their heads drawn up tightly should not have the bitting on more than fifteen or twenty minutes at a time4 ,,how ,,to ,,saddle ,a ,,colt4 ,the first thing will be to tie each stirrup-strap into a loose knot to make them short1 and prevent the stirrups from flying about and hitting him4 ,then double up the skirts and take the saddle under your right arm1 so as not to frighten him with it as you approach4 ,when you get to him rub him gently a few times with your hand1 and then raise the saddle very slowly1 until he can see it1 and smell and feel it with his nose4 ,then let the skirt loose1 and rub it very gently against his neck the way the hair lies1 letting him hear the rattle of the skirts as he feels them against him2 each time getting a little farther backward1 and finally slipping it over his shoulders on his back4 ,shake it a little with your hand1 and in less than five minutes you can rattle it about over his back as much as you please1 and pull it off and throw it on again1 without his paying much attention to it4 ,as soon as you have accustomed him to the saddle1 fasten the girth4 ,be careful how you do this4 ,it often frightens the colt when he feels the girth binding him1 and making the saddle fit tight on his back4 ,you should bring up the girth very gently1 and not draw it too tight at first1 just enough to hold the saddle on4 ,move him a little1 and then girth it as tight as you choose1 and he will not mind it4 ,you should see that the pad of your saddle is all right before you put it on1 and that there is nothing to make it hurt him1 or feel unpleasant to his back4 ,it should not have any loose straps on the back part of it1 to flap about and scare him4 ,after you have saddled him in this way1 take a switch in your right hand to tap him up with1 and walk about in the stable a few times with your right arm over your saddle1 taking hold of the reins on each side of his neck with your right and left hands1 thus marching him about in the stable until you teach him the use of the bridle and can turn him about in any direction1 and stop him by a gentle pull of the rein4 ,always caress him1 and loose the reins a little every time you stop him4 ,you should always be alone1 and have your colt in some light stable or shed1 the first time you ride him2 the loft should be high1 so that you can sit on his back without endangering your head4 ,you can teach him more in two hours' time in a stable of this kind1 than you could in two weeks in the common way of breaking colts1 out in an open place4 ,if you follow my course of treatment1 you need not run any risk1 or have any trouble in riding the worst kind of horse4 ,you take him a step at a time1 until you get up a mutual confidence and trust between yourself and horse4 ,first teach him to lead and stand hitched2 next acquaint him with the saddle1 and the use of the bit2 and then all that remains is to get on him without scaring him1 and you can ride him as well as any horse4 ,,how ,,to ,,mount ,,the ,,colt4 ,first gentle him well on both sides1 about the saddle1 and all over until he will stand still without holding1 and is not afraid to see you anywhere about him4 ,as soon as you have him thus gentled1 get a small block1 about one foot or eighteen inches in height1 and set it down by the side of him1 about where you want to stand to mount him2 step up on this1 raising yourself very gently3 horses notice every change of position very closely1 and1 if you were to step up suddenly on the block1 it would be very apt to scare him2 but1 by raising yourself gradually on it1 he will see you1 without being frightened1 in a position very nearly the same as when you are on his back4 ,as soon as he will bear this without alarm1 untie the stirrup-strap next to you1 and put your left foot into the stirrup1 and stand square over it1 holding your knee against the horse1 and your toe out1 so as not to touch him under the shoulder with the toe of your boot4 ,place your right hand on the front of the saddle1 and on the opposite side of you1 taking hold of a portion of the mane and the reins1 as they hang loosely over his neck1 with your left hand2 then gradually bear your weight on the stirrup1 and on your right hand1 until the horse feels your whole weight on the saddle3 repeat this several times1 each time raising yourself a little higher from the block1 until he will allow you to raise your leg over his croup and place yourself in the saddle4 ,there are three great advantages in having a block to mount from4 ,first1 a sudden change of position is very apt to frighten a young horse who has never been handled3 he will allow you to walk up to him1 and stand by his side without scaring at you1 because you have gentled him to that position2 but if you get down on your hands and knees and crawl towards him1 he will be very much frightened2 and upon the same principle1 he would be frightened at your new position if you had the power to hold yourself over his back without touching him4 ,then the first great advantage of the block is to gradually gentle him to that new position in which he will see you when you ride him4 ,secondly1 by the process of leaning your weight in the stirrups1 and on your hand1 you can gradually accustom him to your weight1 so as not to frighten him by having him feel it all at once4 ,and1 in the third place1 the block elevates you so that you will not have to make a spring in order to get on the horse's back1 but from it you can gradually raise yourself into the saddle4 ,when you take these precautions1 there is no horse so wild but what you can mount him without making him jump4 ,i have tried it on the worst horses that could be found1 and have never failed in any case4 ,when mounting1 your horse should always stand without being held4 ,a horse is never well broken when he has to be held with a tight rein when mounting2 and a colt is never so safe to mount as when you see that assurance of confidence1 and absence of fear1 which cause him to stand without holding4 ,mr4 ,rarey's improved plan is to press the palm of the right hand on the off-side of the ,saddle1 and as you rise lean your weight on it2 by this means you can mount with the girths loose1 or without any girths at all4--,,editor4 ,,how ,,to ,,ride ,,the ,,colt4 ,when you want him to start do not touch him on the side with your heel1 or do anything to frighten him and make him jump4 ,but speak to him kindly1 and if he does not start pull him a little to the left until he starts1 and then let him walk off slowly with the reins loose4 ,walk him around in the stable a few times until he gets used to the bit1 and you can turn him about in every direction and stop him as you please4 ,it would be well to get on and off a good many times until he gets perfectly used to it before you take him out of the stable4 ,after you have trained him in this way1 which should not take you more than one or two hours1 you can ride him anywhere you choose without ever having him jump or make any effort to throw you4 ,when you first take him out of the stable be very gentle with him1 as he will feel a little more at liberty to jump or run1 and be a little easier frightened than he was while in the stable4 ,but after handling him so much in the stable he will be pretty well broken1 and you will be able to manage him without trouble or danger4 ,when you first mount him take a little the shortest hold on the left rein1 so that if anything frightens him you can prevent him from jumping by pulling his head round to you4 ,this operation of pulling a horse's head round against his side will prevent any horse from jumping ahead1 rearing up1 or running away4 ,if he is stubborn and will not go1 you can make him move by pulling his head round to one side1 when whipping would have no effect4 ,and turning him round a few times will make him dizzy1 and then by letting him have his head straight1 and giving him a little touch with the whip1 he will go along without any trouble4 ,never use martingales on a colt when you first ride him2 every movement of the hand should go right to the bit in the direction in which it is applied to the reins1 without a martingale to change the direction of the force applied4 ,you can guide the colt much better without it1 and teach him the use of the bit in much less time4 ,besides1 martingales would prevent you from pulling his head round if he should try to jump4 ,after your colt has been ridden until he is gentle and well accustomed to the bit1 you may find it an advantage1 if he carries his head too high or his nose too far out1 to put martingales on him4 ,you should be careful not to ride your colt so far at first as to heat1 worry1 or tire him4 ,get off as soon as you see he is a little fatigued2 gentle him and let him rest2 this will make him kind to you1 and prevent him from getting stubborn or mad4 ,,to ,,break ,a ,,horse ,,to ,,harness4 ,take him in a light stable1 as you did to ride him2 take the harness and go through the same process that you did with the saddle1 until you get him familiar with it1 so that you can put it on him1 and rattle it about without his caring for it4 ,as soon as he will bear this1 put on the lines1 caress him as you draw them over him1 and drive him about in the stable till he will bear them over his hips4 ,the lines are a great aggravation to some colts1 and often frighten them as much as if you were to raise a whip over them4 ,as soon as he is familiar with the harness and lines1 take him out and put him by the side of a gentle horse1 and go through the same process that you did with the balking horse4 ,always use a bridle without blinkers when you are breaking a horse to harness4 ,lead him to and around a light gig or phaeton2 let him look at it1 touch it with his nose1 and stand by it till he does not care for it2 then pull the shafts a little to the left1 and stand your horse in front of the off-wheel4 ,let some one stand on the right side of the horse1 and hold him by the bit1 while you stand on the left side1 facing the sulky4 ,this will keep him straight4 ,run your left hand back1 and let it rest on his hip1 and lay hold of the shafts with your right1 bringing them up very gently to the left hand1 which still remains stationary4 ,do not let anything but your arm touch his back1 and as soon as you have the shafts square over him1 let the person on the opposite side take hold of one of them1 and lower them very gently to the shaft-bearers4 ,be very slow and deliberate about hitching2 the longer time you take the better1 as a general thing4 ,when you have the shafts placed1 shake them slightly1 so that he will feel them against each side4 ,as soon as he will bear them without scaring1 fasten your braces1 c41 and start him along very slowly4 ,let one man lead the horse1 to keep him gentle1 while the other gradually works back with the lines till he can get behind and drive him4 ,after you have driven him in this way a short distance1 you can get into the sulky1 and all will go right4 ,it is very important to have your horse go gently when you first hitch him4 ,after you have walked him awhile1 there is not half so much danger of his scaring4 ,men do very wrong to jump up behind a horse to drive him as soon as they have him hitched4 ,there are too many things for him to comprehend all at once4 ,the shifts1 the lines1 the harness1 and the rattling of the sulky1 all tend to scare him1 and he must be made familiar with them by degrees4 ,if your horse is very wild1 ,i would advise you to put up one foot the first time you drive him4 ,illustration3 ,second ,lesson in ,harness4 ,with the leg strapped up1 the lighter the break or gig the better1 and four wheels are better than two4 ,,to ,,make ,a ,,horse ,,follow ,,you4 ,the directions make simple what have hitherto been among the mysteries of the circus4 ,i can assert from personal observation that by the means described by ,mr4 ,rarey a very nervous thorough-bred mare1 the property of the ,earl of ,derby1 was taught to stand1 answer to her name1 and follow one of his pupils in less than a week4 ,no hack1 and certainly no lady's horse1 is perfect until he has been taught to stand still1 and no hunter is complete until he has learned to follow his master4 ,huntsmen may spend a few hours in the summer very usefully in teaching their old favourites to wait outside cover until wanted4 ,turn him into a large stable or shed1 where there is no chance to get out1 with a halter or bridal on4 ,go to him and gentle him a little1 take hold of his halter1 and turn him towards you1 at the same time touching him lightly over the hips with a long whip4 ,lead him the length of the stable1 rubbing him on the neck1 saying in a steady tone of voice as you lead him1 ,come along1 boy6 or use his name instead of boy1 if you choose4 ,every time you turn1 touch him slightly with the whip1 to make him step up close to you1 and then caress him with your hand4 ,he will soon learn to hurry up to escape the whip and be caressed1 and you can make him follow you around without taking hold of the halter4 ,if he should stop and turn from you1 give him a few sharp cuts about the hind legs1 and he will soon turn his head towards you1 when you must always caress him4 ,a few lessons of this kind will make him run after you1 when he sees the motion of the whip--in twenty or thirty minutes he will follow you about the stable4 ,after you have given him two or three lessons in the stable1 take him out into a small field and train him2 and from thence you can take him into the road and make him follow you anywhere1 and run after you4 ,to make a horse stand without holding1 after you have him well broken to follow you1 place him in the centre of the stable--begin at his head to caress him1 gradually working backwards4 ,if he move1 give him a cut with the whip1 and put him back to the same spot from which he started4 ,if he stands1 caress him as before1 and continue gentling him in this way until you can get round him without making him move4 ,keep walking around him1 increasing your pace1 and only touch him occasionally4 ,enlarge your circle as you walk around1 and if he then moves1 give him another cut with the whip1 and put him back to his place4 ,if he stands1 go to him frequently and caress him1 and then walk around him again4 ,do not keep him in one position too long at a time1 but make him come to you occasionally1 and follow you around the stable4 ,then make him stand in another place1 and proceed as before4 ,you should not train your horse more than half an hour at a time4 ,the following is ,baucher's method of making a horse stand to be mounted1 which1 he says1 may be taught in two lessons1 of half an hour each4 ,i do not know any one who has tried1 but it is worth trying4 ,go up to him1 pat him on the neck 7i4 e4 gentle him71 and speak to him2 then taking the curb reins a few inches from the rings with the left hand1 place yourself so as to offer as much resistance as possible to him when he tries to break away4 ,take the whip in the right hand with the point down1 raise it quietly and tap the horse on the chest2 he will rein back to avoid punishment2 resist and follow him1 continuing the tapping of the whip1 but without anger or haste4 ,the horse1 soon tired of running back1 will endeavour to avoid the infliction by rushing forward2 then stop and make much of him4 ,this repeated once or twice will teach the horse that1 to stand still1 is to avoid punishment1 and will move up to you on a slight motion of the whip4 ,i doubt whether high-spirited horses would stand this treatment4 ,to teach a horse to stand in the field4--,nolan's plan was1 to draw the reins over the horse's head and fasten them to the ground with a peg1 walk away1 return in a few minutes and reward him with bread1 salt1 or carrot2 in a short time the horse will fancy himself fast whenever the reins are drawn over his head4 ,it may be doubted whether1 in the excitement of the hunting-field1 either ,rarey's or ,nolan's plan would avail to make a huntsman's horse stand while hounds were running4 ,scrutator gives another method which is not within everyone's means to execute4 ,in my father's time we had a large field1 enclosed by a high wall1 round which the lads used to exercise their horses1 with a thick rug only1 doubled1 to sit upon4 ,a single snaffle and a sharp curb-bit were placed in the horse's mouth2 the former to ride and guide by4 ,to the curb was attached a long single rein1 which was placed in the boy's hand1 or attached to his wrist4 ,when the horse was in motion1 either walking1 trotting1 or cantering1 the lad would throw himself off1 holding only the long rein attached to the curb1 the sudden pull upon which1 when the lad was on the ground1 would cause the horse's head to be turned round1 and stop him in his career4 ,the boy would then gradually shorten the rein1 until the horse was brought up to him1 then patting and caressing him1 he would again mount4 ,after a very few lessons of this kind1 the horse would always stop the instant the boy fell1 and remain stationary beside him4 ,the lads1 as well as the horses1 were rewarded by my father for their proper performance of this rather singular manoeuvre1 but ,i never saw or knew any accident occur4 ,the horses thus trained proved excellent hunters1 and would never run away from their riders when thrown1 always standing by them until re-mounted4 ,from the lads constantly rubbing and pulling their legs about1 we had no kickers4 ,when a boy of only fifteen1 ,i was allowed to ride a fine mare which has been thus broken in1 in company with the hounds4 ,being nearly sixteen hands high1 ,i had some difficulty in clambering up and down2 but when dislodged from my seat1 she would stand quietly by until re-mounted1 and appeared as anxious for me to get up again as ,i was myself4 ,it may be said that all this was time and trouble thrown away1 and that the present plan of riding a young four-year-old1 straight across country at once1 will answer the same purpose4 ,my reply is1 that a good education1 either upon man1 horse1 or dog1 will never be thrown away2 and1 notwithstanding the number of horses now brought into the hunting-field1 there are still few well-trained hunters to be met with4 ,the horse1 the most beautiful and useful of animals to man1 is seldom sufficiently instructed or familiarised1 although certainly capable of the greatest attachment to his master when well used1 and deserving to be treated more as a friend than a slave4 ,it is a general remark how quiet some high-spirited horses will become when ridden by ladies4 ,the cause of this is1 that they are more quietly handled1 patted1 and caressed by them1 and become soon sensible of this difference of treatment1 from the rough whip-and-spur system1 too generally adopted by men4 ,,on ,,baulking ,,or ,,jibbing ,,horses4 ,horses are taught the dangerous vice of baulking1 or jibbing1 as it is called in ,england1 by improper management4 ,when a horse jibs in harness1 it is generally from some mismanagement1 excitement1 confusion1 or from not knowing how to pull1 but seldom from any unwillingness to perform all that he understands4 ,high-spirited free-going horses are the most subject to baulking1 and only so because drivers do not properly understand how to manage this kind4 ,a free horse in a team may be so anxious to go1 that when he hears the word he will start with a jump1 which will not move the load1 but give him such a severe jerk on the shoulders that he will fly back and stop the other horse4 ,the teamster will continue his driving without any cessation1 and by the time he has the slow horse started again1 he will find that the free horse has made another jump1 and again flown back4 ,and now he has them both badly baulked1 and so confused that neither of them knows what is the matter1 or how to start the load4 ,next will come the slashing and cracking of the whip1 and hallooing of the driver1 till something is broken1 or he is through with his course of treatment4 ,but what a mistake the driver commits by whipping his horse for this act6 ,reason and common sense should teach him that the horse was willing and anxious to go1 but did not know how to start the load4 ,and should he whip him for that8 ,if so1 he should whip him again for not knowing how to talk4 ,a man that wants to act with reason should not fly into a passion1 but should always think before he strikes4 ,it takes a steady pressure against the collar to move a load1 and you cannot expect him to act with a steady1 determined purpose while you are whipping him4 ,there is hardly one baulking horse in five hundred that will pull truly from whipping3 it is only adding fuel to fire1 and will make him more liable to baulk another time4 ,you always see horses that have been baulked a few times turn their heads and look back as soon as they are a little frustrated4 ,this is because they have been whipped1 and are afraid of what is behind them4 ,this is an invariable rule with baulked horses1 just as much as it is for them to look around at their sides when they have the bots4#ajf-99 ,in either case they are deserving of the same sympathy and the same kind1 rational treatment4 ,when your horse baulks1 or is a little excited1 if he wants to start quickly1 or looks around and doesn't want to go1 there is something wrong1 and he needs kind treatment immediately4 ,caress him kindly1 and if he doesn't understand at once what you want him to do1 he will not be so much excited as to jump and break things1 and do everything wrong through fear4 ,as long as you are calm1 and keep down the excitement of the horse1 there are ten chances that you will make him understand you1 where there would not be one under harsh treatment2 and then the little flare up will not carry with it any unfavourable recollections1 and he will soon forget all about it1 and learn to pull truly4 ,almost every wrong act the horse commits is from mismanagement1 fear1 or excitement3 one harsh word will so excite a nervous horse as to increase his pulse ten beats in a minute4 ,when we remember that we are dealing with dumb brutes1 and reflect how difficult it must be for them to understand our motions1 signs1 and language1 we should never get out of patience with them because they don't understand us1 or wonder at their doing things wrong4 ,with all our intellect1 if we were placed in the horse's situation1 it would be difficult for us to understand the driving of some foreigner1 of foreign ways and foreign language4 ,we should always recollect that our ways and language are just as foreign and unknown to the horse as any language in the world is to us1 and should try to practise what we could understand were we the horse1 endeavouring by some simple means to work on his understanding rather than on the different parts of his body4 ,all baulked horses can be started true and steady in a few minutes' time3 they are all willing to pull as soon as they know how1 and ,i never yet found a baulked horse that ,i could not teach to start his load in fifteen1 and often less than three1 minutes' time4 ,almost any team1 when first baulked1 will start kindly if you let them stand five or ten minutes as though there was nothing wrong1 and then speak to them with a steady voice1 and turn them a little to the right or left1 so as to get them both in motion before they feel the pinch of the load4 ,but if you want to start a team that you are not driving yourself1 that has been baulked1 fooled1 and whipped for some time1 go to them and hang the lines on their hames1 or fasten them to the waggon1 so that they will be perfectly loose2 make the driver and spectators 7if there are any7 stand off some distance to one side1 so as not to attract the attention of the horses2 unloose their check-reins1 so that they can get their heads down if they choose2 let them stand a few minutes in this condition until you can see that they are a little composed4 ,while they are standing1 you should be about their heads1 gentling them3 it will make them a little more kind1 and the spectators will think that you are doing something that they do not understand1 and will not learn the secret4 ,when you have them ready to start1 stand before them1 and1 as you seldom have but one baulky horse in a team1 get as near in front of him as you can1 and1 if he is too fast for the other horse1 let his nose come against your breast3 this will keep him steady1 for he will go slow rather than run on you4 ,turn them gently to the right1 without letting them pull on the traces as far as the tongue will let them go3 stop them with a kind word1 gentle them a little1 and then turn them back to the left1 by the same process4 ,you will then have them under your control by this time2 and as you turn them again to the right1 steady them in the collar1 and you can take them where you please4 ,there is a quicker process that will generally start a baulky horse1 but not so sure4 ,stand him a little ahead1 so that his shoulders will be against the collar2 and then take up one of his fore feet in your hand1 and let the driver start them1 and when the weight comes against his shoulders he will try to step3 then let him have his foot1 and he will go right along4 ,if you want to break a horse from baulking that has long been in that habit1 you ought to set apart a half-day for that purpose4 ,put him by the side of some steady horse2 have driving reins on them2 tie up all the traces and straps1 so that there will be nothing to excite them2 do not rein them up1 but let them have their heads loose4 ,walk them about together for some time as slowly and lazily as possible2 stop often1 and go up to your baulky horse and gentle him4 ,do not take any whip about him1 or do anything to excite him1 but keep him just as quiet as you can4 ,he will soon learn to start off at the word1 and stop whenever you tell him4 ,as soon as he performs rightly1 hitch him in an empty waggon2 have it standing in a favourable position for starting4 ,it would be well to shorten the trace-chain behind the steady horse1 so that1 if it is necessary1 he can take the weight of the waggon the first time you start them4 ,do not drive more than a few rods at first2 watch your jibbing horse closely1 and if you see that he is getting excited1 stop him before he stops of his own accord1 caress him a little1 and start again4 ,as soon as they go well1 drive them over a small hill a few times1 and then over a larger one1 occasionally adding a little load4 ,this process will make any horse true to pull4 ,the following anecdote from ,scrutator's ,horses and ,hounds1 illustrates the soundness of ,mr4 ,rarey's system3--,a gentleman in our neighbourhood having purchased a very fine carriage horse1 at a high price1 was not a little annoyed1 upon trial1 to find that he would not pull an ounce1 and when the whip was applied he began plunging and kicking4 ,after one or two trials the coachman declared he could do nothing with him1 and our neighbour1 meeting my father1 expressed his grievances at being thus taken in1 and asked what he had better do4 ,the reply was ',send the horse to me tomorrow morning1 and ,i will return him a good puller within a week4' ,the horse being brought1 was put into the shafts of a wagon1 in a field1 with the hind wheels tied1 and being reined up so that he could not get his head between his legs1 was there left1 with a man to watch him for five or six hours1 and1 of course1 without any food4 ,when my father thought he had enough of standing still1 he went up to him with a handful of sweet hay1 let down the bearing rein1 and had the wheels of the wagon released4 ,after patting the horse on the neck1 when he had taken a mouthful or two of hay1 he took hold of the bridle and led him away--the wagon followed--thus proving stratagem to be better than force4 ,another lesson was scarcely required1 but1 to make sure1 it was repeated1 and1 after that1 the horse was sent back to the owner4 ,there was no complaint ever made of his jibbing again4 ,the wagon to which he was attached was both light and empty1 and the ground inclined rather towards the stable4 ,,footnotes3 #ajf-99 ,a much more severe disease in ,america than in ,england4--,,edit4 ,illustration3 ,,lady',s ,,seat1 ,,with ,,hunting-,,horn ,,pommel4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,value of good horsemanship to both sexes4--,on teaching children4--,anecdote4--,havelock's opinion4--,rarey's plan to train ponies4--,the use of books4--,necessity of regular teaching for girls1 boys can be self-taught4--,commence without a bridle4--,ride with one pair of reins and two hands4--,advantage of hunting-horn on side-saddle4--,on the best plan for mounting4--,rarey's plan4--,on a man's seat4--,nolan's opinion4--,military style4--,hunting style4--,two examples in ,lord ,cardigan4--,the ,prussian style4--,anecdote by ,mr4 ,gould1 ,blucher1 and the ,prince ,regent4--,hints for men learning to ride4--,how to use the reins4--,pull right for right1 and left for left4--,how to collect your horse4 ,you cannot learn to ride from a book1 but you may learn how to do some things and how to avoid many things of importance4 ,those who know all about horses and horsemanship1 or fancy they do1 will not read this chapter4 ,but as there are riding-schools in the ,city of ,london1 where an excellent business is done in teaching well-grown men how to ride for health or fashion1 and as papas who know their own bump-bump style very well often desire to teach their daughters1 ,i have collected the following instructions from my own experience1 now extending over full thirty years1 on horses of all kinds1 including the worst1 and from the best books on the subject1 some of the best being anonymous contributions by distinguished horsemen1 printed for private circulation4 ,every man and woman1 girl and boy1 who has the opportunity1 should learn to ride on horseback4 ,it is almost an additional sense--it is one of the healthiest exercises--it affords amusement when other amusements fail--relaxation from the most severe toil1 and often1 in colonies or wild countries1 the only means of travelling or trading4 ,a man feels twice a man on horseback4 ,the student and the farmer meet1 when mounted1 the ,cabinet ,minister and the landlord on even terms--good horsemanship is a passport to acquaintances in all ranks of life1 and to make acquaintances is one of the arts of civilised life2 to ripen them into use or friendship is another art4 ,on horseback you can call with less ceremony1 and meet or leave a superior with less form than on foot4 ,rotten ,row is the ride of idleness and pleasure1 but there is a great deal of business done in sober walks and slow canters1 commercial1 political1 and matrimonial4 ,for a young lady not to be able to ride with a lover is a great loss2 not to be able to ride with a young husband a serious privation4 ,the first element for enjoying horse exercise is good horsemanship4 ,colonel ,greenwood says very truly3--,good riding is worth acquiring by those whose pleasure or business it is to ride1 because it is soon and easily acquired1 and1 when acquired1 it becomes habitual2 and it is as easy1 nay1 much more easy1 and infinitely more safe1 than bad riding4 ,good riding will last through age1 sickness1 and decrepitude1 but bad riding will last only as long as youth1 health1 and strength supply courage2 for good riding is an affair of skill1 but bad riding is an affair of courage4 ,a bold bad rider must not be merely brave2 he must be fool-hardy2 for he is perpetually in as much danger as a blind man among precipices4 ,in riding1 as in most other things1 danger is for the timid and the unskilful4 ,the skilful rider1 when apparently courting danger in the field1 deserves no more credit for courage than for sitting in an arm-chair1 and the unskilful no more the imputation of timidity for backwardness than if without practice he declined to perform on the tight-rope4 ,depend upon it1 the bold bad rider is the hero4 ,there is nothing heroic in good riding1 when dissected4 ,the whole thing is a matter of detail--a collection of trifles--and its principles are so simple in theory and so easy in practice that they are despised4 ,it is an accomplishment that may1 to a certain extent1 be acquired late in life4 ,i know instances in both sexes of a fair firm seat having been acquired under the pressure of necessity after forty years of age 7,i could name lawyers1 sculptors1 architects1 and sailors71 but it may be acquired with ease and perfection in youth1 and it is most important that no awkward habits should be acquired4 ,children who have courage may be taught to ride almost as soon as they can walk4 ,on the ,pampas of ,south ,america you may see a boy seven years old on horseback1 driving a herd of horses1 and carrying a baby in his arms6 ,i began my own lessons at four1 when ,i sat upon an old mare in the stall while the groom polished harness or blacked his boots4 ,mr4 ,nathaniel ,gould1 who1 at upwards of seventy years1 and sixteen stone weight1 can still ride hunting for seven or eight hours at a stretch1 mentions1 in his observations on horses and hunting1#aad-99 that a nephew of his followed the ,cheshire fox-hounds at seven years of age4 ,his manner of gathering up his reins was most singular1 and his power of keeping his seat1 with his little legs stretched horizontally along the saddle1 quite surprising4 ,the hero ,havelock1 writing to his little boy1 says1 ,you are now seven years old1 and ought to learn to ride4 ,i hope to hear soon that you have made progress in that important part of your education4 ,your uncle ,william 7a boy-hero in the ,peninsula7 rode well before he was seven years old4 ,the proper commencement for a boy is a pony in which he can interest himself1 and on which he may learn to sit as a horseman should4 ,i particularly warn parents against those broad-backed animals which1 however suitable for carrying heavy old gentlemen1 or sacks to market1 are certainly very uncomfortable for the short legs of little boys1 and likely to induce rupture4 ,on a narrow1 well-bred pony1 of #aa or #ab hands high1 a boy of six can sit like a little man4 ,it is cruel to make children ride with bare legs4 ,before ,rarey introduced his system1 there was no satisfactory mode of training those ponies that were too small for a man to mount1 unless the owner happened to live near some racing stable1 where he could obtain the services of a feather-weight doll1 and then the pony often learned tricks more comic than satisfactory4 ,by patiently applying the practices explained in the preceding chapters1 the smallest and most highly-bred pony may be reduced to perfect docility without impairing its spirit1 and taught a number of amusing tricks4 ,young ladies may learn on full-sized horses quite as well as on ponies1 if they are provided with suitable side-saddles4 ,a man1 or rather a boy1 may learn to ride by practice and imitation1 and go on tumbling about until he has acquired a firm and even elegant seat1 but no lady can ever learn to ride as a lady should ride1 without a good deal of instruction2 because her seat on horseback is so thoroughly artificial1 that without some competent person to tell her of her faults1 she is sure to fall into a number of awkward ungraceful tricks4 ,besides1 a riding-school1 with its enclosed walls and trained horses1 affords an opportunity of going through the preliminary lessons without any of those accidents which on the road1 or in a field1 are very likely to occur with a raw pupil on a fresh horse4 ,for a young lad to fall on the grass1 is not a serious affair1 but a lady should never be allowed to run the chance of a fall1 because it is likely to destroy the nerve1 without which no lessons can be taught successfully4 ,all who have noticed the performances of ,amazones in ,london1 or at ,brighton1 must have in remembrance the many examples of ladies who1 with great courage1 sit in a manner that is at once fearful and ridiculous to behold2 entirely dependent on the good behaviour of horses1 which they1 in reality1 have no power of turning1 and scarcely of stopping4 ,little girls who learn their first lessons by riding with papa1 who is either absorbed in other business1 or himself a novice in the art of horsemanship1 get into poky habits1 which it is extremely difficult to eradicate when they reach the age when every real woman wishes to be admired4 ,therefore1 let everyone interested in the horsemanship of a young lady commence by placing her1 as early as possible1 under the tuition of a competent professional riding-master1 unless he knows enough to teach her himself4 ,there are many riding-schools where a fair seat is acquired by the lady pupils1 but in ,london1 at any rate1 only two or three where they learn to use the reins1 so as to control an unruly horse4 ,both sexes are apt to acquire the habit of holding on by the bridle4 ,to avoid this grave error1 the first lessons in walking and cantering should be given to the pupil on a led horse1 without taking hold of the bridle2 and this should be repeated in learning to leap4 ,the horsemanship of a lady is not complete until she has learned to leap1 whether she intends to ride farming or hunting1 or to confine herself to ,rotten ,row canters2 for horses will leap and bound at times without permission4 ,i have high authority for recommending lessons without holding the bridle4 ,lady ,mildred ,h----1 one of the most accomplished horsewomen of the day1 taught her daughter to walk1 trot1 canter1 gallop1 and leap1 without the steadying assistance of the reins4 ,a second point is1 that every pupil in horsemanship should begin by holding the rein or reins 7one is enough to begin with7 in both hands1 pulling to the right when they want to go to the right1 and to the left when they wish to go to the left1 that is the proper way of riding every strange horse1 every colt1 and every hunter1 that does not perfectly know his business1 for it is the only way in which you have any real command over your horse4 ,but almost all our riding-school rules are military4 ,soldiers are obliged to carry a sword in one hand1 and to rely1 to a great extent1 on the training of their horses for turning right or left4 ,ladies and gentlemen have no swords to carry1 and neither possess1 nor can desire to possess1 such machines as troop-horses4 ,besides other more important advantages which will presently be described by commencing with two-handed riding1 a lady is more likely to continue to sit squarely1 than when holding the reins with one hand1 and pretending to guide a horse who really guides himself4 ,a man has the power of turning a horse1 to a certain extent1 with his legs and spurs2 a woman must depend on her reins1 whip1 and left leg4 ,as only one rein and the whip can be well held in one hand1 double reins1 except for hunting1 are to a lady merely a perplexing puzzle4 ,the best way for a lady is to knot up the snaffle1 and hang it over the pommel1 and ride with a light hand on the curb4 ,in order to give those ladies who may not have instruction at hand an idea of a safe1 firm1 and elegant seat1 ,i have placed at the head of this chapter a woodcut1 which shows how the legs should be placed4 ,the third or hunting-horn pommel must be fitted to the rider1 as its situation in the saddle will differ1 to some extent1 according to the length of the lady's legs4 ,i hope my plain speaking will not offend ,american friends4 ,the first step is to sit well down on the saddle1 then pass the right leg over the upstanding pommel1 and let it hang straight down1--a little back1 if leaping2 if the foot pokes out1 the lady has no firm hold4 ,the stirrup must then be shortened1 so as to bring the bent thigh next to the knee of the left leg firmly against the under side of the hunting-horn pommel4 ,if1 when this is done1 an imaginary line were drawn from the rider's backbone1 which would go through the centre of the saddle1 close to the cantle1 she is in her proper place1 and leaning rather back than forward1 firm and close from the hips downwards1 flexible from her hips upwards1 with her hands holding the reins apart1 a little above the level of her knee1 she is in a position at once powerful and graceful4 ,this is a very imperfect description of a very elegant picture4 ,the originals1 few and far between1 are to be found for nine months of the year daily in ,rotten ,row4 ,a lady in mounting1 should hold the reins in her left hand1 and place it on the pommel1 the right hand as far over the cantle as she can comfortably reach4 ,if there is no skilful man present to take her foot1 make any man kneel down and put out his right knee as a step1 and let down the stirrup to be shortened afterwards4 ,practise on a high chest of drawers6 ,after all the rules of horsemanship have been perfectly learned1 nothing but practice can give the instinct which prepares a rider for the most sudden starts1 leaps1 and kickings up behind and before4 ,the style of a man's seat must1 to a certain extent1 be settled by his height and shape4 ,a man with short round legs and thighs cannot sit down on his horse like tall thin men1 such as ,jim ,mason1 or ,tom ,oliver1 but men of the most unlikely shapes1 by dint of practice and pluck1 go well in the hunting-field1 and don't look ridiculous on the road4 ,there are certain rules laid down as to the length of a man's stirrup-leathers1 but the only good rule is that they should be short enough to give the rider full confidence in his seat1 and full power over a pulling horse4 ,for hunting it is generally well to take them up one hole shorter than on the road4 ,the military directions for mounting are absurd for civilians2 in the first place1 there ought to be no right side or wrong side in mounting2 in both the street and hunting-field it is often most convenient to mount on what is called the wrong side4 ,in the next place horses trained on the ,rarey plan 7and very soon all horses will be71 will stand without thinking of moving when placed by the rider1 so that the military direction to stand before the stirrup becomes unnecessary4 ,the following is ,mr4 ,rarey's plan of mounting for men1 which is excellent1 but is not described in his book1 and indeed is difficult to describe at all4 ,to mount with the girths slack without bearing on the stirrup4--,take up the reins and a lock of the mane1 stand behind the withers looking at your horse's head1 put your foot in the stirrup1 and while holding the reins in one hand on the neck1 place the other open and flat on the other side of the saddle as far down as the edge of the little flap1 turn your toe out1 so as not to touch the horse's belly1 and rise by leaning on your flat hand1 thus pressing hard on the side of the saddle opposite to that on which you are mounting4 ,the pressure of your hands will counterbalance your weight1 and you will be able to mount without straining the girths1 or even without any girths at all4 ,if you are not tall enough to put your foot fairly in the stirrup1 use a horse-block1 or1 better still1 a piece of solid wood about eighteen inches high1 that can be moved about anywhere4 ,young men should learn to leap into the saddle by placing both hands on the cantle1 as the horse moves4 ,i have seen ,daly1 the steeplechaser1 who was a little man1 do this often in the hunting-field1 before he broke his thigh4 ,with respect to the best model for a seat1 ,i recommend the very large class who form the best customers of riding-school masters in the great towns of ,england1 ,i mean the gentlemen from eighteen to eight-and-twenty1 who begin to ride as soon as they have the means and the opportunity1 to study the style of the first-class steeplechase jockeys and gentlemen riders in the hunting-field whenever they have the opportunity4 ,almost all riding-masters are old dragoons1 and what they teach is good as far as it goes1 as to general appearance and carriage of the body1 but generally the military notions about the use of a rider's arms and legs are utterly wrong4 ,on this point we cannot have a better authority then that of the late ,captain ,nolan1 who served in the ,austrian1 ,hungarian1 and in the ,english cavalry in ,india1 and who studied horsemanship in ,russia1 and all other ,european countries celebrated for their cavalry4 ,he says-- ,the difference between a school 7viz4 an ordinary military horseman7 and a real horseman is this1 the first depends upon guiding and managing his horse for maintaining his seat2 the second depends upon his seat for controlling and guiding his horse4 ,at a trot the school rider1 instead of lightly rising to the action of the horse1 bumps up and down1 falling heavily on the horse's loins1 and hanging on the reins to prevent the animal slipping from under him1 whilst he is thrown up in his seat4 ,it is a curious circumstance that the ,english alone have two styles of horsemanship4 ,the one1 natural and useful1 formed in the hunting-field2 the other1 artificial and military1 imported from the ,continent4 ,if you go into ,rotten ,row in the season you may see ,general the ,earl of ,cardigan riding a trained charger in the most approved military style--the toes in the stirrups1 long stirrup-leathers1 heels down1 legs from the knee carefully clear of the horse's sides--in fact1 the balance seat1 handed down by tradition from the time when knights wore complete armour and could ride in no other way1 for the weight of the armour rendered a fall certain if once the balance was lost2 a very grand and graceful style it is when performed by a master of the art of the length of limb of the ,earl1 or his more brilliant predecessor1 the late ,marquess of ,anglesea4 ,but if you go into ,northamptonshire in the hunting season1 you may see the same ,earl of ,cardigan in his scarlet coat1 looking twice as thick in the waist1 sailing away in the first flight1 sitting down on the part intended by nature for a seat1 with his knees well bent1 and his calves employed in distributing his weight over the horse's back and sides4 ,in the one case the ,earl is a real1 in the other a show1 horseman4 ,therefore1 when a riding-master tells you that you must ride by balance1 with your body upright1 knee drawn back1 and the feet in a perpendicular line with the shoulder1 and your legs from the knee downward brought away to prevent what is called clinging1 listen to him1 learn all you can--do not argue1 that would be useless--and then take the first opportunity of studying those who are noted for combining an easy1 natural seat with grace--that is1 if you are built for gracefulness--some people are not4 ,in ,nolan's words1 ,let a man have a roomy saddle1 and sit close to the horse's back2 let the leg be supported by the stirrup in a natural position1 without being so short as to throw back the thigh1 and the nearer the whole leg is brought to the horse the better1 so long as the foot is not bent below the ankle-joint4 ,soon after the battle of ,waterloo1 by influence of the ,prince ,regent1 who fancied he knew something about cavalry1 a ,prussian was introduced to teach our cavalry a new style of equitation1 which consisted in entirely abandoning the use of that part of the person in which his ,royal ,highness was so highly gifted1 and riding on the fork like a pair of compasses on a rolling pin1 with perfectly straight legs4 ,for a considerable period this ridiculous drill1 which deprived the soldiers of all power over their horses1 was carried on in the fields where ,belgrave ,square now stands1 and was not abandoned until the number of men who suffered by it was the cause of a serious remonstrance from commanding officers4 ,it is a pity that the reverse system has never been tried1 and a regiment of cavalry taught riding on ,english fox-hunting principles1 using the snaffle on the road1 and rising in the trot4 ,but it must be admitted that since the war there has been a great improvement in this respect1 and there will probably be more as the martinets of the old school die off4 ,it was not for want of examples of a better style that the continental military style was forced upon our cavalry4 ,mr4 ,nathaniel ,gould relates in his little book as an instance of what determined hunting-men can do1 that-- ,when1 in the year #ahae1 ,blucher arrived in ,london and drove at once to ,carlton ,house1 ,i was one of a few out of an immense concourse of horsemen who accompanied his carriage from ,shooter's ,hill1 riding on each side2 spite of all obstacles we forced ourselves through the ,horse ,guards gate and the troop of guardsmen1 in like manner through the ,light ,cavalry and gate at ,carlton ,house1 as well as the posse of constables in the court-yard1 and drove our horses up the flight of stone steps into the salon1 though the guards1 beefeaters1 and constables arrayed themselves against this irruption of ,cossacks1 and actually came to the charge4 ,the ,prince1 however1 in the noblest manner waved his hand1 and we were allowed to form a circle round the ,regent while ,blucher had the blue ribbon placed on his shoulders1 and was assisted to rise by the ,prince in the most dignified manner4 ,his ,royal ,highness then slightly acknowledged our presence1 we backed to the door1 and got down the steps again with only one accident1 that arising from a horse1 which1 on being urged forward1 took a leap down the whole flight of stairs4 ,but to return to the subject of a man's seat on horseback4 ,nolan1 quoting ,baucher1 says1 ,when first put on horseback1 devote a few lessons to making his limbs supple1 in the same way that you begin drill on foot with extension motions4 ,show him how to close up the thigh and leg to the saddle1 and then work the leg backwards and forwards1 up and down1 without stirrups2 make him swing a weight round in a circle from the shoulder as centre2 the other hand placed on the thigh1 thence to the rear1 change the weight to the opposite hand1 and same4 ,placing one hand on the horse's mane1 make him lean down to each side in succession1 till he reaches to within a short distance of the ground4 ,these exercises give a man a firm hold with his legs1 on a horse1 and teach him to move his limbs without quitting his seat4 ,then take him in the circle in the longe1 and1 by walking and trotting alternately1 teach him the necessity of leaning with the body to the side the horse is turning to4 ,this is the necessary balance4 ,then put him with others1 and give him plenty of trotting1 to shake him into his seat4 ,by degrees teach him how to use the reins1 then the leg4 ,these directions for training a full-grown trooper may be of use to civilians4 ,,hands ,,and ,,reins4 ,presuming that you are in a fair way to obtain a secure seat1 the next point is the use of the reins and the employment of your legs1 for it is by these that a horseman holds1 urges1 and turns his horse4 ,to handle a horse in perfection1 you must have1 besides instruction1 good hands4 ,good or light hands1 like the touch of a first-rate violinist1 are a gift1 not always to be acquired even by thought and practice4 ,the perfection of riding is to make your horse understand and obey your directions1 as conveyed through the reins--to halt1 or go fast or slow2 to walk1 trot1 canter1 or gallop2 to lead off with right or left leg1 to change leg1 to turn either way1 and to rise in leaping at the exact point you select4 ,no one but a perfect horseman1 with naturally fine hands1 can do this perfectly1 but every young horseman should try4 ,the golden rule of horsemanship is laid down by ,colonel ,greenwood1 in a sentence that noodles will despise for its trite simplicity3--,when you wish to turn to the right1 pull the right rein stronger than the left4 ,this is common sense4 ,no horse becomes restive in the colt-breaker's hands4 ,the reason is1 that they ride with one bridle and two hands1 instead of two bridles and one hand4 ,when they wish to go to the left1 they pull the left rein stronger than the right4 ,when they wish to go to the right1 they pull the right rein stronger than the left4 ,if the colt does not obey these indications1 at least he understands them1 even the first time he is mounted1 and the most obstinate will not long resist them4 ,acting on these plain principles1 ,i saw1 in ,august last1 a three-year-old colt which1 placed absolutely raw and unbridled in ,mr4 ,rarey's hands1 within seven days answered every indication of the reins like an old horse--turned right or left1 brought his nose to the rider's knee1 and backed like an old trooper4 ,but it takes a long time to make a colt understand that he is to turn to the right when the left rein is pulled2 and if any horse resists1 the rider has no power one-handed1 as the reins are usually held1 to compel him4 ,the practice of one-handed riding originated in military schools2 for a soldier has to carry a sword or lance1 and depends chiefly on his well-trained horse and the pressure of his legs4 ,no one ever attempts to turn a horse in harness with one hand1 although there the driver has the assistance of the terrets1 and it is equally absurd to attempt it with a colt or horse with a delicate mouth4 ,of course1 with an old-trained hack even the reins are a mere form2 any hint is enough4 ,the advantage of double-handed riding is1 that1 in a few hours1 any colt and any pupil in horsemanship may learn it4 ,to make the most of a horse1 the reins must be held with a smooth1 even bearing1 not hauling at a horse's mouth1 as if it were made of ,indian rubber1 nor yet leaving the reins slack1 but so feeling him that you can instantaneously direct his course in any direction1 as if1 to use old ,chifney's phrase1 your rein was a worsted thread4 ,your legs are to be used to force your horse forward up to the bit1 and also to guide him4 ,that is1 when you turn to the right pull the right rein sharpest and press with the left leg2 when to the left1 vice vers4 ,unless a horse rides up to the bit you have no control over him4 ,a good horseman chooses his horse's ground and his pace for him4 ,to avoid a falling leaf a horse will put his foot over a precipice4 ,when a horse has made a stumble1 or is in difficulties at a fence1 you cannot leave him too much at liberty1 or be too quiet with him4 ,don't believe the nonsense people talk about holding a horse up after he has stumbled4 ,the pupil horseman should remember to drop his hands as low as he can on each side the withers1 without stooping1 when a horse becomes restive1 plunging or attempting to run away4 ,the instinct of a novice is to do exactly what he ought not to do--raise his hands4 ,by a skilful use of the reins and your own legs1 with or without spurs1 you collect1 or1 as ,colonel ,greenwood well expresses it1 you condense your horse1 at a stand1 that is1 you make him stand square1 yet ready to move in any direction at any pace that you require2 this is one use of the curb bit4 ,it is on the same principle that fashionable coachmen hit and hold their high-bred horses while they thread the crowded streets of the ,west end in season1 or that you see a hard rider1 when starting with three hundred companions at the joyful sound of ,tally-ho1 pricking and holding his horse1 to have him ready for a great effort the moment he is clear of the crowd4 ,by a judicious use of the curb rein1 you collect a tired horse2 tired horses are inclined to sprawl about4 ,you draw his hind-legs under him1 throw him upon his haunches1 and render him less liable to fall even on his weary or weak fore-legs4 ,but a pull at the reins when a horse is falling may make him hold up his head1 but cannot make him hold up his legs4 ,when a horse is in movement there should be a constant touch or feeling or play between his mouth and the rider's hands4 ,not the hold by which riders of the foreign school retain their horses at an artificial parade pace1 which is inconceivably fatiguing to the animal1 and quite contrary to our ,english notions of natural riding2 but a gradual1 delicate firm feeling of the mouth and steady indications of the legs1 which keep a fiery well-broken horse always1 to use a school phrase1 between your hands and legs4 ,you cannot take too much pains to acquire this art1 for although it is not exercised on an old hack1 that you ride with reins held any how1 and your legs dangling anywhere1 it is called into action and gives additional enjoyment to be striding the finest class of high-couraged delicate-mouthed horses--beautiful creatures that seem to enjoy being ridden by a real horseman or light-handed ,amazone1 but which become frantic in ignorant or brutal hands4 ,a horse should never be turned without being made to collect himself1 without being retained by the hands and urged by the legs1 as well as guided by both2 that is1 in turning to the right both hands should retain him1 and the right hand guide him1 by being used the strongest2 in turning to the left1 both legs should urge him1 and the left guide him by being pressed the strongest4 ,don't turn into the contrary extreme1 slackening the left rein1 and hauling the horse's head round to the right4 ,the same rules should be observed for making a horse canter with the right leg1 but the right rein should be only drawn enough to develop his right nostril4 ,reining ,back4--,you must collect a horse with your legs before you rein him back1 because if you press him back first with the reins he may throw all his weight on his hind legs under him1 stick out his nose1 hug his tail1 and then he cannot stir--you must recover him to his balance1 and give him power to step back4 ,this rule is often neglected by carters in trying to make the shaft-horse back4 ,rearing4--,knot the snaffle rein--loose it when the horse rears--put your right arm round the horse's neck1 with the hand well up and close under the horse's gullet2 press your left shoulder forward so as to bring your chest to the horse's near side1 for1 if the horse falls1 you will fall clear2 the moment he is descending1 press him forward1 take up the rein1 which1 being knotted1 is short to your hands1 and ply the spurs4 ,but a horse1 after being laid down and made walk1 tied up like the zebra a few times1 will seldom persist1 because the moment he attempts to rise you pull his off hind leg under him and he is powerless4 ,leaping4--,the riding-school is a bad place to teach a horse to leap4 ,the bar1 with its posts1 is very apt to frighten him2 if a colt has not been trained to leap as it should be by following its dam before it is mounted1 take it into the fields and let it follow well-trained horses over easy low fences and little ditches1 slowly without fuss1 and1 as part of the ride1 not backwards and forwards--always leap on the snaffle4 ,our cavalry officers learn to leap1 not in the school1 but across country4 ,nolan tells a story that1 during some manoeuvres in ,italy1 an ,austrian general1 with his staff1 got amongst some enclosures and sent some of his aide-de-camps to find an outlet4 ,they peered over the stone walls1 rode about1 but could find no gap4 ,the general turned to one of his staff1 a ,yorkshireman1 and said1 ,see if you can find a way out of this place4 ,mr4 ,w----k1 mounted on a good ,english horse1 went straight at the wall1 cleared it1 and1 while doing so1 turned in his saddle and touched his cap and said1 ,this way1 general2 but his way did not suit the rest of the party4 ,there is a good deal taught in the best military schools1 well worth time and study1 which1 with practice in horse-taming1 would fill up the idle time of that numerous class who never read1 and find time heavy on their hands1 when out of town life4 ,but a military riding-school1 says ,colonel ,greenwood1 is too apt to teach you to sit on your horse as stiff as a statue1 to let your right hand hang down as useless as if ,god had never gifted you with one1 to stick your left hand out1 with a stiff straight wrist like a boltsprit1 and to turn your horse invariably on the wrong rein4 ,i should not venture to say so much on my own authority1 but ,captain ,nolan says further1 speaking of the effect of the foreign school 7not ,baucher's71 on horses and men1 ,the result of this long monotonous course of study is1 that on the uninitiated the school rider makes a pleasing impression1 his horse turns1 prances1 and caracoles without any visible aid1 or without any motion in the horseman's upright1 imposing attitude4 ,but ,i have lived and served with them4 ,i have myself been a riding-master1 and know1 from experience1 the disadvantages of this foreign seat and system4 ,there is nothing that requires more patience and firmness than a shying horse4 ,shying arises from three causes--defective eyesight1 skittishness1 and fear4 ,if a horse always shies from the same side you may be sure the eye on that side is defective4 ,you may know that a horse shies from skittishness if he flies one day snorting from what he meets the next with indifference2 dark stables also produce this irregular shying4 ,nervousness1 which is often increased by brutality1 as the horse is not only afraid of the object1 but of the whipping and spurring he has been accustomed to receive1 can be alleviated1 to some extent1 by the treatment already described in the horse-training chapter4 ,but horses first brought from the country to a large town are likely to be alarmed at a number of objects4 ,you must take time to make them acquainted with each4 ,for instance1 ,i brought a mare from the country that everything moving seemed to frighten4 ,i am convinced she had been ill-used1 or had had an accident in harness4 ,the first time a railway train passed in her sight over a bridge spanning the road she was travelling1 she would turn round and would have run away had ,i not been able to restrain her2 ,i could feel her heart beat between my legs4 ,acting on the principles of ,xenophon and ,mr4 ,rarey1 ,i allowed her to turn1 but compelled her to stand1 twenty yards off1 while the train passed4 ,she looked back with a fearful eye all the time--it was a very slow luggage train--while ,i soothed her4 ,after once or twice she consented to face the train1 watching it with crested neck and ears erect2 by degrees she walked slowly forwards1 and in the course of a few days passed under the bridge in the midst of the thunder of a train with perfect indifference4 ,if you can distinctly ascertain that a horse shies and turns round from mere skittishness1 correct him when he turns1 not as long as he faces the object3 he will soon learn that it is for turning that he is visited with whip and spurs4 ,a few days' practice and patience essentially alter the character of the most nervous horses4 ,books contain very elaborate descriptions of what a hack or a hunter should be in form1 c4 ,to most persons these descriptions convey no practical ideas4 ,the better plan is to take lessons on the proportions and anatomy of a horse from some intelligent judge or veterinary surgeon4 ,you must study1 and buy1 and lose your money on many horses before you can safely1 if ever1 depend on your own judgment in choosing a horse4 ,and1 after all1 a natural talent for comparison and eye for proportion are only the gift of a few4 ,some men have horses all their lives1 and yet scarcely know a good animal from a bad one1 although they may know what they like to drive1 or ride or hunt4 ,the safe plan is to distrust your own judgment until you feel you have had experience enough to choose for yourself4 ,hacks for long distances are seldom required in ,england in these railway days4 ,a town hack should be good-looking1 sure-footed1 not too tall1 and active1 for you are always in sight1 you have to ride over slippery pavement1 to turn sharp corners1 and to mount and dismount often4 ,rarey's system of making the horse obey the voice1 stand until called1 and follow the rider1 may easily be taught1 and is of great practical value thus applied4 ,a cover or country hack must be fast1 but need not be so showy in action or handsome as a town hack--his merit is to get over the ground4 ,teach your hack to walk well with the reins loose--no pace is more gentlemanly and useful than a good steady walk4 ,any well-bred screw can gallop2 it is the slow paces that show a gentleman's hack4 ,if on a long journey1 walk a quarter of a mile for every four you trot or canter1 choosing the softest bits of road or turf4 ,do not permit the saddle to be removed for at least half an hour after arriving with your horse hot4 ,a neglect of this precaution will give a sore back4 ,a lady's horse1 beside other well-known qualifications of beauty and pace1 should be up to the lady's weight4 ,it is one of the fictions of society that all ladies eat little and weigh little4 ,now1 a saddle and habit weigh nearly three stone1 a very slim lady will weigh nine1 so there you reach twelve stone1 which1 considering how fond young girls are of riding fast and long over hard roads1 is no mean weight4 ,the best plan is to put the dear creatures into the scales with their saddles1 register the result1 and choose a horse calculated to be a good stone over the gross weight4 ,how few ladies remember1 as for hours they canter up and down ,rotten ,row1 that that famous promenade is a mile and a quarter in length1 so ten turns make twelve miles and a half4 ,the qualifications of a hunter need not be described1 because all those who need these hints will1 if they have common sense1 only take hunters like servants1 with established characters of at least one season4 ,remember that a horse for driving requires courage1 for he is always going fast--he never walks4 ,people who only keep one or two horses often make the same mistake1 as if they engaged ,lord ,gourmet's cook for a servant of all work4 ,they see a fiery caprioling animal1 sleek as a mole1 gentle1 but full of fire1 come out of a nobleman's stud1 where he was nursed like a child1 and only ridden or driven in his turn1 with half-a-dozen others4 ,seduced by his lively appearance1 they purchase him1 and place him under the care of a gardener-groom1 or at livery1 work him every day1 early and late1 and are surprised to find his flesh melt1 his coat lose its bloom1 and his lively pace exchanged for a dull shamble4 ,this is a common case4 ,the wise course is to select for a horse of all work an animal that has been always accustomed to work hard2 he will then improve with care and regular exercise4 ,horses under six years' old are seldom equal to very hard work3 they are not1 full-grown1 of much use1 where only one or two are kept4 ,make a point of caressing your horse1 and giving him a carrot or apple whenever he is brought to you1 at the same time carefully examine him all over1 see to his legs1 his shoes1 and feet2 notice if he is well groomed2 see to the condition of his furniture1 and see always that he is properly bitted4 ,grooms are often careless and ignorant4 ,as to ,shoeing4 ,in large towns there are always veterinary surgeons' forges1 where the art is well understood1 and so1 too1 in hunting districts2 but where you have to rely on ignorant blacksmiths you cannot do better than rely on the rather exaggerated instructions contained in ,miles on the ,horse's ,foot1 issued at a low price by the ,royal ,agricultural ,society4 ,good shoeing prolongs the use of a horse for years4 ,stables4--,most elaborate directions are given for the construction of stables2 but most people are obliged to put up with what they find on their premises4 ,stables should be so ventilated that they never stink1 and are never decidedly warm in cold weather1 if you wish your horses to be healthy4 ,grooms will almost always stop up ventilation if they can4 ,loose boxes are to be preferred to stalls1 because in them a tired horse can place himself in the position most easy to him4 ,sloping stalls are chambers of torture4 ,hunters should be placed away from other horses1 where1 after a fatiguing day1 they can lie at length1 undisturbed by men or other horses in use4 ,stables should be as light as living rooms1 but with louvers to darken them in summer1 in order to keep out the flies4 ,an ample supply of cold and hot water without troubling the cook is essential in a well-managed stable4 ,large stables are magnificent1 but a mistake4 ,four or five horses are quite as many as can be comfortably lodged together4 ,i have seen hunters in an old barn in better condition than in the grandest temples of fashionable architects4 ,it takes an hour to dress a horse well in the morning1 and more on return hot from work4 ,from this hint you may calculate what time your servant must devote to his horses if they are to be well dressed4 ,if you are in the middle class1 with a small stud1 never take a swell groom from a great stable--he will despise you and your horses4 ,hunting farmers and hunting country surgeons train the best class of grooms4 ,when you find an honest1 sober man1 who thoroughly knows his business1 you cannot treat him too well1 for half the goodness of a horse depends1 like a ,french dish1 on the treatment4 ,,footnotes3 #aad-99 ,hints on ,horses and ,hunting1 by ,senex4 ,illustration3 ,,side ,,saddle4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,on ,,horseman',s ,,and ,,horsewoman',s ,,dress1 ,,and ,,horse ,,furniture4 ,on bits4--,the snaffle4--,the use of the curb4--,the ,pelham4--,the ,hanoverian bit described4--,martingales4--,the gentleman's saddle to be large enough4--,spurs4--,not to be too sharp4--,the ,somerset saddle for the timid and aged4--,the ,nolan saddle without flaps4--,ladies' saddle described4--,advantages of the hunting-horn crutch4--,ladies' stirrup4--,ladies' dress4--,hints on4--,habit4--,boots4--,whips4--,hunting whips4--,use of the lash4--,gentleman's riding costume4--,hunting dress4--,poole1 the great authority4--,advantage of cap over hat in hunting4--,boot-tops and ,napoleons4--,quotation from ,warburton's ballads4 ,if you wish to ride comfortably1 you must look as carefully to see that your horse's furniture fits and suits him as to your own boots and breeches4 ,illustration3 ,,curb-,,bit4 ,when a farmer buys a team of oxen1 if he knows his business he asks their names1 because oxen answer to their names4 ,on the same principle it is well to inquire what bit a horse has been accustomed to1 and if you cannot learn1 try several until you find out what suits him4 ,there are rare horses1 that carry their own heads1 in dealers' phrase1 safely and elegantly with a plain snaffle bridle2 but except in the hands of a steeple-chase jock1 few are to be so trusted4 ,besides1 as reins1 as well as snaffles1 break1 it is not safe to hunt much with one bit and one bridle-rein4 ,the average of horses go best on a double bridle1 that is to say1 the common hard and sharp or curb1 with a snaffle4 ,the best way is to ride on the snaffle1 and use the curb only when it is required to stop your horse suddenly1 to moderate his speed when he is pulling too hard1 or when he is tired or lazy to collect him1 by drawing his nose down and his hind-legs more under him1 for that is the first effect of taking hold of the curb-rein4 ,there are many horses with good mouths1 so far that they can be stopped easily with a plain snaffle1 and yet require a curb-bit1 to make them carry their heads in the right place1 and this they often seem to do from the mere hint of the curb-chain dangling against their chins1 without the rider being obliged to pull at the reins with any perceptible force4 ,illustration3 ,,plain ,,snaffle4 ,the ,pelham-bit 7see cut71 which is a sort of snaffle-bit with cheeks and a curb-chain1 is a convenient style for this class of horse4 ,a powerful variation of the ,pelham1 called the ,hanoverian1 has within the last few years come very much into use4 ,it requires the light hands of a practised horseman to use the curb-reins of the ,hanoverian on a delicate-mouthed horse2 but when properly used no bit makes a horse bend and display himself more handsomely1 and in the hunting-field it will hold a horse when nothing else will1 for this bit is a very powerful snaffle1 as well as curb1 with rollers or rings1 that keep the horse's mouth moist1 and prevent it from becoming dead 7see cut74 ,for hunting1 use the first2 if the ,hanoverian it should not be too narrow4 ,illustration3 ,,pelham-,,bit4 ,the ,chifney is a curb with1 a very powerful leverage1 and one of the best for a pulling horse1 or a lady's use4 ,a perfect horseman will make shift with any bit4 ,sir ,tatton ,sykes and ,sir ,charles ,knightley1 in their prime1 could hold any horse with a plain snaffle2 but a lady1 or a weak-wristed horseman1 should be provided with a bit that can stop the horse on an emergency2 and many horses1 perfectly quiet on the road1 pull hard in the field at the beginning of a run4 ,but it should be remembered1 that when a horse runs away1 it is useless to rely on the curb1 as1 when once he has fully resisted it1 the longer he runs the less he cares for it4 ,the better plan is to keep the snaffle moving and sawing in his mouth1 and from time to time take a sharp pull at the curb4 ,illustration3 ,,hanoverian-,,bit4 ,it is of great importance1 especially with a high-spirited horse1 that the headpiece should fit him1 that it is neither too tight nor too low down in his mouth4 ,i have known a violently restive horse to become perfectly calm and docile when his bridle had been altered so as to fit him comfortably4 ,the curb-bit should be placed so low as only just to clear the tushes in a horse's mouth1 and one inch above the corner teeth in a mare's4 ,there should be room for at least one finger between the curb-chain and the chin4 ,if the horse is tender-skinned1 the chain may be covered with leather4 ,when you are learning to ride1 you should take pains to learn everything concerning the horse and his equipments4 ,in this country we are so well waited upon1 that we often forget that we may at some time or other be obliged to become our own grooms and farriers4 ,for the colonies1 the best bridle is that described in the chapter on training colts1 which is a halter1 a bridle1 and a gag combined4 ,bridle reins should be soft1 yet tough2 so long1 and no longer1 so that by extending your arms you can shorten them to any desired length2 then1 if your horse pokes out his head1 or extends himself in leaping1 you can1 if you hold the reins in each hand1 as you ought1 let them slip through your fingers1 and shorten them in an instant by extending your arms4 ,a very good sportsman of my acquaintance has tabs sewn on the curb-reins1 which prevents them from slipping4 ,this is a useful plan for ladies who ride or drive2 but1 as before observed1 in hunting the snaffle-reins should slip through the fingers4 ,some horses require martingales to keep their heads down1 and in the right place4 ,but imperfect horsemen are not to be trusted with running martingales4 ,running martingales require tabs on the reins1 to prevent the rings getting fixed close to the mouth4 ,for hacks and ladies' horses on the road1 a standing martingale1 buckled to the nose-band of the bridle1 is the best4 ,it should be fixed1 as ,mr4 ,rarey directs1 not so short as to bring the horse's head exactly where you want it--your hands must do that--but just short enough to keep his nose down1 and prevent him from flinging his poll into your teeth4 ,if his neck is rightly shaped1 he will by degrees lower his head1 and get into the habit of so arching his neck that the martingale may be dispensed with2 this is very desirable1 because you cannot leap with a standing martingale1 and a running one requires the hands of a steeplechase jock4 ,the saddle of a gentleman should be large enough4 ,in racing1 a few pounds are of consequence2 but in carrying a heavy man on the road or in the field1 to have the weight evenly distributed over the horse's back is of more consequence than three or four pounds4 ,the common general fitting saddle will fit nine horses out of ten4 ,colonial horses usually have low shoulders2 therefore colonial saddles should be narrow1 thickly stuffed1 and provided with cruppers1 although they have gone out of fashion in this country1 because it is presumed that gentlemen will only ride horses that have a place for carrying a saddle properly4 ,on a journey1 see to the stuffing of your saddle1 and have it put in a draft1 or to the fire1 to dry1 when saturated with sweat2 the neglect of either precaution may give your horse a sore back1 one of the most troublesome of horse maladies4 ,before hunting1 look to the spring bars of the stirrup-leathers1 and see that they will work3 if they are tight1 pull them down and leave them open4 ,of all accidents1 that of being caught1 after your horses fall1 in the stirrup1 is the most dangerous1 and not uncommon4 ,i have seen at least six instances of it4 ,when raw to the hunting-field1 and of course liable to falls1 it is well to use the spring-bar stirrups which open1 not at the side1 but at the eye holding the stirrup-leather2 the same that ,i recommend for the use of ladies4 ,spurs are only to be used by those who have the habit of riding1 and will not use them at the wrong time4 ,in most instances1 the sharp points of the rowels should be filed or rubbed off1 for they are seldom required for more than to rouse a horse at a fence1 or turn him suddenly away from a vehicle in the street4 ,sharp spurs may be left to jockeys4 ,long-legged men can squeeze their horses so hard1 that they can dispense with spurs2 but short-legged men need them at the close of a run1 when a horse begins to lumber carelessly over his fences1 or with a horse inclined to refuse4 ,dick ,christian broke difficult horses to leaping without the spur2 and when he did1 only used one on the left heel4 ,having myself had falls with horses at the close of a run1 which rushed and pulled at the beginning1 for want of spurs1 ,i have found the advantage of carrying one in my sandwich-bag1 and buckling it on1 if needed1 at a check4 ,of course1 first-rate horsemen need none of these hints2 but ,i write for novices only1 of whom1 ,i trust1 every prosperous year of ,old ,england will produce a plentiful crop from the fortunate and the sons of the fortunate4 ,a great many persons in this country learn1 or relearn1 to ride after they have reached manhood1 either because they can then for the first time afford the dignity and luxury1 or because the doctor prescribes horse exercise as the only remedy for weak digestion1 disordered liver1 trembling nerves--the result of overwork or over-feeding4 ,thus the lawyer1 overwhelmed with briefs2 the artist1 maintaining his position as a ,royal ,academician2 the philosopher1 deep in laborious historical researches2 and the young alderman1 exhausted by his first year's apprenticeship to ,city feeding1 come under the hands of the riding-master4 ,now although for the man to the manner bred1 there is no saddle for hard work and long work1 whether in the hunting-field or ,indian campaign1 like a broad seated ,english hunting saddle1 there is no doubt that its smooth slippery surface offers additional difficulties to the middle-aged1 the timid1 and those crippled by gout1 rheumatism or pounds4 ,there can be very little benefit derived from horse exercise as long as the patient travels in mortal fear4 ,foreigners teach riding on a buff leather demi-pique saddle1--a bad plan for the young1 as the ,english saddle becomes a separate difficulty4 ,but to those who merely aspire to constitutional canters1 and who ride only for health1 or as a matter of dignity1 ,i strongly recommend the ,somerset saddle1 invented for one of that family of cavaliers who had lost a leg below the knee4 ,this saddle is padded before the knee and behind the thigh to fit the seat of the purchaser1 and if provided with a stuffed seat of brown buckskin will give the quartogenarian pupil the comfort and the confidence of an arm-chair4 ,they are1 it may be encouraging to mention1 fashionable among the more aristocratic middle-aged1 and the front roll of stuffing is much used among those who ride and break their own colts1 as it affords a fulcrum against a puller1 and a protection against a kicker4 ,australians use a rolled blanket1 strapped over the pommel of the saddle1 for the same purpose4 ,to bad horsemen who are too conceited to use a ,somerset1 ,i say1 in the words of the old proverb1 ,pride must have a fall4 ,the late ,captain ,nolan had a military saddle improved from an ,hungarian model1 made for him by ,gibson1 of ,coventry ,street1 ,london1 without flaps1 and with a felt saddle cloth1 which had the advantage of being light1 while affording the rider a close seat and more complete control over his horse1 in consequence of the more direct pressure of the legs on the horse's flanks4 ,it would be worth while to try a saddle of this kind for hunting purposes1 and for breaking in colts4 ,of course it could only be worn with boots1 to protect the rider's legs from the sweat of the horse's flanks4 ,with the hunting-horn crutch the seat of a woman is stronger than that of a man1 for she presses her right leg down over the upright pommel1 and the left leg up against the hunting-horn1 and thus grasps the two pommels between her legs at that angle which gives her the most power4 ,ladies' saddles ought invariably to be made with what is called the hunting-horn1 or crutch1 at the left side4 ,the right-hand pommel has not yet gone out of fashion1 but it is of no use1 and is injurious to the security of a lady's seat1 by preventing the right hand from being put down as low as it ought to be with a restive horse1 and by encouraging the bad habit of leaning the right hand on it4 ,a flat projection is quite sufficient4 ,the security of the hunting-horn saddle will be quite clear to you1 if1 when sitting in your chair1 you put a cylinder three or four inches in diameter between your legs1 press your two knees together by crossing them1 in the position of a woman on a side-saddle2 when a man clasps his horse1 however firmly1 it has a tendency1 to raise the seat from the saddle4 ,this is not the case with the side-saddle seat3 if a man wishes to use a lance and ride at a ring1 he will find that he has a firmer seat with this kind of side-saddle than with his own4 ,there is no danger in this side-pommel1 since you cannot be thrown on it1 and it renders it next to impossible that the rider should be thrown upon the other pommel4 ,in case of a horse leaping suddenly into the air and coming down on all four feet1 technically1 bucking1 without the leaping-horn there is nothing to prevent a lady from being thrown up4 ,but the leaping-horn holds down the left knee1 and makes it a fulcrum to keep the right knee down in its proper place4 ,if the horse in violent action throws himself suddenly to the left1 the upper part of the rider's body will tend downwards1 to the right1 and the lower limbs to the left3 nothing can prevent this but the support of the leaping-horn4 ,the fear of over-balancing to the right causes many ladies to get into the bad habit of leaning over their saddles to the left4 ,this fear disappears when the hunting-horn pommel is used4 ,the leaping-horn is also of great use with a hard puller1 or in riding down a steep place1 for it prevents the lady from sliding forward4 ,but these advantages render the right-hand pommel quite useless1 a slight projection being all sufficient 7see woodcut72 while this arrangement gives the habit and figure a much better appearance4 ,every lady ought to be measured for this part of the saddle1 as the distance between the two pommels will depend partly on the length of her legs4 ,when a timid inexperienced lady has to ride a fiery horse it is not a bad plan to attach a strap to the outside girth on the right hand1 so that she may hold it and the right hand rein at the same time without disturbing her seat4 ,this little expedient gives confidence1 and is particularly useful if a fresh horse should begin to kick a little4 ,of course it is not to be continued1 but only used to give a timid rider temporary assistance4 ,i have also used for the same purpose a broad tape passed across the knees1 and so fastened that in a fall of the horse it would give way4 ,colonel ,greenwood recommends that for fastening a ladies' saddle-flaps an elastic webbing girth1 and not a leather girth1 should be used1 and this attached1 not1 as is usually the case1 to the small1 but to the large flap on the near side4 ,this will leave the near side small flap loose1 as in a man's saddle1 and allow a spring bar to be used4 ,but ,i have never seen1 either in use or in a saddler's shop1 although ,i have constantly sought1 a lady's saddle so arranged with a spring bar for the stirrup-leather4 ,this mode of attaching a web girth to the large flap will render the near side perfectly smooth1 with the exception of the stirrup-leather1 which he recommends to be a single thin strap as broad as a gentleman's1 fastened to the stirrup-leg by a loop or slipknot1 and fixed over the spring bar of the saddle by a buckle like that on a man's stirrup-leather4 ,this arrangement1 which the ,colonel also recommends to gentlemen1 presumes that the length of the stirrup-leather never requires altering more than an inch or two4 ,it is a good plan for short men when travelling1 and likely to ride strange horses1 to carry their stirrup-leathers with them1 as nothing is more annoying than to have to alter them in a hurry with the help of a blunt pen-knife4 ,the stirrup for ladies should be in all respects like a man's1 large and heavy1 and open at the side1 or the eyelet hole1 with a spring4 ,the stirrups made small and padded out of compliment to ladies' small feet are very dangerous4 ,if any padding be required to protect the front of the ankle-joint1 it had better be a fixture on the boot4 ,it is a mistake to imagine that people are dragged owing to the stirrup being too large1 and the foot passing through it2 such accidents arise from the stirrup being too small1 and the foot clasped by the pressure of the upper part on the toe and the lower part on the sole4 ,few ladies know how to dress for horse exercise1 although there has been a great improvement1 so far as taste is concerned1 of late years4 ,as to the head-dress1 it may be whatever is in fashion1 provided it so fits the head as not to require continual adjustment1 often needed when the hands would be better employed with the reins and whip4 ,it should shade from the sun1 and if used in hunting protect the nape of the neck from rain4 ,the recent fashions of wearing the plumes or feathers of the ostrich1 the cock1 the capercailzie1 the pheasant1 the peacock1 and the kingfisher1 in the riding-hats of young ladies1 in my humble opinion1 are highly to be commended4 ,as to the riding-habit1 it may be of any colour and material suitable to the wearer and the season of year1 but the sleeves must fit rather closely2 nothing can be more out of place1 inconvenient1 and ridiculous1 than the wide1 hanging sleeves which look so well in a drawing-room4 ,for country use the skirt of a habit may be short1 and bordered at the bottom a foot deep with leather4 ,the fashion of a waistcoat of light material for summer1 revived from the fashion of last century1 is a decided improvement1 and so is the over-jacket of cloth1 or sealskin1 for rough weather4 ,there is no reason why pretty young girls should not indulge in picturesque riding costume so long as it is appropriate4 ,many ladies entirely spoil the sit of the skirts by retaining the usual impedimenta of petticoats#adg-994 ,the best-dressed horsewomen wear nothing more than a flannel chemise with long coloured sleeves1 under their trousers4 ,ladies' trousers should be of the same material and colour as the habit1 and if full flowing like a ,turk's1 and fastened with an elastic band round the ankle1 they will not be distinguished from the skirt4 ,in this costume1 which may be made amply warm by the folds of the trousers1 plaited like a ,highlander's kilt 7fastened with an elastic band at the waist71 a lady can sit down in a manner impossible for one encumbered by two or three short petticoats4 ,it is the chest and back which require double folds of protection during1 and after1 strong exercise4 ,there is a prejudice against ladies wearing long ,wellington boots2 but it is quite absurd1 for they need never be seen1 and are a great comfort and protection in riding long distances1 when worn with the trousers tucked inside4 ,they should1 for obvious reasons1 be large enough for warm woollen stockings1 and easy to get on and off4 ,it would not look well to see a lady struggling out of a pair of wet boots with the help of a bootjack and a couple of chambermaids4 ,the heels of riding-boots1 whether for ladies or gentlemen1 should be low1 but long1 to keep the stirrup in its place4 ,the yellow patent leather recently introduced seems a suitable thing for the ,napoleons of hunting ladies4 ,and ,i have often thought that the long leather gaiters of the ,zouave would suit them4 ,whips require consideration4 ,by gentlemen on the road or in the park they are rather for ornament than use4 ,a jockey whip is the most punishing1 but on the ,rarey system it is seldom necessary to use the whip except to a slug1 and then spurs are more effective4 ,a lady's whip is intended to supply the place of a man's right leg and spur2 it should therefore1 however ornamental and thin1 be stiff and real4 ,messrs4 ,callow1 of ,park ,lane1 make some very pretty ones1 pink1 green and amber1 from the skin of the hippopotamus1 light but severe4 ,a loop to hang it from the wrist may be made ornamental in colours and gold1 and is useful1 for a lady may require all the power of her little hand to grasp the right rein without the encumbrance of the whip1 which on this plan will still be ready if required at a moment's notice4 ,hunting-whips must vary according to the country4 ,in some districts the formidable metal hammers are still required to break intractable horses1 but such whips and jobs should be left to the servants and hard-riding farmers4 ,as a general rule the hunting-whip of a man who has nothing to do with the hounds may be light1 but it should have a good crook and be stiff enough to stop a gate4 ,a small steel stud outside the crook prevents the gate from slipping2 flat lashes of a brown colour have recently come into fashion1 but they are mere matters of fashion like the colour of top boots1 points to which only snobs pay any attention--that is1 those asses who pin their faith in externals1 and who1 in the days of pigtails1 were ready to die in defence of those absurd excrescences4 ,the stock of a whip made by ,callow for a hunting nobleman to present to a steeple-chasing and fox-hunting professional1 was of oak1 a yard long1 with a buck-horn crook1 and a steel stud2 but then the presentee is six feet high4 ,every hunting-whip should have a lash1 but it need not be long4 ,the lash may be required to rouse a hound under your horse's feet1 or turn the pack2 as for whipping off the pack from the fox in the absence of the huntsman1 the whips and the master1 that is an event that happens to one per cent of the field once in a lifetime1 although it is a common and favourite anecdote after dinner4 ,but then ,saint ,munchausen presides over the mahogany where fox-hunting feats are discussed4 ,one use of a lash is to lead a horse by putting it through the rings of the snaffle1 and to flip him up as you stand on the bank when he gets stuck fast1 or dead beat in a ditch or brook4 ,i once owed the extrication of my horse from a brook with a deep clay bottom entirely to having a long lash to my whip2 for when he had plumped in close enough to the opposite bank for me to escape over his head1 ,i was able first to guide him to a shelving spot1 and then make him try one effort more by adroit flicks on his rump at a moment when he seemed prepared to give in and be drowned4 ,in leading a horse1 always pass the reins through the ring of the snaffle1 so that if he pulls he is held by the mouth1 not by the top of his head4 ,the riding costume of a gentleman should be suitable without being groomish4 ,it is a fact that does not seem universally known1 that a man does not ride any better for dressing like a groom4 ,it has lately been the fashion to discard straps4 ,this is all very well if the horse and the rider can keep the trousers down1 which can only be done by keeping the legs away from the horse's sides2 but when the trousers rise to the top of the boot1 and the stocking or bare leg appears1 the sooner straps or knee-breeches are adopted the better4 ,for hunting1 nothing will do but boots and breeches1 unless you condescend to gaiters--for trousers wet1 draggled and torn1 are uncomfortable and expensive wear4 ,leathers are pleasant1 except in wet weather1 and economical wear if you have a man who can clean them2 but if they have to go weekly to the breeches-maker they become expensive1 and are not to be had when wanted2 besides1 wet leather breeches are troublesome things to travel with4 ,white cord breeches have one great convenience2 they wash well1 although not so elastic1 warm1 and comfortable as woollen cords4 ,it is essential for comfort that hunting-breeches should be built by a tailor who knows that particular branch of business1 and tried on sitting down if not on horseback1 for half your comfort depends on their fit4 ,many schneiders who are first-rate at ordinary garments1 have no idea of riding clothes4 ,poole1 of ,saville ,row1 makes hunting-dress a special study1 and supplies more hunting-men and masters of hounds than any tailor in ,london1 but his customers must be prepared to pay for perfection4 ,in the coats1 since the modern shooting jacket fashion came in1 there is great scope for variety4 ,the fashion does not much matter so long as it is fit for riding--ample enough to cover the chest and stomach in wet weather1 easy enough to allow full play for the arms and shoulders1 and not so long as to catch in hedgerows and brambles4 ,our forefathers in some counties rode in coats like scarlet dressing-gowns4 ,there is one still to be seen in ,surrey4 ,for appearance1 for wear1 and as a universal passport to civility in a strange country1 there is nothing like scarlet1 provided the horseman can afford to wear it without offending the prejudices of valuable patrons1 friends or landlords4 ,in ,lincolnshire1 farmers are expected to appear in pink4 ,in ,northamptonshire a yeoman farming his own #djj acres would be thought presumptuous if he followed the ,lincolnshire example4 ,near ,london you may see the pals of fighting men and hell-keepers in pink and velvet4 ,a scarlet coat should never be assumed until the rider's experience in the field is such that he is in no danger of becoming at once conspicuous and ridiculous4 ,a cap is to be preferred to a hat because it fits closer1 is less in the way when riding through cover1 protects the head better from a bough or a fall1 and will wear out two or three hats4 ,it should be ventilated by a good hole at the top4 ,top-boots are very pretty wear for men of the right height and right sort of leg when they fit perfectly--that is difficult on fat calves--and are cleaned to perfection1 which is also difficult unless you have a more than ordinarily clever groom4 ,for men of moderate means1 the patent black leather ,napoleon1 which costs from #cl4 #ajs4 to #dl4 #ds41 and can be cleaned with a wet sponge in five minutes1 is the neatest and most economical boot--one in which travelling does not put you under any obligation to your host's servants4 ,i have often found the convenience of patent leather boots when staying with a party at the house of a master of hounds1 while others1 as the hounds were coming out of the kennel1 were in an agony for tops entrusted two or three days previously to a not-to-be-found servant4 ,in this point of the boots ,i differ from the author of ,a ,word ere we ,start2 but then1 squires of ten thousand a-year are not supposed to understand the shifts of those who on a twentieth part of that income manage to enjoy a good deal of sport with all sorts of hounds and all sorts of horses4 ,there is a certain class of sporting snobs who endeavour to enhance their own consequence or indulge their cynical humour by talking with the utmost contempt of any variation from the kind of hunting-dress in use1 in their own particular district4 ,the best commentary on the supercilious tailoring criticism of these gents is to be found in the fact that within a century every variety of hunting clothes has been in and out of fashion1 and that the dress in fashion with the ,quorn hunt in its most palmy days was not only the exact reverse of the present fashion in that flying country1 but1 if comfort and convenience are to be regarded1 as ridiculous as brass helmets1 tight stocks1 and buttoned-up red jackets for ,indian warfare4 ,it consisted1 as may be seen in old ,alken's and ,sir ,john ,dean ,paul's hunting sketches1 of a high-crowned hat1 a high tight stock1 a tight dress coat1 with narrow skirts that could protect neither the chest1 stomach1 or thighs1 long tight white cord breeches1 and pale top-boots thrust low down the leg1 the tops being supposed to be cleaned with champagne4 ,leather breeches1 caps1 and brown top-boots were voted slow in those days4 ,but the men went well as they do in every dress4 ,old wiseheads1 complacently smoothing the brim1 ,may jeer at my velvet1 and call it a whim2 ,they may think in a cap little wisdom there dwells2 ,they may say he who wears it should wear it with bells2 ,but when ,broadbrim lies flat1 ,i will answer him pat1 ,oh6 who but a crackskull would ride in a hat6 ,,squire ,,warburton4 ,illustration3 ,rails and ,double ,ditch4 ,,footnotes3 #adg-99 ,at an inquest on a young lady killed at ,totnes in ,september last1 it appeared that she lost her seat and hung by a crinoline petticoat from the right hand pommel6 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,on ,,hunting4 ,the sailor who rides on the ocean1 ,delights when the stormy winds blow3 ,wind and steam1 what are they to horse motion8 ,sea cheers to a land ,tally-ho8 ,the canvas1 the screw1 and the paddle1 ,the stride of the thorough-bred hack1 ,when1 fastened like glue to the saddle1 ,we gallop astern of the pack4 ,,tarporley ,,hunt ,,song1 #ahee4 ,advantage of hunting4--,libels on4--,great men who have hunted4--,popular notion unlike reality4--,dick ,christian and the ,marquis of ,hastings4--,fallacy of lifting a horse refuted4--,hints on riding at fences4--,harriers discussed4--,stag-hunting a necessity and use where time an object4--,hints for novices4--,tally-ho6 expounded4--,to feed a horse after a hard ride4--,expenses of horse keep4--,song by ,squire ,warburton1 ,a word ere we start4 ,every man who can ride1 and1 living within a couple of hours' distance of a pack of hounds1 can spare a day now and then1 should hunt4 ,it will improve his horsemanship1 enlarge his circle of acquaintance1 as well as his tastes and sympathies1 and make1 as ,shakspeare hath it-- ,good digestion wait on appetite1 and health on both4 ,not that ,i mean that every horseman should attempt to follow the hounds in the first flight1 or even the second2 because age1 nerves1 weight1 or other good reasons may forbid3 but every man who keeps a good hack may meet his friends at cover side1 enjoy the morning air1 with a little pleasant chat1 and follow the hounds1 if not in the front1 in the rear1 galloping across pastures1 trotting through bridle gates1 creeping through gaps1 and cantering along the green rides of a wood1 thus causing a healthy excitement1 with no painful reaction3 and if1 unhappily1 soured or overpressed by work and anxious thoughts1 drinking in such draughts of ,lethe as can no otherwise be drained4 ,hunting has suffered as much from overpraise as from the traditionary libels of the fribbles and fops of the time of the first ,georges1 when a fool1 a sot1 and a fox-hunter were considered synonymous terms4 ,of late years it has pleased a sportsman1 with a wonderful talent for picturesquely describing the events of a fox-hunt1 to write two sporting novels1 in which all the leading characters are either fools or rogues4 ,in ,england all conditions of men1 except bishops1 from ratcatchers to ,royalty1 are to be found in the hunting-field--equalised by horsemanship1 and fraternising under the influence of a genial sport4 ,among fox-hunters we can trace a long line of statesmen1 from ,william of ,orange to ,pitt and ,fox4 ,lord ,althorp was a master of hounds2 and ,lord ,palmerston we have seen1 within the last few years1 going--as he goes everywhere--in the first flight4 ,this was before the ,french fall of the late ,premier4 ,cromwell's ,ironsides were hunting men2 ,pope1 the poet1 writes in raptures of a gallop with the ,wiltshire ,harriers2 and ,gladstone1 theologian1 politician1 and editor of ,homer1 bestrides his celebrated white mare in ,nottinghamshire1 and scurries along by the side of the ex-,war ,minister1 the ,duke of ,newcastle4 ,the progress of agriculture is indelibly associated with fox-hunting2 for the three great landlords1 who did more to turn sand and heath into corn and wool1 and make popular the best breeds of stock and best course of cultivation--,francis1 ,duke of ,bedford2 ,coke1 ,earl of ,leicester2 and the first ,lord ,yarborough--were all masters of hounds4 ,when indecency formed the staple of our plays1 and a drunken debauch formed the inevitable sequence of every dinner-party1 a fool and a fox-hunter were synonymous4 ,squire ,western was the representative of a class1 which1 however1 was not more ridiculous than the patched1 perfumed ,sir ,plumes1 whom ,hogarth painted1 and ,pope satirised4 ,fox-hunters are not a class now--roads1 newspapers1 and manufacturing emigration have equalised the condition of the whole kingdom2 and fox-hunters are just like any other people1 who wear clean shirts1 and can afford to keep one or more horses4 ,it is safe to assert that hunting-men1 as a class1 are temperate4 ,no man can ride well across a difficult country who is not4 ,we must1 however1 admit that the birds who have most fouled their own nest have been broken-down sportsmen1 chiefly racing men1 who have turned writers to turn a penny4 ,these unfortunate people1 with the fatal example of ',noctes ,ambrosian' before them1 fill up a page1 whenever their memory or their industry fails them1 in describing in detail a breakfast1 a luncheon1 a dinner1 and a supper4 ,and this has been repeated so often1 that the uninitiated are led to believe that every fox-hunter must1 as a matter of course1 keep a ,french cook1 and consume an immense cellar of port1 sherry1 madeira1 hock1 champagne1 with gallons of strong ale1 and all manner of liqueurs4 ,the popular notion of a fox-hunt is as unlike the reality as a girl's notion of war--a grand charge and a splendid victory4 ,pictures always represent exciting scenes--hounds flying away with a burning scent2 horses taking at a bound1 or tumbling neck and crop over1 frightful fences4 ,such lucky days1 such bruising horsemen1 such burning scents and flying foxes are the exception4 ,at least two-thirds of those who go out1 even in the most fashionable counties1 never attempt brooks or five-barred gates1 or anything difficult or dangerous2 but1 by help of open gates and bridle-roads1 which are plentiful1 parallel lanes1 and gaps1 which are conveniently made by the first rush of the straight riders and the dealers with horses to sell1 helped by the curves that hounds generally make1 and a fair knowledge of the country1 manage to be as near the hounds as the most thrusting horseman4 ,among this crowd of skirters and road-riders are to be found some very good sportsmen1 who1 from some cause or other1 have lost their nerve2 others1 who live in the county1 like the excitement and society1 but never took a jump in their lives2 young ladies with their papas2 boys on ponies2 farmers educating four-year-olds2 surgeons and lawyers1 who are looking for professional practice as well as sport4 ,on cold scenting days1 with a ringing fox1 this crowd keeps on until nearly dark1 and heads many a fox4 ,many a beginner1 in his first season1 has been cheated by a succession of these easy days over an easy part of the county into the idea that there was no difficulty in riding to hounds4 ,but a straight fox and a burning scent over a grass country has undeceived him1 and left him in the third or fourth field with his horse half on a hedge and half in a ditch1 or pounded before a 'bulfinch1' feeling very ridiculous4 ,there are men who cut a very respectable figure in the hunting-field who never saw a pack of hounds until they were past thirty4 ,the city of ,london turns out many such2 so does every great town where money is made by men of pluck1 bred1 perhaps1 as ploughboys in the country4 ,we could name three--one an ,m4,p4--under these conditions1 who would pass muster in ,leicestershire1 if necessary4 ,but a good seat on horseback1 pluck1 and a love of the sport1 are essential4 ,a few years ago a scientific manufacturer1 a very moderate horseman1 was ordered horse exercise as a remedy for mind and body prostrated by over-anxiety4 ,he found that1 riding along the road1 his mind was as busy and wretched as ever4 ,a friend prescribed hunting1 purchased for him a couple of made hunters1 and gave him the needful elementary instruction4 ,the first result was1 that he obtained such sound1 refreshing sleep as he had not enjoyed since boyhood2 the next1 that in less than two seasons he made himself quite at home with a provincial pack1 and now rides so as to enjoy himself without attracting any more notice than one who had been a fox-hunter from his youth upwards4 ,the illustration at the commencement of this chapter gives a very fair idea of the seat of good horsemen going at a fence and broad ditch1 where pace is essential4 ,a novice may advantageously study the seats of the riders in ,herring's ,steeplechase ,cracks1 painted by an artist who was a sportsman in his day4 ,a few invaluable hints on riding to hounds are to be found in the ,druid's account of ,dick ,christian4 ,the late ,marquis of ,hastings1 father of the present ,marquis1 was one of the best and keenest fox-hunters of his day2 he died young1 and here is ,dick's account of his first fence1 for which all fox-hunters are under deep obligations to the ,druid4 ,the ,marquis of ,hastings was one of my pupils4 ,i was two months at his place before he came of age4 ,he sent for me to ,donnington1 and ,i broke all his horses4 ,i had never seen him before4 ,he had seven rare nice horses1 and very handy ,i got them4 ,the first meet ,i went out with him was ,wartnaby ,stone ,pits4 ,i rode by his side1 and ,i says1 ',my lord1 we'll save a bit of distance if we take this fence4' ,so he looked at me and he laughed1 and says1 ',why1 ,christian1 ,i was never over a fence in my life4' ',god bless me1 my lord6 you don't say so8' ,and ,i seemed quite took aback at hearing him say it4 ',its true enough1 ,christian1 ,i really mean it4' ',well1 my lord1' says ,i1 'you're on a beautiful fencer1 he'll walk up to it and jump it4 ,now ,i'll go over the fence first4 ,put your hands well down on his withers and let him come4' ,it was a bit of a low-staked hedge and a ditch2 he got over as nice as possible1 and he gave quite a hurrah like4 ,he says1 ',there1 ,i'm over my first fence--that's a blessing6' ,then ,i got him over a great many little places1 and he quite took to it and went on uncommonly well4 ,he was a nice gentleman to teach--he'd just do anything you told him4 ,that's the way to get on6 ,in another place ,dick says1 ,a quick and safe jumper always goes from hind-legs to fore-legs4 ,i never rode a steeple-chase yet but ,i steadied my horse on to his hind-legs twenty yards from his fence1 and ,i was always over and away before the rushers4 ,lots of the young riders think horses can jump anything if they can only drive them at it fast enough4 ,they force them too much at their fences4 ,if you don't feel your horse's mouth1 you can tell nothing about him4 ,you hold him1 he can make a second effort2 if you drop him1 he won't4 ,now1 ,dick does not mean by this that you are to go slowly at every kind of fence4 ,he tells you that he sent him with some powder at a bullfinch2 but whatever the pace1 you so hold your horse in the last fifty yards up to the taking-off point1 that instead of spreading himself out all abroad at every stroke1 he feels the bit and gets his hind-legs well under him4 ,if you stand to see ,jim ,mason or ,tom ,oliver in the hunting-field going at water1 even at what they call forty miles an hour1 you will find the stride of their horses a measured beat1 and while they spur and urge them they collect them4 ,this is the art no book can teach2 but it can teach that it ought to be learned4 ,thousands of falls have been caused by a common and most absurd phrase1 which is constantly repeated in every description of the leaps of a great race or run4 ,he took his horse by the head and lifted him1 c4 ,no man in the world ever lifted a horse over anything--it is a mechanical impossibility--but a horseman of the first order can at a critical moment so rouse a horse1 and so accurately place his head and hind-legs in the right position1 that he can make an extraordinary effort and achieve a miraculous leap4 ,this in metaphorical language is called lifting a horse1 because1 to a bye-stander1 it looks like it4 ,but when a novice1 or even an average horseman1 attempts this sort of tour de force1 he only worries his horse1 and1 ten to one1 throws him into the fence4 ,those who are wise will content themselves with keeping a horse well in hand until he is about to rise for his effort1 and to collecting him the moment he lands4 ,the right hold brings his hind legs under him2 too hard a pull brings him into the ditch1 if there is one4 ,by holding your hands with the reins in each rather wide apart as you come towards your fence1 and closing them and dropping them near his withers as he rises1 you give him room to extend himself2 and if you stretch your arms as he descends1 you have him in hand4 ,but the perfect hunter1 as long as he is fresh1 does his work perfectly1 so the less you meddle with him when he is rising the better4 ,young sportsmen generally err by being too bold and too fast4 ,instead of studying the art in the way the best men out perform1 they are hiding their nervousness by going full speed at everything1 or trying to rival the whips in daring4 ,any hard-headed fool can ride boldly4 ,to go well when hounds are running hard--to save your horse as much as possible while keeping well forward1 for the end1 the difficult part of a long run--these are the acts a good sportsman seeks to acquire by observation and experience4 ,for this reason young sportsmen should commence their studies with harriers1 where the runs are usually circling and a good deal of hunting is done slowly4 ,if a young fellow can ride well in a close1 enclosed hedge1 bank1 and ditch country1 with occasional practice at stiles and gates1 pluck will carry him through a flying country1 if properly mounted4 ,any horse that is formed for jumping1 with good loins1 hocks1 and thighs1 can be taught to jump timber2 but it is madness to ride at a gate or a stile with a doubtful horse4 ,a deer always slacks his pace to a trot to jump a wall or park rails1 and it is better to slacken to a trot or canter where there is no ditch on either side to be cleared1 unless you expect a fall1 and then go fast1 that your horse may not tumble on you4 ,a rushing horse is generally a dangerous fencer2 but it is a trick that can only be cured in private lessons1 and it is more dangerous to try to make a rusher go slowly than to let him have his own way4 ,the great error of young beginners is to select young horses under their weight4 ,it was the saying of a ,judge of the old school1 that all kinds of wine were good1 but the best wine of all was two bottles of port6 ,in the same style1 one may venture to say that all kinds of hunting are good1 but that the best of all is fox-hunting1 in a grass scent-holding country1 divided into large fields1 with fences that may be taken in the stride of a thorough-bred1 and coverts that comprise good gorse and open woods--that is1 for men of the weight1 with the nerve1 and with the horses that can shine in such a country4 ,but it is not given to all to have or retain the nerve or to afford a stud of the style of horses required for going across the best part of ,leicestershire and ,northamptonshire4 ,in this world1 the way to be happy is to put up with what you can get4 ,the majority of my readers will be obliged to ride with the hounds that happen to live nearest their dwelling2 it is only given to the few to be able to choose their hunting country and change their stud whenever the maggot bites them4 ,after hard brain-work and gray hairs have told on the pulse1 or when the opening of the nursery-door has almost shut the stable1 a couple of hours or so once a week may be made pleasant and profitable on a thirty-pound hack for the quartogenarian1 whom time has not handicapped with weight for age4 ,i can say1 from the experience of many years1 that as long as you are under twelve stone1 you may enjoy very good sport with such packs as the ,bramham ,moor in ,yorkshire1 the ,brocklesby in ,lincolnshire1 the ,heythrope in ,oxfordshire1 the ,berkley or the ,beaufort in ,gloucestershire1 without any enormous outlay for horses1 for the simple reason that the average runs do not present the difficulties of grass countries1 where farmers are obliged to make strong fences and deep ditches to keep the bullocks they fatten within bounds4 ,good-looking little horses1 clever jumpers1 equal to moderate weights1 are to be had1 by a man who has not too much money1 at moderate prices2 but the sixteen hands1 well-bred flyer1 that can gallop and go straight in such countries as the ,vale of ,aylesbury1 is an expensive luxury4 ,of course ,i am speaking of sound horses4 ,there is scarcely ever a remarkable run in which some well-ridden screw does not figure in the first flight among the two hundred guinea nags4 ,when an old sportsman of my acquaintance heard any of the thousand-and-one tales of extraordinary runs with fox-hounds1 after dinner1 he used to ask--,were any of the boys or ponies up at the kill8 ,if the answer was ,yes1 he would say1 ,then it was not a severe thing2 and he was generally right4 ,men of moderate means had better choose a hunting county where the boys can live with the hounds4 ,as to harriers1 the people who sneer at them are ludicrously ignorant of the history of modern fox-hunting1 which is altogether founded on the experience and maxims of hare-hunters4 ,the two oldest fox-hound packs in ,england--the ,brocklesby and the ,cheshire--were originally formed for hare-hunting4 ,the best book ever written on hounds and hunting1 a text-book to every master of hounds to this day1 is by ,beckford1 who learned all he knew as master of a pack of harriers4 ,the great ,meynell and ,warwickshire ,corbett both entered their young hounds to hare1 a practice which cannot1 however1 be approved4 ,the late ,parson ,froude1 in ,north ,devon1 than whom a keener sportsman never holloaed to hounds1 and the breeder of one of the best packs for showing sport ever seen1 hunted hare1 fox1 deer1 and even polecats1 sooner than not keep his darlings doing something2 and1 while his hounds would puzzle out the faintest scent1 there were among the leaders several that1 with admirable dash1 jumped every gate1 disdaining to creep4 ,some of this stock are still hunting on ,exmoor4 ,there are at present several very good ,m4,f4,h4 who began with hare-hounds4 ,the intense pretentious snobbishness of the age has something to do with the mysterious manner in which many men1 blushing1 own that they have been out with harriers4 ,in the first place1 as a rule1 harriers are slow2 although there are days when1 with a stout1 well-fed1 straight-running hare1 the best men will have enough to do to keep their place in the field3 over the dinner-table that is always an easy task2 but in this fast1 competitive age1 the man who can contrive to stick on a good horse can show in front without having the least idea of the meaning of hunting4 ,to such1 harriers afford no amusement4 ,then again1 harrier packs are of all degrees1 from the perfection of the ,blackmoor ,vale1 the ,brookside1 and some ,devon or ,welsh packs with unpronounceable names1 down to the little scratch packs of six or seven couple kept among jovial farmers in out-of-the-way places1 or for the amusement of ,sheffield cutlers running afoot4 ,the same failing that makes a considerable class reverently worship an alderman or a city baronet until they can get on speaking terms with a peer1 leads others to boast of fox-hunting when the ,brighton harriers are more than they can comfortably manage4 ,the greater number of what are called harriers now-a-days are dwarf fox-hounds1 or partake largely of fox-hound blood4 ,if ,leicestershire is the county for swells1 ,devonshire is the county of sportsmen2 for although there is very little riding to hounds as compared with the midland counties1 there is a great deal of hunting4 ,every village has its little pack2 every man1 woman1 and child1 from the highest to the humblest1 takes an interest in the sport2 and the science of hunting is better understood than in the hard-riding1 horse-dealing counties4 ,to produce a finished fox-hunter1 ,i would have him commence his studies in ,devonshire1 and finish his practice in ,northamptonshire4 ,on the whole1 ,i should say that a student of the noble science1 whose early education has been neglected1 cannot do better than go through a course of fox-hunting near ,oxford1 in the winter vacation1 where plenty of perfect hunters are to be hired1 and hounds meet within easy reach of the ,university ,city1 six days in the week1 hunting over a country where you may usually be with them at the finish without doing anything desperate1 if content to come in with the ruck1 the ponies1 and the old farmers2 or where1 if so inclined1 you may have more than an average number of fast and furious runs1 and study the admirable style of some of the best horsemen in the world among the ,oxfordshire and ,berkshire squires4 ,stag-hunting from a cart is a pursuit very generally contemned in print1 and very ardently followed by many hundred hard-riding gentlemen every hunting day in the year4 ,a man who can ride up to stag-hounds on a straight running day must have a perfect hunter1 in first-rate condition1 and be1 in the strongest sense of the term1 a horseman4 ,but it wants the uncertainties which give so great a charm to fox-hunting1 where there are any foxes4 ,there is no find1 and no finish2 and the checks generally consist in whipping off the too eager hounds4 ,as a compensation1 when the deer does not run cunning1 or along roads1 the pace is tremendous4 ,the ,surrey stag-hounds1 in the season of #aheg1 had some runs with the ,ketton ,hind equal in every respect to the best fox-hunts on record2 for she repeatedly beat them1 was loose in the woods for days1 was drawn for like a wild deer1 and then1 with a burning scent1 ran clear away from the hounds1 while the hounds ran away from the horsemen4 ,but1 according to the usual order of the day1 the deer begins in a cart1 and ends in a barn4 ,but stag-hunting may be defended as the very best mode of obtaining a constitutional gallop for those whose time is too valuable to be expended in looking for a fox4 ,it is suited to punctual1 commercial1 military1 or political duties4 ,you may read your letters1 dictate replies1 breakfast deliberately1 order your dinner1 and invite a party to discuss it1 and set off to hunt with the ,queen's1 the ,baron's1 or any other stag-hound pack within reach of rail1 almost certain of two hours' galloping1 and a return by the train you fixed in the morning4 99 99 99 99 99 ,there are a few hints to which pupils in the art of hunting may do well to attend4 ,don't go into the field until you can sit a horse over any reasonable fence4 ,but practice at real fences1 for at the leaping-bar only the rudiments of fencing are to be learned by either man or horse4 ,the hunting-field is not the place for practising the rudiments of the art4 ,buy a perfect hunter2 no matter how blemished or how ugly1 so that he has legs1 eyes1 and wind to carry him and his rider across the country4 ,it is essential that one of the two should perfectly understand the business in hand4 ,have nothing to say to a puller1 a rusher1 or a kicker1 even if you fancy you are competent2 a colt should only be ridden by a man who is paid to risk his bones4 ,an amateur endangers himself1 his neighbours1 and the pack1 by attempting rough-riding4 ,the best plan for a man of moderate means--those who can afford to spend hundreds on experiments can pick and choose in the best stables--is to hire a hack hunter2 and1 if he suits1 buy him1 to teach you how to go4 ,never take a jump when an open gate or gap is handy1 unless the hounds are going fast4 ,don't attempt to show in front1 unless you feel you can keep there4 ,beginners1 who try to make a display1 even if lucky at first1 are sure to make some horrid blunder4 ,go slowly at your fences1 except water and wide ditches1 and don't pull at the curb when your horse is rising4 ,in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred1 the horse will be better without your assistance than with it4 ,don't wear spurs until you are quite sure that you won't spur at the wrong time4 ,never lose your temper with your horse1 and never strike him with the whip when going at a fence2 it is almost sure to make him swerve4 ,pick out the firmest ground2 hold your horse together across ploughed land2 if you want a pilot1 choose not a scarlet and cap1 but some well-mounted old farmer1 who has not got a horse to sell3 if he has1 ten to one but he leads you into grief4 ,in going from cover to cover1 keep in the same field as the hounds1 unless you know the country--then you can't be left behind without a struggle4 ,to keep in the same field as the hounds when they are running1 is more than any man can undertake to do4 ,make your commencement in an easy country1 and defer trying the pasture counties until you are sure of yourself and your horse4 ,if you should have a cold-scenting day1 and any first-rate steeplechase rider be in the field1 breaking in a young one1 watch him2 you may learn more from seeing what he does1 than from hours of advice1 or pages of reading4 ,above all1 hold your tongue until you have learnt your lesson2 and talk neither of your triumphs nor your failures4 ,any fool can boast2 and though to ride boldly and with judgment is very pleasant1 there is nothing for a gentleman to be specially proud of1 considering that two hundred huntsmen1 or whips1 do it better than most gentlemen every hunting day in the season4 ,when you meet the pack with a strange horse1 don't go near it until sure that he will not kick at hounds1 as some ill-educated horses will do4 ,before the hounds begin to draw1 you may get some useful information as to a strange country from a talkative farmer4 ,when hounds are drawing a large cover1 and when you cannot see them1 keep down wind1 so as to hear the huntsman1 who1 in large woodlands1 must keep on cheering his hounds4 ,when a fox breaks cover near you1 or you think he does1 don't be in a hurry to give the ,tally-a-e-o6 for1 in the first place1 if you are not experienced and quick-eyed1 it may not be a fox at all1 but a dog1 or a hare4 ,the mistake is common to people who are always in a hurry1 and equally annoying to the huntsman and the blunderer2 and1 in the next place1 if you halloo too soon1 ten to one the fox heads back into cover4 ,when he is well away through the hedge of a good-sized field1 halloo1 at the same time raising your cap1 ,tally-o aw-ay-o-o6 giving each syllable very slowly1 and with your mouth well open2 for this is the way to be heard a long distance4 ,do this once or twice1 and then be quiet for a short spell1 and be ready to tell the huntsman1 when he comes up1 in a few sentences1 exactly which way the fox is gone4 ,if the fox makes a short bolt1 and returns1 it is ,tally-o back6 with the back loud and clear4 ,if the fox crosses the side of a wood when the hounds are at check1 the cry should be ,tally-o over6 ,foxes4--,study the change in the appearance of the fox between the beginning and the end of a run2 a fresh fox slips away with his brush straight1 whisking it with an air of defiance now and then2 a beaten fox looks dark1 hangs his brush1 and arches his back as he labours along4 ,with the hounds well away1 it is a great point to get a good start2 so while they are running in cover1 cast your eyes over the boundary-fence1 and make up your mind where you will take it3 a big jump at starting is better than thrusting with a crowd in a gap or gateway--always presuming that you can depend on your horse4 ,dismiss the moment you start two ideas which are the bane of sport1 jealousy of what others are doing1 and conceit of what you are doing yourself2 keep your eyes on the pack1 on your horse's ears1 and the next fence1 instead of burning to beat ,thompson1 or hoping that ,brown saw how cleverly you got over that rasper6 ,acquire an eye to hounds1 that is1 learn to detect the moment when the leading hound turns right or left1 or1 losing the scent1 checks1 or1 catching it breast high1 races away mute1 dropping his stem as straight as a tobacco-pipe4 ,by thus studying the leading hounds instead of racing against your neighbours' horses1 you see how they turn1 save many an angle1 and are ready to pull up the moment the hounds throw up their heads4 ,never let your anxiety to be forward induce you to press upon the hounds when they are hunting2 nothing makes a huntsman more angry1 or spoils sport more4 ,set the example of getting out of the way when the huntsman1 all anxious1 comes trotting back through a narrow road to make his cast after a check4 ,attention to these hints1 which are familiar to every old sportsman1 will tend to make a young one successful and popular4 ,when you are well up1 and hounds come to a check1 instead of beginning to relate how wonderfully the bay horse or the gray mare carried you1 notice every point that may help the huntsman to make his cast--sheep1 cattle1 magpies1 and the exact point where the scent began to fail4 ,it is observation that makes a true sportsman4 ,as soon as the run has ended1 begin to pay attention to the condition of your horse1 whose spirit may have carried him further than his strength warranted2 it is to be presumed1 that you have eased him at every check by turning his nose to the wind1 and if a heavy man1 by dismounting on every safe opportunity4 ,the first thing is to let him have just enough water to wash his mouth out without chilling him4 ,the next to feed him--the horse has a small stomach1 and requires food often4 ,at the first roadside inn or cottage get a quart of oatmeal or wheat-flour boiled in half a pail of water--mere soaking the raw oatmeal is not sufficient4 ,i have found the water of boiled linseed used for cattle answer well with a tired horse4 ,in cases of serious distress a pint of wine or glass of spirits mixed with water may be administered advantageously2 to decide on the propriety of bleeding requires some veterinary experience2 quite as many horses as men have been killed by bleeding when stimulants would have answered better4 ,with respect to the treatment of hunters on their return1 ,i can do nothing better than quote the directions of that capital sportsman and horseman1 ,scrutator1 in ,horses and ,hounds4 ,when a horse returns to the stable1 either after hunting or a journey1 the first thing to be done to him is to take off the bridle1 but to let the saddle remain on for some time at least1 merely loosening the girths4 ,the head and ears are first to be rubbed dry1 either with a wisp of hay or a cloth1 and then by the hand1 until the ears are warm and comfortable2 this will occupy only a few minutes1 and the horse can then have his bit of hay or feed of corn1 having previously1 if returned from hunting1 or from a long journey1 despatched his bucket of thick gruel3 the process of washing his legs may now be going on1 whilst he is discussing his feed of corn in peace2 as each leg is washed1 it should be wrapped round with a flannel or serge bandage1 and by the time the four legs are done with1 the horse will have finished his feed of corn4 ,a little hay may then be given1 which will occupy his attention while the rubbing his body is proceeded with4 ,i am a great advocate for plenty of dry clean wheat straw for this purpose2 and a good groom1 with a large wisp in each hand1 will in a very short space of time make a clean sweep of all outward dirt and wet4 ,it cannot1 however1 be properly done without a great deal of elbow grease as well1 of which the present generation are inclined to be very chary4 ,when the body of the horse is dry1 a large loose rug should be thrown over him1 and the legs then attended to1 and rubbed thoroughly dry by the hand2 ,i know the usual practice with idle and knowing grooms is to let the bandages remain on until the legs become dry of themselves1 but ,i also know that there cannot be a worse practice2 for horses' legs1 after hunting1 the large knee-bucket should be used1 with plenty of warm water1 which will sooth the sinews after such violent exertion1 and allay any irritation proceeding from cuts and thorns4 ,the system of bandaging horses' legs1 and letting them remain in this state for hours1 must tend to relax the sinews2 such practices have never gained favour with me1 but ,i have heard salt and water and vinegar highly extolled by some1 with which the bandages are to be kept constantly wet1 as tending to strengthen the sinews and keep them cool2 if1 however1 used too long or allowed to become dry1 ,i conceive more injury likely to result from their use than benefit4 ,it is generally known that those who have recourse to belts for support in riding1 cannot do well without them afterwards1 and although often advised to try these extra aids1 ,i never availed myself of them2 cold water is the best strengthener either to man or horse1 and a thorough good dry rubbing afterwards4 ,after severe walking exercise1 the benefit of immersing the feet in warm water for a short time must be fully appreciated by all who have tried it2 but ,i very much question if any man would feel himself stronger upon his legs the next morning1 by having them bandaged with hot flannels during the night4 ,very much may be done by the judicious use of hot and cold water--in fact1 more than by half the prescriptions in general use2 but the proper time must be attended to as well1 for its application4 ,when a horse has had a long and severe day's work1 he should not be harassed more than is absolutely necessary1 by grooming and dressing2 the chief business should be to get him dry and comfortable as quickly as possible1 and when that has been effected1 a slight wisping over with a dry cloth will be sufficient for that night4 ,the expenses of horse-keep vary according to the knowledge of the master and the honesty of his groom2 but what the expense ought to be may be calculated from the fact that horses in first-rate condition cannot consume more than thirteen quarters of oats and two and a half tons of hay in a year2 that is1 as to oats1 from three to six quarterns a day1 according to the work they are doing4 ,but in some stables1 horses are supposed to eat a bushel a day every day in the year3 there is no doubt that the surplus is converted into beer or gin4 ,upon our return from hunting1 every horse had his bucket of thick gruel directly he came into the stable1 and a little hay to eat whilst he was being cleaned4 ,we never gave any corn until just before littering down1 the last thing at night4 ,the horse's legs were plunged into a high bucket of warm water1 and if dirty1 soft soap was used4 ,the first leg being washed1 was sponged as dry as possible1 and then bandaged with thick woollen bandages until the others were washed2 the bandages were then removed entirely1 and the legs rubbed by hand until quite dry4 ,we used the best old white potato oats1 weighing usually #de lbs4 per bushel1 but so few beans that a quarter lasted us a season4 ,the oats were bruised1 and a little sweet hay chaff mixed with them4 ,we also gave our horses a few carrots the day after hunting1 to cool their bodies1 or a bran mash or two4 ,they were never coddled up in hoods or half a dozen rugs at night1 but a single blanket sufficed1 which was never so tight but that you might thrust your hand easily under it4 ,this was a thing ,i always looked to myself1 when paying a visit to the stable the last thing at night4 ,a tried horse should have everything comfortable about him1 but carefully avoid any tight bandage round the body4 ,in over-reaches or wounds1 warm water was our first application1 and plenty of it1 to clean all dirt or grit from the wound2 then ,fryer's balsam and brandy with a clean linen bandage4 ,our usual allowance of corn to each horse per diem was four quarterns1 but more if they required it1 and from #ad lbs4 to #af lbs4 of hay1 eight of which were given at night1 at racking-up time1 about eight o'clock4 ,our hours of feeding were about five in the morning1 a feed of corn1 bruised1 with a little hay chaff2 the horse then went to exercise4 ,at eight o'clock1 #d lbs4 of hay2 twelve o'clock1 feed of corn2 two o'clock1 #b lbs4 of hay2 four o'clock1 corn2 at six o'clock1 another feed of corn1 with chaff2 and at eight o'clock1 #h lbs4 of hay2 water they could always drink when they wanted it4 ,i cannot conclude these hints on hunting more appropriately than by quoting another of the songs of the ,squire of ,arley ,hall1 ,honorary ,laureate of the ,tarporley ,hunt ,club3-- ,a ,,word ,,ere ,,we ,,start4 ,the order of march and due regulation ,that guide us in warfare we need in the chase2 ,huntsman and whips1 each his own proper station-- ,horse1 hound1 and fox1 each his own proper place4 ,the fox takes precedence of all from the cover2 ,the horse is the animal purposely bred1 ,after the pack to be ridden1 not over-- ,good hounds are not reared to be knocked on the head4 ,buckskin's the only wear fit for the saddle2 ,hats for ,hyde ,park1 but a cap for the chase2 ,in tops of black leather let fishermen paddle1 ,the calves of a fox-hunter white ones encase4 ,if your horse be well bred and in blooming condition1 ,both up to the country and up to your weight1 ,oh6 then give the reins to your youthful ambition1 ,sit down in the saddle and keep his head straight4 ,eager and emulous only1 not spiteful1 ,grudging no friend1 though ourselves he may beat2 ,just enough danger to make sport delightful1 ,toil just sufficient to make slumbers sweet6 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,sketches ,,of ,,hunting ,,with ,,fox-,,hounds ,,and ,,harriers4 ,the ,fitzwilliam4--,brocklesby4--,a day on the ,wolds4--,brighton harriers4--,prince ,albert's harriers4 ,the following descriptions of my own sport with fox-hounds and harriers will give the uninitiated some idea of the average adventures of a hunting-day3-- ,a ,,day ,,with ,,the ,,late ,,earl ,,fitzwilliam',s ,,hounds4#agf-99 ,,loo ,,in1 ,,little ,,dearies4 ,,loo ,,in4 ,how eagerly forward they rush2 ,in a moment how widely they spread2 ,have at him there1 ,hotspur4 ,hush1 hush6 ',tis a find1 or ,i'll forfeit my head4 ,now fast flies the fox1 and still faster ,the hounds from the cover are freed1 ,the horn to the mouth of the master1 ,the spur to the flank of his steed4 ,with ,chorister1 ,concord1 and ,chorus1 ,now ,chantress commences her song2 ,now ,bellman goes jingling before us1 ,and ,sinbad is sailing along4 ,the ,fitzwilliam pack was established by the grandfather of the present ,earl between seventy and eighty years ago2 they hunt four days a week over a north-east strip of ,northamptonshire and ,huntingdonshire--a wide1 wild1 thinly-populated district1 with some fine woodlands2 country that was almost all grass1 until deep draining turned some cold clay pastures into arable4 ,it holds a rare scent1 and the woodland country can be hunted1 when a hot sun does not bake the ground too hard1 up to the first week in ,may1 when1 in most other countries1 horns are silenced4 ,the country is wide enough1 with foxes enough1 to bear hunting six days a week4 ,bless your heart1 sir1 said an old farmer1 there be foxes as tall as donkeys1 as fat as pigs1 in these woods1 that go and die of old age4 ,the ,fitzwilliam are supposed to be the biggest-boned hounds now bred1 and exquisitely handsome4 ,if they have a fault1 they are1 for want of work1 or excess of numbers1 rather too full of flesh2 so that at the end of the year1 when the days grow warm1 they seem to tire and tail in a long run4 ,many of the pasture fences are big enough to keep out a bullock2 the ditches wide and full of water2 bulfinches are to be met with1 stiff rails1 gates not always unlocked2 so1 although a ,pytchley flyer is not indispensable1 on a going day1 nothing less than a hunter can get along4 ,tom ,sebright1 as a huntsman and breeder of hounds1 has been a celebrity ever since he hunted the ,quorn1 under ,squire ,osbaldeston1 six-and-thirty years ago4 ,sebright looks the huntsman1 and the huntsman of an hereditary pack1 to perfection2 rather under than over the middle height2 stout without being unwieldy2 with a fine1 full1 intelligent1 and fresh-complexioned oval countenance2 keen gray eyes2 and the decided nose of a ,cromwellian ,ironside4 ,a fringe of white hair below his cap1 and a broad bald forehead1 when he lifts his cap to cheer his hounds1 tell the tale of ,time on this accomplished veteran of the chase4 ,the field1 with the ,fitzwilliam1 is more aristocratic than fashionable2 it includes a few peers and their friends from neighbouring noble mansions1 a good many squires1 now and then undergraduates from ,cambridge1 a very few strangers by rail1 and a great many first-class yeoman farmers and graziers4 ,thus it is equally unlike the fashionable cut-me-down multitude to be met at coverside in the ,shires par excellence1 and the scarlet mob who rush1 and race1 and lark from and back to ,leamington and ,cheltenham4 ,for seeing a good deal of sport in a short time1 the ,fitzwilliam is certainly the best1 within a hundred miles of ,london4 ,you have a first-rate pack1 first-rate huntsman1 a good scenting country1 plenty of foxes1 fair fences to ride over1 and though last not least1 very courteous reception1 if you know how to ride and when to hold your tongue and your horse4 ,my fortunate day with the ,fitzwilliam was in their open pasture1 ,huntingdon country4 ,my head-quarters were at the celebrated ,haycock1 which is known1 or ought to be known1 to every wandering fox-hunter1 standing as it does in the middle of the ,fitzwilliam ,hunt1 within reach of some of the best meets of the ,pytchley and the ,warwickshire1 and not out of reach of the ,cottesmore and ,belvoir4 ,it is much more like a ,lincolnshire ,wolds farmhouse than an inn4 ,the guests are regular habitus2 you find yourself in a sort of fox-hunting clubhouse1 in a large1 snug dining-room2 not the least like ,albert ,smith's favourite aversion1 a coffee-room2 you have a first-rate ,english dinner1 undeniable wine1 real cream with your tea1 in a word1 all the comforts and most of the luxuries of town and country life combined4 ,if needful1 ,tom ,percival will provide you with a flyer for every day in the week1 and you will be sure to meet with one or two guests1 able and willing1 ready to canter with you to cover1 explain the chart of the country1 and1 if you are in the first year of boots and breeches1 show you as ,squire ,warburton sings1 how ,to sit down in your saddle and put his head straight4 ,the meet1 within four miles of the inn1 was in a park by the side of a small firwood plantation4 ,punctual to a minute1 up trotted ,sebright on a compact1 well-bred chestnut in blooming condition1 the whips equally well mounted on thoroughbreds1 all dressed in ample scarlet coats and dark cord breeches--a style of dress in much better taste than the tight1 short dandified costume of the fashionable hunt1 where the huntsman can scarcely be distinguished from the swell4 ,of the ,earl's family there were present a son and daughter1 and three grandsons1 beautiful boys1 in ,lincoln green loose jackets1 brown cord breeches1 black boots1 and caps2 of these1 the youngest1 a fair1 rosy child of about eight or nine years old1 on a thorough-bred chestnut pony1 was all day the admiration of the field2 he dashed along full of genuine enthusiasm1 stopping at nothing practicable4 ,amongst others present was a tall1 lithe1 white-haired1 white-moustached1 dignified old gentleman1 in scarlet and velvet cap1 riding forward on a magnificent gray horse1 who realised completely the poetical idea of a nobleman4 ,this was the ,marquess of ,h----1 known well forty years ago in fashionable circles1 when ,george ,,iv4 was ,prince1 now popular and much esteemed as a country gentleman and improving landlord4 ,there was also ,mr4 ,h----1 an ,m4,p41 celebrated1 before he settled into place and ceased his hum1 as a hunter of bishops--a handsome1 dark man1 in leathers and patent ,napoleons2 with his wife on a fine bay horse1 who rode boldly throughout the day4 ,in strange countries ,i usually pick out a leader in some well-knowing farmer2 but this day ,i made a grand mistake1 by selecting for my guide a slim1 quiet-looking1 young fellow1 in a black hat and coat1 white cords1 and boots1 on a young chestnut--never dreaming that my quiet man was ,alec ----1 a farmer truly1 but also a provincial celebrity as a steeplechaser4 ,the day was mild1 cloudy1 with a gentle wind4 ,we drew several covers blank1 and found a fox1 about one o'clock1 in a small spinney1 from which he bolted at the first summons4 ,a beautiful picture it was to see gallant old ,sebright get his hounds away1 the ladies racing down a convenient green lane1 and the little ,fitzwilliam1 in ,lincoln green1 charging a double flight of hurdles4 ,in half-an-hour's strong running ,i had good reason to rejoice that ,percival had1 with due respect for the fourth estate1 put me on an unmistakable hunter4 ,our line took us over big undulating fields 7almost hills71 with1 on the flats or valleys1 a large share of willow-bordered ditches 7they would call them brooks in some counties71 with thick undeniable hedges between the pollards4 ,at the beginning of the run1 my black-coated friend led me--much as a dog in a string leads a blind man--at a great pace1 into a farm-yard1 thus artfully cutting off a great angle1 over a most respectable stone wall into a home paddock1 over a stile into a deep lane1 and then up a bank as steep as a gothic roof1 and almost as long2 into a fifty-acre pasture1 where1 racing at best pace1 we got close to the hounds just before they checked1 between a broad unjumpable drain and a willow bed--two fine resources for a cunning fox4 ,there ,i thought it well1 having so far escaped grief1 to look out for a leader who was less of a bruiser1 while ,i took breath4 ,in the meantime ,sebright1 well up1 hit our friend off with a short cast forward1 and after five minutes' slow hunting1 we began to race again over a flat country of grass1 with a few big ploughed fields1 fences easier1 ladies and ponies well up again4 ,after brushing through two small coverts without hanging1 we came out on a series of very large level grass fields1 where ,i could see the gray horse of the marquis1 and the black hat of my first leader sailing in front2 a couple of stiff hedges and ditches were got over comfortably2 the third was a regular bulfinch1 six or seven feet high1 with a gate so far away to the right that to make for it was to lose too much time1 as the hounds were running breast high4 ,ten yards ahead of me was ,mr4 ,frank ,g----1 on a ,stormer colt1 evidently with no notion of turning2 so ,i hardened my heart1 felt my bay nag full of going1 and kept my eye on ,mr4 ,frank1 who made for the only practicable place beside an oak-tree with low branches1 and1 stooping his head1 popped through a place where the hedge showed daylight1 with his hand over his eyes1 in the neatest possible style4 ,without hesitating a moment ,i followed1 rather too fast and too much afraid of the tree1 and pulled too much into the hedge4 ,in an instant ,i found myself torn out of the saddle1 balanced on a blackthorn bough 7fortunately ,i wore leathers71 and deposited on the right side of the hedge on my back2 whence ,i rose just in time to see ,bay ,middleton disappear over the next fence4 ,so there ,i was alone in a big grass field1 with strong notions that ,i should have to walk an unknown number of miles home4 ,judge of my delight as ,i paced slowly along--running was of no use--at seeing ,frank ,g---- returning with my truant in hand4 ,such an action in the middle of a run deserves a ,humane ,society's medal4 ,to struggle breathless into my seat2 to go off at score1 to find a lucky string of open gates1 to come upon the hounds at a check1 was my good fortune4 ,but our fox was doomed--in another quarter of an hour at a hand gallop we hunted him into a shrubbery1 across a home field into an ornamental clump of laurels1 back again to the plantation1 where a couple and a half of leading hounds pulled him down1 and he was brought out by the first whip dead and almost stiff1 without a mark--regularly run down by an hour and twenty minutes with two very short checks4 ,had the latter part of the run been as fast as the first1 there would have been very few of us there to see the finish4 ,,on ,,the ,,lincolnshire ,,wolds4 ,i started to meet ,lord ,yarborough's hounds1 from the house of a friend1 on a capital ,wold pony for cover hack4 ,it used to be said1 before non-riding masters of hounds had broadcasted bridle-gates over the ,quorn country1 that a ,leicestershire hack was a pretty good hunter for other counties4 ,we may say the same of a ,lincolnshire ,wolds pony--his master1 farming not less than three hundred and more likely fifteen hundred acres1 has no time to lose in crawling about on a punchy half-bred cart-horse1 like a smock-frocked tenant--the farm must be visited before hunting1 and the market-towns lie too far off for five miles an hour jog-trot to suit4 ,it is the ,wold fashion to ride farming at a pretty good pace1 and take the fences in a fly where the gate stands at the wrong corner of the field4 ,broad strips of turf fringe the road1 offering every excuse for a gallop1 and our guide continually turned through a gate or over a hurdle1 and through half a dozen fields1 to save two sides of an angle4 ,these fields contrast strangely with the ancient counties--large1 and square1 and clean1 with little ground lost in hedgerows4 ,the great cop banks of ,essex1 ,devon1 and ,cheshire are almost unknown--villages you scarcely see1 farmhouses rarely from the roadside1 for they mostly stand well back in the midst of their acres4 ,gradually creeping up the ,wold--passing through1 here vast turnip-fields1 fed over by armies of long-woolled ,lincoln sheep2 there1 stubble yielding before from a dozen to a score of pair-horse ploughs1 silent witnesses of the scale of ,lincolnshire farming--at length we see descending and winding along a bridle-road before us1 the pied pack and the gleam of the huntsman's scarlet4 ,around1 from every point of the compass the field come ambling1 trotting1 cantering1 galloping1 on hacks1 on hunters1 through gates or over fences1 practising their ,yorkshire four-year-olds4 ,there are squires of every degree1 ,lincolnshire ,m4,p4's1 parsons in black1 in number beyond average2 tenant-farmers1 in quantity and quality such as no other county we have ever seen can boast1 velvet-capped and scarlet-coated1 many with the ,brocklesby hunt button1 mounted on first-class hunters1 whom it was a pleasure to see them handle2 and these were not young bloods1 outrunning the constable1 astonishing their landlords and alarming their fathers2 but amongst the ruck were respectable grandfathers who had begun hunting on ponies when ,stubbs was painting great-grandfather ,smith1 and who had as a matter of course brought up their sons to follow the line in which they had been cheered on by ,arthur ,young's ,lord ,yarborough4 ,there they were1 of all ages1 from the white-haired veteran who could tell you when every field had been inclosed1 to the little petticoated orphan boy on a pony1 whose father's farm had been put in trust for him by the good ,earl4 ,of the ordinary mob that crowd fox-hound meets from great cities and fashionable watering-places1 there were none4 ,the swell who comes out to show his clothes and his horse2 the nondescript1 who may be a fast ,life-,guardsman or a fishmonger2 the lot of horse-dealers2 and1 above all1 those blas gentlemen who1 bored with everything1 openly express their preference for a carted deer or red-herring drag1 if a straight running fox is not found in a quarter of an hour after the hounds are thrown into cover4 ,the men who ride on the ,lincolnshire ,wolds are all sportsmen1 who know the whole country as well as their own gardens1 and are not unfrequently personally acquainted with the peculiar appearance and habits of each fox on foot4 ,altogether they are as formidable critics as any professional huntsman would care to encounter4 ,there is another pleasant thing4 ,in consequence1 perhaps1 of the rarity1 strangers are not snubbed as in some counties2 and you have no difficulty in getting information to any extent on subjects agricultural and fox-hunting 7even without that excellent passport which ,i enjoyed of a hunter from the stables of the noble ,master of the ,hounds71 and may be pretty sure of more than one hospitable and really-meant invitation in the course of the return ride when the sport is ended4 ,but time is up1 and away we trot--leaving the woods of ,limber for the present--to one of the regular ,wolds1 artificial coverts1 a square of gorse of several acres1 surrounded by a turf bank and ditch1 and outside again by fields of the ancient turf of the moorlands4 ,in go the hounds at a word1 without a straggler2 and while they make the gorse alive with their lashing sterns1 there is no fear of our being left behind for want of seeing which way they go1 for there is neither plantation nor hedge1 nor hill of any account to screen us4 ,and there is no fear either of the fox being stupidly headed1 for the field all know their business1 and are fully agreed1 as old friends should be1 on the probable line4 ,a very faint ,tally-away1 and cap held up1 by a fresh complexioned1 iron-gray1 bullet-headed old gentleman1 of sixteen stone1 mounted on a four-year-old1 brought the pack out in a minute from the far end of the covert1 and we were soon going1 holding hard1 over a newly-ploughed field1 looking out sharp for the next open gate2 but it is at the wrong corner1 and by the time we have reached the middle of fifty acres1 a young farmer in scarlet1 sitting upright as a dart1 showed the way over a new rail in the middle of a six-foot quickset4 ,our nag1 ,leicestershire1 needs no spurring1 but takes it pleasantly1 with a hop1 skip1 and jump2 and by the time we had settled into the pace on the other side1 the senior on the four-year-old was alongside1 crying1 ,push along1 sir2 push along1 or they'll run clean away from you4 ,the fences are all fair on the line we're going4 ,and so they were--hedges thick1 but jumpable enough1 yet needing a hunter nevertheless1 especially as the big fields warmed up the pace amazingly2 and1 as the majority of the farmers out were riding young ones destined for finished hunters in the pasture counties1 there was above an average of resolution in the style of going at the fences4 ,the ground almost all plough1 naturally drained by chalk sub-subsoil1 fortunately rode light2 but presently we passed the edge of the ,wolds1 held on through some thin plantations over the demesne grass of a squire's house1 then on a bit of unreclaimed heath1 where a flock of sheep brought us to a few minutes' check4 ,with the help of a veteran of the hunt1 who had been riding well up1 a cast forward set us agoing again1 and brought us1 still running hard1 away from the ,wolds to low ground of new inclosures1 all grass1 fenced in by ditch and new double undeniable rails4 ,as we had a good view of the style of country from a distance1 we thought it wisest1 as a stranger1 on a strange horse1 with personally a special distaste to double fences1 to pull gently1 and let half-a-dozen young fellows on half-made1 heavy-weight four or five years old1 go first4 ,the results of this prudent and unplucky step were most satisfactory2 while two or three1 with a skill we admired1 without venturing to imitate1 went the in and out clever1 the rest1 some down and some blundering well over1 smashed at least one rail out of every two1 and let the stranger through comfortably at a fair flying jump4 ,after three or four of these tremendous fields1 each about the size of ,mr4 ,mechi's farm1 a shepherd riding after his flock on a pony opened a gate just as the hounds1 after throwing up their heads for a minute1 turned to the right1 and began to run back to the ,wolds at a slower rate than we started1 for the fox was no doubt blown by the pace2 and so up what are called hills there 7they would scarcely be felt in ,devonshire or ,surrey71 we followed at a hand gallop right up to the plantations of ,brocklesby ,park1 and for a good hour the hounds worked him round and round the woods1 while we kept as near them as we could1 racing along green rides as magnificent in their broad spread verdures and overhanging evergreen walls of holly and laurel as any ,watteau ever painted4 ,the ,lincolnshire gentry and yeomanry1 scarlet coated and velvet capped1 on their great blood horses sweeping down one of the grand evergreen avenues of ,brocklesby ,park1 say toward the ,pelham ,pillar1 is a capital untried subject1 in colour1 contrast1 and living interest1 for an artist who can paint men as well as horses4 ,at length when every dodge had been tried1 ,master ,reynard made a bolt in despair4 ,we raced him down a line of fields of very pretty fencing to a small lake1 where wild ducks squatted up1 and there ran into him1 after a fair although not a very fast day's sport3 a more honest hunting1 yet courageous dashing pack we never rode to4 ,the scarcity of villages1 the general sparseness of the population1 the few roads1 and those almost all turf-bordered1 and on a level with the fields1 the great size of the enclosures1 the prevalence of light arable land1 the nuisance of flocks of sheep1 and yet a good scenting country1 are the special features of the ,wolds4 ,when you leave them and descend1 there is a country of water1 drains1 and deep ditches1 that require a real water-jumper4 ,two points specially strike a stranger--the complete hereditary air of the pack1 and the attendants1 so different from the piebald1 new-varnished appearance of fashionable subscription packs4 ,smith1 the huntsman1 is fourth in descent of a line of ,brocklesby huntsmen2 ,robinson1 the head groom1 had just completed his half century of service at ,brocklesby2 and ,barnetby1 who rode ,lord ,yarborough's second horse1 was many years in the same capacity with the first ,earl4 ,but1 after all1 the ,brocklesby tenants--the ,nainbys1 the ,brookes1 the ,skipwiths1 and other ,woldsmen1 names whom to mention would take up too much room1 as the ,eton ,grammar says--tenants who1 from generation to generation1 have lived1 and flourished1 and hunted under the ,pelham family--a spirited1 intelligent1 hospitable race of men--these alone are worth travelling from ,land's ,end to see1 to hear1 to dine with2 to learn from their sayings and doings what a wise1 liberal1 resident landlord--a lover of field sports1 a promoter of improved agriculture--can do in the course of generations toward breeding a first-class tenantry1 and feeding thousands of townsfolk from acres that a hundred years ago only fed rabbits4 ,we should recommend those ,m4,p4's who think fox-hunting folly1 to leave their books and debates for a day's hunting on the ,wolds4 ,we think it will be hard to obtain such happy results from the mere pen-and-ink regulations of chamber legislators and haters of field sports4 ,three generations of the ,pelhams turned thousands of acres of waste in heaths and ,wolds into rich farm-land2 the fourth did his part by giving the same district railways and seaport communication4 ,when we find learned mole-eyed pedants sneering at fox-hunters1 we may call the ,brocklesby kennels and the ,pelham ,pillar as witnesses on the side of the common sense of ,english field sports4 ,it was hunting that settled the ,pelhams in a remote country and led them to colonise a waste4 ,there is one excellent custom at the hunting-dinners at ,brocklesby ,park which we may mention1 without being guilty of intrusion on private hospitality4 ,at a certain hour the stud-groom enters and says1 ,my ,lord1 the horses are bedded up2 then the whole party rise1 make a procession through the stables1 and return to coffee in the drawing-room4 ,this custom was introduced by the first ,lord ,yarborough some half-century ago1 in order to break through the habit of late sitting over wine that then was too prevalent4 ,,harriers--,,on ,,the ,,brighton ,,downs4 ,long before hunting sounds are to be heard1 except the early morning cub-hunters routing woodlands1 and the autumn stag-hunters of ,exmoor1 harrier packs are hard at work racing down and up the steep hillside and along the chalky valleys of ,brighton ,downs1 preparing old sportsmen for the more earnest work of ,november--training young ones into the meaning of pace1 the habit of riding fast down1 and the art of climbing quickly1 yet not too quickly1 up hill--giving constitutional gallops to wheezy aldermen1 or enterprizing adults fresh from the riding-school--affording fun for fast young ladies and pleasant sights for a crowd of foot-folks and fly-loads1 halting on the brows of the steep combs1 content with the living panorama4 ,the ,downs and the sea are the redeeming features of ,brighton1 considered as a place of change and recreation for the over-worked of ,london4 ,without these advantages one might quite as well migrate from the ,city to ,regent ,street1 varying the exercise by a stroll along the ,serpentine4 ,to a man who needs rest there is something at first sight truly frightful in the townish gregariousness of ,brighton proper1 with its pretentious common-place architecture1 and its ceaseless bustle and rolling of wheels4 ,but then comes into view first the sea1 stretching away into infinite silence and solitude1 dotted over on sunny days with pleasure-boats2 and next1 perpetually dashing along the league of sea-borded highway1 group after group of gay riding-parties of all ages and both sexes--,spanish hats1 feathers1 and riding-habits--amazones1 according to the ,french classic title1 in the majority4 ,first comes ,papa ,briggs1 with all his progeny1 down to the little bare-legged imitation ,highlander on a shaggy ,shetland pony2 then a riding-master in mustachios1 boots1 and breeches1 with a dozen pupils in divers stages of timidity and full-blown temerity2 and then again loving pairs in the process of courtship or the ecstasies of the honeymoon1 pacing or racing along1 indifferent to the interest and admiration that such pairs always excite4 ,besides the groups there are single figures1 military and civil1 on prancing thorough-bred hacks and solid weight-carrying cobs1 contrasted with a great army of hard-worked animals1 at half-a-crown an hour which compose the bulk of the ,brighton cavalry1 for horse-hiring at ,brighton is the rule1 private possession the exception2 nowhere else1 except1 perhaps1 at ,oxford1 is the custom so universal1 and nowhere do such odd1 strange people venture to exhibit themselves a-horseback4 ,as ,dublin is said to be the car-drivingest1 so is ,brighton the horse-ridingest city in creation2 and it is this most healthy1 mental and physical exercise1 with the summer-sea yacht excursions1 which constitute the difference and establishes the superiority of this marine offshoot of ,london over any foreign bathing-place4 ,under ,french auspices we should have had something infinitely more magnificent1 gay1 gilded1 and luxurious in architecture1 in shops1 in restaurants1 cafs1 theatres1 and ball-rooms2 but pleasure-boat sails would have been utterly unknown1 and the horse-exercise confined to a few daring cavaliers and theatrical ladies4 ,it is doubtless the open ,downs that originally gave the visitors of ,brighton 7when it was ,brighthelmstone1 the little village patronised by the ,prince1 by the ,burney1 and ,mrs4 ,thrale7 the habit of constitutional canters to a degree unknown in other pleasure towns2 and the traditional custom has been preserved in the face of miles of brick and stucco4 ,with horses in legions1 and ,downs at hand1 a pack of hounds follows naturally2 hares of a rare stout breed are plentiful2 and the tradesmen have been acute enough to discover that a plentiful and varied supply of hunting facilities is one of the most safe1 certain1 and profitable attractions they can provide4 ,cheltenham and ,bath has each its stag-hounds2 ,brighton does better1 less expensively1 and pleases more people1 with two packs of harriers1 hunting four days 7and1 by recent arrangements1 a pack of fox-hounds filling up the other two days7 of the week2 so that now it may be considered about the best place in the country for making sure of a daily constitutional gallop from ,october to ,march at short notice1 and with no particular attention to costume and a very moderate stud1 or no stud at all4 ,with these and a few other floating notions of air1 exercise1 and change of scene in my head--having decided that1 however tempting to the caricaturist1 the amusement of hundreds was not to be despised--,i took my place at eight o'clock1 at ,london-bridge station1 in a railway carriage--the best of hacks for a long distance--on a bright ,october morning1 with no other change from ordinary road-riding costume than one of ,callow's long-lashed1 instead of a straight-cutting1 whips1 so saving all the impediments of baggage4 ,by ten o'clock ,i was wondering what the sad sea waves were saying to the strange costumes in which it pleases the fair denizens of ,brighton to deck themselves4 ,my horse1 a little1 wiry1 well-bred chestnut1 had been secured beforehand at a dealer's1 well known in the ,surrey country4 ,the meet was the race-course1 a good three miles from the ,parade4 ,the ,brighton meets are stereotyped4 ,the ,race-course1 ,telscombe ,tye1 the ,devil's ,dyke1 and ,thunders ,barrow are repeated weekly4 ,but of the way along the green-topped chalk cliffs1 beside the far-spreading sea1 or up and down the moorland hills and valleys1 who can ever weary8 ,who can weary of hill and dale and the eternal sea8 ,to those accustomed to an inclosed country there is something extremely curious in mile after mile of open undulating downs lost in the distant horizon4 ,my day was bright4 ,about eleven o'clock the horsemen and amazones arrived in rapidly-succeeding parties1 and gathered on the high ground4 ,pleasure visitors1 out for the first time--distinguished by their correct costume and unmistakably hired animals--caps and white breeches1 spotless tops and shining ,napoleons--were mounted on hacks battered about the legs1 and rather rough in the coat1 though hard and full of go2 but trousers were the prevailing order of the day4 ,medical men were evident1 in correct white ties1 on neat ponies and superior cobs2 military in mufti1 on pulling steeplechasers2 some farmers in leggings on good young nags for sale1 and good old ones for use4 ,london lawyers in heather mixture shooting-suits and ,park hacks2 lots of little boys and girls on ponies--white or cream-coloured being the favourites2 at least one master of far distant fox-hounds pack1 on a blood-colt1 master and horse alike new to the country and to the sport4 ,riding-masters1 with their lady pupils tittupping about on the live rocking-horses that form the essential stock of every riding-master's establishment1 with one or two papas of the pupils--worthy aldermen1 or authorities of the ,stock ,exchange1 expensively mounted1 gravely looking on1 with an expression of doubt as to whether they ought to have been there or not2 and then a crowd of the nondescripts1 bankers and brewers trying to look like squires1 neat and grim1 among the well and ill dressed1 well and ill mounted1 who form the staple of every watering-place1--with this satisfactory feature pervading the whole gathering1 that with the exception of a few whose first appearance it was in saddle on any turf1 and the before-mentioned grim brewers1 all seemed decidedly jolly and determined to enjoy themselves4 ,the hounds drew up2 to criticise them elaborately would be as unfair1 under the circumstances1 as to criticise a pot-luck dinner of beans and bacon put before a hungry man4 ,they are not particularly handsome--white patches being the prevailing colour2 and they certainly do not keep very close2 but they are fast enough1 persevering1 and1 killing a fair share of hares1 show very good sport to both lookers-on and hard riders4 ,the huntsman ,willard1 who has no whip to help him1 and often more assistance than he requires1 is a heavy man1 but contrives1 in spite of his weight1 to get his hounds in the fastest runs4 ,the country1 it may be as well to say for the benefit of the thousands who have never been on these famous mutton-producing ,south ,downs1 is composed of a series of table-lands divided by basin-like valleys1 for the most part covered with short turf1 with large patches of gorse and heather1 in which the hares1 when beaten1 take refuge4 ,of late years1 high prices and ,brighton demand1 with the new system of artificial agriculture1 have pushed root crops and corn crops into sheltered valleys and far over the hills1 much to the disgust of the ancient race of shepherds4 ,it is scarcely necessary to observe1 that on ,brighton ,downs there are no blank days1 but the drawing is a real operation performed seriously until such a time as the company having all assembled1 say at half-past seven o'clock1 when1 if the unaided faculties of the pack have not brought them up to a form1 a shepherd appears as the ,deus ex machin4 ,in spite of all manner of precautions1 the hounds will generally rush up to the point without hunting2 loud rises the joyful cry2 and1 if it is level ground1 the whole meet--hacks1 hobbie-horses1 and hunters--look as if their riders meant to go off in a whirlwind of trampling feet4 ,there is usually a circle or two with the stoutest hare before making a long stretch2 but1 on lucky days like that of our first and last visit1 the pace mends the hounds settle1 the riding-masters check their more dashing pupils1 the crowd gets dispersed1 and rides round1 or halts on the edges1 or crawls slowly down the steep-sided valleys2 while the hard riders catch their nags by the head1 in with the spurs1 and go down straight and furious1 as if they were away for ever and a day2 but the pedestrians and constitutional cob-owners are comforted by assurances that the hare is sure to run a ring back4 ,but1 on our day1 ,pussy1 having lain perdu during a few minutes' check1 started up suddenly amid a full cry1 and rather too much hallooing4 ,a gentleman in large mustachios and a velvet cap rode at her as if he meant to catch her himself4 ,away we all dashed1 losing sight of the dignity of fox-hunters--all mad as hatters 7though why hatters should be madder than cappers it would be difficult to say74 ,the pace becomes tremendous2 the pack tails by twos and threes2 the valleys grow steeper2 the field lingers and halts more and more at each steeper comb2 the lads who have hurried straight up the hillsides1 instead of creeping up by degrees blow their horses and come to a full stop2 while old hands at ,devonshire combs and ,surrey steeps take their nags by the head1 rush down like thunder1 and slily zigzag up the opposite face at a trot2 and so1 for ten minutes1 so straight1 that a stranger1 one of three in front1 cried1 ,by ,jove1 it must be a fox6 ,but at that moment the leading hounds turned sharp to the right and then to the left--a shrill squeak1 a cry of hounds1 and all was over4 ,the sun shone out bright and clear2 looking up from the valley on the hills1 nine-tenths of the field were to be seen a mile in the distance1 galloping1 trotting1 walking1 or standing still1 scattered like a pulk of pursuing ,cossacks4 ,the sight reminded me that1 putting aside the delicious excitement of a mad rush down hill at full-speed1 the lookers-on1 the young ladies on ponies1 and old gentlemen on cobs1 see the most of the sport in such a country as the ,brighton ,downs2 while in a flat inclosed1 or wooded country1 those who do not ride are left alone quite deserted1 five minutes after the hounds get well away4 ,we killed two more hares before retiring for the day1 but as they ran rings in the approved style1 continually coming back to the slow1 prudent1 and constitutional riders1 there was nothing to distinguish them from all other hare-hunts4 ,after killing the last hare there was ample time to get back to ,brighton1 take a warm bath1 dress1 and stroll on the ,esplanade for an hour in the midst of as gay and brilliant crowd1 vehicular1 equestrian1 and pedestrian1 as can be found in ,europe1 before sitting down to a quiet dinner1 in which the delicious ,southdown haunch was not forgotten4 ,so ended a day of glorious weather and pleasant sport1 jolly--if not in the highest degree genteel4 ,tempted to stay another day1 ,i went the next morning six miles through ,rottingdean to ,telscombe ,tye1 to meet the ,brookside2 and1 after seeing them1 have no hesitation in saying that every one who cares to look at a first-rate pack of harriers would find it worth his while to travel a hundred miles to meet the ,brookside1 for the whole turnout is perfection4 ,royalty cannot excel it4 ,a delicious ride over turf all the way1 after passing ,rottingdean1 under a blue sky and a ,june-like sun1 in sight of the sea1 calm as a lake1 brought us to the top of a hill of rich close turf1 enveloped in a cloud of mist1 which rendered horses and horsemen alike invisible at the distance of a few yards2 and when we came upon three tall shepherds1 leaning on their iron-hooked crooks1 in the midst of a gorse covert1 it was almost impossible to believe that we were not in some remote ,highland district instead of within half an hour of a town of #gj1jjj inhabitants4 ,the costumes of the field1 more exact than the previous day1 showed that the master was considered worthy of the compliment2 and when1 the mist clearing1 the beautiful black-and-tan pack1 all of a size1 and as like as peas1 came clustering up with ,mr4 ,saxby1 a white-haired1 healthy1 fresh-coloured1 neat-figured1 upright squire1 riding in the midst on a rare black horse1 it was a picture that1 taking in the wild heathland scenery1 the deep valleys below1 bright in sun1 the dark hills beyond it1 was indeed a bright page in the poetry of field sports4 ,the ,brookside are as good and honest as they are handsome2 hunting1 all together1 almost entirely without assistance4 ,if they have a fault they are a little too fast for hare-hounds4 ,after killing the second hare1 we were able to leave ,brighton by the #c4cj ,p4,m4 train4 ,thus1 under modern advantages1 a man troubled with indigestion has only to order a horse by post the previous day1 leave town at eight in the morning1 have a day's gallop1 with excitement more valuable than gallons of physic1 and be back in town by half-past five o'clock4 ,can eight hours be passed more pleasantly or profitably8 ,,prince ,,albert',s ,,harriers4 ,the ,south-,western ,rail made a very good hack up to the ,castle station4 ,that ,prince ,albert should never have taken to the ,royal stag-hounds is not at all surprising4 ,it requires to be to the manner born to endure the vast jostling1 shouting1 thrusting mob of gentlemen and horse dealers1 legs and horse-breakers1 that whirl away after the uncarted deer4 ,without the revival of the old ,court etiquette1 which forbade any one to ride before royalty1 his ,royal ,highness might have been ridden down by some ambitious butcher or experimental cockney horseman on a runaway4 ,if the etiquette of the time of ,george ,,iii had been revived1 then only ,leech could have done justice to the appearance of the field1 following impatiently at a respectful distance--not the stag1 as they do now very often1 or the hounds1 as they ought to do--but the ,prince's horse's tail4 ,prince ,albert's harriers are in the strictest sense of the term a private pack1 kept by his ,royal ,highness for his own amusement1 under the management of ,colonel ,hood4 ,the meets are not advertised4 ,the fields consist1 in addition to the ,royal and official party from the ,castle1 of a few neighbouring gentlemen and farmers1 the hunting establishment of a huntsman and one whip1 both splendidly mounted1 and a boy on foot4 ,the costume of the hunt is a very dark green cloth double-breasted coat1 with the ,prince's gilt button1 brown cords1 and velvet cap4 ,the hounds were about fifteen couple1 of medium size1 with considerable variety of true colours1 inclining to the fox-hound stamp1 yet very honest hunters4 ,in each run the lead was taken by a hound of peculiar and uncommon marking--black and tan1 but the tan so far spreading that the black was reduced to merely a saddle4 ,the day was rather too bright1 perhaps1 for the scent to lie well2 but there was the better opportunity for seeing the hounds work1 which they did most admirably1 without any assistance4 ,it is one of the advantages of a pack like this that no one presumes to interfere and do the business of either the huntsman or hounds4 ,the first hare was found on land apparently recently inclosed near ,eton2 but1 after two hours' perseverance1 it was impossible to make anything of the scent over ploughed land4 ,we then crossed the railway into some fields1 partly in grass1 divided by broad ditches full of water1 with plenty of willow stumps on the banks1 and partly arable on higher1 sloping ground1 divided by fair growing fences into large square inclosures4 ,here we soon found a stout hare that gave us an opportunity of seeing and admiring the qualities of the pack4 ,after the first short burst there was a quarter of an hour of slow hunting1 when the hounds1 left entirely to themselves1 did their work beautifully4 ,at length1 as the sun went behind clouds1 the scent improved2 the hounds got on good terms with puss1 and rattled away at a pace1 and over a line of big fields and undeniable fences1 that soon found out the slows and the nags that dared not face shining water4 ,short checks of a few minutes gave puss a short respite2 then followed a full cry1 and soon a view4 ,over a score of big fields the pack raced within a dozen yards of pussy's scent1 without gaining a yard1 the black-tanned leading hound almost coursing his game2 but this was too fast to last1 and1 just as we were squaring our shoulders and settling down to take a very uncompromising hedge with evident signs of a broad ditch of running water on the other side1 the hounds threw up their heads2 poor puss had shuffled through the fence into the brook1 and sunk like a stone4 ,there is something painful about the helpless finish with a hare4 ,a fox dies snarling and fighting4 ,,footnotes3 #agf-99 ,this sketch was written in #aheg4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,hunting ,,terms4 ,hunting terms are difficult to write1 because they are often rather sung than said4 ,i shall take as my authority one of the best sportsmen of his day1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,smith1 author of the ,diary of a ,huntsman1 a book which has only one fault1 it is too short2 and give some explanations of my own4 ,,huntsman',s ,,language4 ,on throwing off4--,cover hoick6 i4 e4 ,hark into cover6 ,also--,eloo in6 ,over the fence4--,yoi over6 ,to make hounds draw4--,edawick6 ,also--,yoi1 wind him6 ,yoi1 rouse him1 my boys6 ,and to a particular hound--,hoick1 ,rector6 ,hoick1 ,bonny ,lass6 ,the variety of ,tally-ho's ,i have given in another place4 ,to call the rest when some hounds have gone away4--,elope forward1 aw-ay-woy6 ,if they have hit off the scent4--,forrid1 hoick6 ,when hounds have overrun the scent1 or he wants them to come back to him4--,yo-geote6 ,when the hounds are near their fox4--,eloo1 at him6 ,,hunting ,,terms ,billet4--,the excrement of a fox4 ,burst4--,the first part of a run4 ,burning scent4--,when hounds go so fast1 from the goodness of the scent1 they have no breath to spare1 and run almost mute4 ,breast high4--,when hounds do not stoop their heads1 but go a racing pace4 ,capping4--,to wave your cap to bring on the hounds4 ,also to subscribe for the huntsman1 by dropping into a cap after a good run with fox-hounds4 ,at watering places1 before a run with harriers4 ,carry a good head4--,when hounds run well together1 owing to the scent being good1 and spreading so wide that the whole pack can feel it4 ,but it usually happens that the scent is good only on the line for one hound to get it1 so that the rest follow him2 hence the necessity of keeping your eyes on the leading hounds1 if you wish to be forward4 ,challenge4--,when drawing a fox1 the first hound that gives tongue1 challenges4 ,changed4--,when the pack changed from the hunted fox to a fresh one4 ,check4--,when hounds stop for want of scent in running1 or over-run it4 ,chopped a fox4--,when a fox is killed in cover without running4 ,crash4--,when in cover1 every hound seems giving tongue at the same moment3 that is a crash of hounds4 ,cub4--,until ,november1 a young fox is a cub4 ,drawing4--,the act of hunting to find a fox in a cover1 or covert1 as some term it4 ,drag4--,the scent left by the footsteps of the fox on his way from his rural rambles to his earth1 or kennel4 ,our forefathers rose early2 and instead of drawing1 hunted the fox by dragging up to him4 ,dwelling4--,when hounds do not come up to the huntsman's halloo till moved by the whipper-in1 they are said to dwell4 ,drafted4--,hounds drawn from the pack to be disposed of1 or hung1 are drafted4 ,earths are drawn4--,when a vixen fox has drawn out fresh earth1 it is a proof she intends to lay up her cubs there4 ,eye to hounds4--,a man has a good eye to hounds who turns his horse's head with the leading hounds4 ,flighty4--,a hound that is not a steady hunter4 ,feeling a scent4--,you say1 if scent is bad1 ,the hounds could scarcely feel the scent4 ,foil4--,when a fox runs the ground over which he has been before1 he is running his foil4 ,headed4--,when a fox is going away1 and is met and driven back to cover4 ,jealous riders1 anxious for a start1 are very apt to head the fox4 ,it is one of the greatest crimes in the hunting-field4 ,heel4--,when hounds get on the scent of a fox1 and run it back the way he came1 they are said to be running heel4 ,hold hard4--,a cry that speaks for itself1 which every one who wishes for sport will at once attend to when uttered by the huntsman4 ,holding scent4--,when the scent is just good enough for hounds to hunt a fox a fair pace1 but not enough to press him4 ,kennel4--,where a fox lays all day in cover4 ,line holders4--,hounds which will not go a yard beyond the scent4 ,left-handed4--,a hunting pun on hounds that are not always right4 ,lifting4--,when a huntsman carries the pack forward from an indifferent1 or no scent1 to a place the fox is hoped to have more recently passed1 or to a view halloo4 ,it is an expedient found needful where the field is large1 and unruly1 and impatient1 oftener than good sportsmen approve4#bjb-99 ,laid up4--,when a vixen fox has had cubs she is said to have laid up4 ,metal4--,when hounds fly for a short distance on a wrong scent1 or without one1 it is said to be all metal4 ,moving scent4--,when hounds get on a scent that is fresher than a drag1 it is called a moving scent2 that is1 the scent of a fox which has been disturbed by travelling4 ,mobbing a fox4--,is when foot passengers1 or foolish jealous horsemen so surround a cover1 that the fox is driven into the teeth of the hounds1 instead of being allowed to break away and show sport4 ,mute4--,when the pace is great hounds are mute1 they have no breath to spare2 but a hound that is always mute is as useless as a rich epicure who has capital dinners and eats them alone4 ,hounds that do not help each other are worthless4 ,noisy4--,to throw the tongue without scent is an opposite and equal fault to muteness4 ,open4--,when a hound throws his tongue1 or gives tongue1 he is said to open4 ,owning a scent4--,when hounds throw their tongues on the scent4 ,pad4--,the foot of a fox4 ,riot4--,when the hounds hunt anything beside fox1 the word is ,ware ,riot4 ,skirter4--,a hound which is wide of the pack1 or a man riding wide of the hounds1 is called a skirter4 ,stroke of a fox4--,is when hounds are drawing4 ,it is evident1 from their manner1 that they feel the scent of a fox1 slashing their stern significantly1 although they do not speak to it4 ,sinking4--,a fox nearly beaten is said to be sinking4 ,sinking the wind4--,is going down wind1 usually done by knowing sportsmen to catch the cry of the hounds4 ,stained4--,when the scent is lost by cattle or sheep having passed over the line4 ,stooping4--,hounds stoop to the scent4 ,slack4--,indifferent4 ,a succession of bad days1 or a slack huntsman1 will make hounds slack4 ,streaming4--,an expressive word applied to hounds in full cry1 or breast high and mute1 streaming away4 ,speaks4--,when a hound throws his tongue he is said to speak2 and one word from a sure hound makes the presence of a fox certain4 ,throw up4--,when hounds lose the scent they throw up their heads4 ,a good sportsman always takes note of the exact spot and cause1 if he can1 to tell the huntsman4 ,tailing4--,the reverse of streaming4 ,the result of bad scent1 tired hounds1 or an uneven pack4 ,throw off4--,after reaching the meet1 at the master's word the pack is thrown into cover1 hence throw off4 ,there are many other terms in common use too plain to need explanation1 and there are a good many slang phrases to be found in newspaper descriptions of runs1 which are both vulgar and unnecessary4 ,one of the finest descriptions of a fox-hunt ever written is to be found in the account of ,jorrocks' day with the ,old ,customer1 disfigured1 unfortunately1 by an overload of impossible cockneyisms1 put in the mouth of the impossible grocer4 ,another capitally-told story of a fox-hunt is to be found in ,whyte ,melville's ,kate ,coventry4 ,but the ,rev4 ,charles ,kingsley has1 in his opening chapter of ,yeast1 and his papers in ,fraser on ,north ,devon1 shown that if he chose he could throw all writers on hunting into the shade4 ,would that he would give us some hunting-songs1 for he is a true poet1 as well as a true sportsman6 ,another clergyman1 under the pseudonym of ,uncle ,scribble1 contributed to the pages of the ,sporting ,magazine an admirable series of photographs--to adopt a modern word--of hunting and hunting men1 as remarkable for dry wit and common sense1 as a thorough knowledge of sport4 ,but ,uncle ,scribble1 as the head of a most successful ,boarding ,school1 writes no more4 ,i may perhaps be pardoned for concluding my hints on hunting1 by re-quoting from ,household ,words an ,apology for ,fox-hunting1 which1 at the time ,i wrote it1 received the approbation1 by quotation1 of almost every sporting journal in the country4 ,it will be seen that it contains a sentence very similar to one to be found in ,mr4 ,rarey's ,horse ,training--,a bad-tempered man cannot be a good horseman4 ,,tally-,,ho6 ,fox-hunting1 ,i maintain1 is entitled to be considered one of the fine arts1 standing somewhere between music and dancing4 ,for ',tally-ho6' like the favourite evening gun of colonising orators1 has been 'carried round the world4' ,the plump mole-fed foxes of the neutral ground of ,gibraltar have fled from the jolly cry2 it has been echoed back from the rocky hills of our island possessions in the ,mediterranean2 it has startled the jackal on the mountains of the ,cape1 and his red brother on the burning plains of ,bengal2 the wolf of the pine forests of ,canada has heard it1 cheering on fox-hounds to an unequal contest2 and even the wretched dingoe and the bounding kangaroo of ',australia have learned to dread the sound4 ,in our native land ',tally-ho6' is shouted and welcomed in due season by all conditions of men2 by the ploughman1 holding hard his startled colt2 by the woodman1 leaning on his axe before the half-felled oak2 by bird-boys from the tops of leafless trees2 even ,dolly ,dumpling1 as she sees the white-tipped brush flash before her market-cart in a deep-banked lane1 stops1 points her whip and in shrill treble screams ',tally-ho6' ,and when at full speed the pink1 green1 brown1 and black-coated followers of any of the ninety packs which our ,england maintains1 sweep through a village1 with what intense delight the whole population turn out6 ,young mothers stand at the doors1 holding up their crowing babies2 the shopkeeper1 with his customers1 adjourns to the street2 the windows of the school are covered with flattened noses2 the parson1 if of the right sort1 smiles blandly1 and waves his hand from the porch of the vicarage to half-a-dozen friends2 while the surgeon pushes on his galloway and joins for half-an-hour2 all the little boys holla in chorus1 and run on to open gates without expecting sixpence4 ,as for the farmers1 those who do not join the hunt criticise the horseflesh1 speculate on the probable price of oats1 and tell ',missis' to set out the big round of beef1 the bread1 the cheese1 and get ready to draw some strong ale1--'in case of a check1 some of the gentlemen might like a bit as they come back4 ,it is true1 among the five thousand who follow the hounds daily in the hunting season1 there are to be found1 as among most medleys of five thousand1 a certain number of fools and brutes--mere animals1 deaf to the music1 blind to the living poetry of nature4 ,to such men hunting is a piece of fashion or vulgar excitement1 but bring hunting in comparison with other amusements1 and it will stand a severe test4 ,are you an admirer of scenery1 an amateur or artist8 ,have you traversed ,greece and ,italy1 ,switzerland and ,norway1 in search of the picturesque8 ,you do not know the beauties of your own country1 until1 having hunted from ,northumberland to ,cornwall1 you have viewed the various counties under the three aspects of a fox-hunter's day--the 'morning ride1' 'the run1' and 'the return home4' ,the morning ride1 slowly pacing1 full of expectation1 your horse as pleased as yourself2 sharp and clear in the gray atmosphere the leafless trees and white farmhouses stand out1 backed by a curtain of mist hanging on the hills in the horizon4 ,with eager eyes you take all in2 nothing escapes you2 you have cast off care for the day4 ,how pleasant and cheerful everything and everyone looks6 ,even the cocks and hens1 scratching by the road-side1 have a friendly air4 ,the turnpike-man relaxes1 in favour of your 'pink1' his usual grimness4 ,a tramping woman1 with one child at her back and two running beside her1 asks charity2 you suspect she is an impostor1 but she looks cold and pitiful2 you give her a shilling1 and the next day you don't regret your foolish benevolence4 ,to your mind the well-cultivated land looks beautiful4 ,in the monotony of ten acres of turnips1 you see a hundred pictures of ,english farming life1 well-fed cattle1 good wheat crops1 and a little barley for beer4 ,not less beautiful is the wild gorse-covered moor--never to be reclaimed1 ,i hope--where the wiry1 white-headed1 bright-eyed huntsman sits motionless on his old white horse1 surrounded by the pied pack--a study for ,landseer4 ,but if the morning ride creates unexecuted cabinet pictures and unwritten sonnets1 how delightful 'the find1' 'the run' along brook-intersected vales1 up steep hills1 through woodlands1 parks1 and villages1 showing you in byways little gothic churches1 ivy-covered cottages1 and nooks of beauty you never dreamed of1 alive with startled cattle and hilarious rustics4 ,talk of epic poems1 read in bowers or at firesides1 what poet's description of a battle could make the blood boil in delirious excitement1 like a seat on a long-striding hunter1 clearing every obstacle with firm elastic bounds1 holding in sight without gaining a yard on the flying pack1 while the tip of ,reynard's tail disappears over the wall at the top of the hill6 ,and1 lastly1--tired1 successful1 hungry1 happy1--the return home1 when the shades of evening1 closing round1 give a fantastic1 curious1 mysterious aspect to familiar road-side objects6 ,loosely lounging on your saddle1 with half-closed eyes1 you almost dream--the gnarled trees grow into giants1 cottages into castles1 ponds into lakes4 ,the maid of the inn is a lovely princess1 and the bread and cheese she brings 7while1 without dismounting1 you let your thirsty horse drink his gruel71 tastes more delicious than the finest supper of champagne1 with a pt of tortured goose's liver1 that ever tempted the appetite of a humane1 anti-fox hunting1 poet-critic1 exhausted by a long night of opera1 ballet1 and ,roman punch4 ,are you fond of agriculture8--,you may survey all the progress and ignorance of an agricultural district in rides across country2 you may sound the depth of the average agricultural mind while trotting from cover to cover4 ,are you of a social disposition8--,what a fund of information is to be gathered from the acquaintances made1 returning home after a famous day1 'thirty-five minutes without a check4' ,in a word1 fox-hunting affords exercise and healthy excitement without headaches1 or heartaches1 without late hours1 without the 'terrible next morning' that follows so many town amusements4 ,fox-hunting draws men from towns1 promotes a love of country life1 fosters skill1 courage1 temper2 for a bad-tempered man can never be a good horseman4 ,to the right-minded1 as many feelings of thankfulness and praise to the ,giver of all good will arise1 sitting on a fiery horse1 subdued to courageous obedience for the use of man1 while surveying a pack of hounds ranging an autumnal thicket with fierce intelligence1 or looking down on a late moorland1 broken up to fertility by man's skill and industry1 as in a solitary walk by the sea-shore or over a ,highland hill4 ,oh1 give me the man to whom nought comes amiss1 ,one horse or another--that country or this2 ,through falls and bad starts who undauntedly still ,bides up to this motto1 ,be with them ,i will6 ,and give me the man who can ride through a run1 ,nor engross to himself all the glory when done2 ,who calls not each horse that o'ertakes him a screw2 ,who loves a run best when a friend sees it too4 ,,warburton of ,arley ,hall4 ,,footnotes3 #bjb-99 ,the late ,sir ,richard ,sutton1 ,master of the ,quorn1 used to say that he liked to stick to the band and keep hold of the bridle1 that is to say1 make his pack hold to the line of the fox as long as they could2 but there were times when he could not resist the temptation of a sure holloa1 and off he would start at a tremendous pace1 for he was always a bruising rider1 with a blast or two upon his little merry-toned horn which he had the art of blowing better than other people4 ,to his intimate friends he used to excuse himself for these occasional outbreaks by quoting a saying of his old huntsman ,goosey 7late the ,duke of ,rutland's7--for whose opinion on hunting matters he had a great respect--,i take leave to say1 sir1 a fox is a very quick animal1 and you must make haste after him during some part of the day1 or you will not catch him4--,letter from ,captain ,percy ,williams1 ,master of the ,rufford ,hounds1 to the ,editor4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,origin ,,of ,,fox-,,hunting4 ,the origin of modern fox-hunting is involved in a degree of obscurity which can only be attributed to the illiterate character of the originators1 the ,squire ,westerns1 who rode all day1 and drank all the evening4 ,we need the assistance of the ingenious correspondent of ,notes and ,queries3-- ,it is quite certain that the fox was not accounted a noble beast of chase before the ,revolution of #afhh2 for ,gervase ,markham classes the fox with the badger in his ',cavalrie1 or that part of ,arte wherein is contained the ,choice ,trayning and ,dyeting of ,hunting ,horses whether for ,pleasure or for ,wager4 ,the ,third ,booke4 ,printed by ,edw4 ,allde1 for ,edward ,white2 and are to be sold at his ,shop1 neare the ,little ,north ,door of ,st4 ,paule's ,church1 at the signe of the ,gun4 #afaf4' ,he says3-- ',the chase of the foxe or badger1 although it be a chase of much more swiftness 7than the otter71 and is ever kept upon firm ground1 yet ,i cannot allow it for training horses1 because for the most part it continues in woody rough grounds1 where a horse can neither conveniently make foorth his way nor can heed without danger of stubbing4 ,the chase1 much better than any of these1 is hunting of the bucke or stag1 especially if they be not confined within a park or pale1 but having liberty to chuse their waies1 which some huntsmen call hunting at force4 ,when he is at liberty he will break forth his chase into the winde1 sometimes four1 five1 and six miles foorth right3 nay1 ,i have myself followed a stag better than ten miles foorth right from the place of his rousing to the place of his death1 besides all his windings1 turnings1 and cross passages4 ,the time of the year for these chases is from the middle of ,may to middle of ,september4' ,he goes on to say1 'which being of all chases the worthiest1 and belonging only ,princes and men of best quality1 there is no horse too good to be employed in such a service2 yet the horses which are aptest and best to be employed in this chase is the ,barbary jennet1 or a light-made ,english gelding1 being of a middle stature4' ',but to conclude and come to the chase which is of all chases the best for the purpose whereof we are now entreating2 it is the chase of the hare1 which is a chase both swift and pleasant1 and of long endurance2 it is a sport ever readie1 equally distributed1 as well to the wealthie farmer as the great gentleman4 ,it hath its beginning contrary to the stag and bucke2 for it begins at ,michaelmas1 when they end1 and is out of date after ,april1 when they first come into season4' ,this low estimate of the fox1 at that period1 is borne out by a speech of ,oliver ,st4 ,john1 to the ,long ,parliament1 against ,strafford1 quoted by ,macaulay1 in which he declares--',strafford was to be regarded not as a stag or hare1 but as a fox1 who was to be snared by any means and knocked on the head without pity4' ,the same historian relates that red deer were as plentiful on the hills of ,hampshire and ,gloucestershire1 in the reign of ,queen ,anne1 as they are now in the preserved deer-forests of the ,highlands of ,scotland4 ,when wild deer became scarce1 the attention of sportsmen was probably turned to the sporting qualities of the fox by the accident of harriers getting upon the scent of some wanderer in the clicketing season1 and being led a straight long run4 ,we have more than once met with such accidents on the ,devonshire moors1 and have known well-bred harriers run clear away from the huntsmen1 after an on-lying fox1 over an unrideable country4 ,fox-hunting rose into favour with the increase of population attendant on improved agriculture4 ,in a wild woodland country1 with earths unstopped1 no pack of hounds could fairly run down a fox4 ,i have found in private records two instances in which packs of hounds1 since celebrated1 were turned from hare-hounds to fox-hounds4 ,there are1 no doubt1 many more4 ,the ,tarporley1 or ,cheshire ,hunt1 was established in #agfb for ,hare-hunting1 and held its first meeting on the #adth ,november in that year4 ',those who kept harriers brought them in turn4' ,it is ordered by the #hth ,rule1 'that if no member of the society kept hounds1 or that it were inconvenient for masters to bring them1 a pack be borrowed at the expense of the society4' ,the uniform was ordered to be 'a blue frock with plain yellow mettled buttons1 scarlet velvet cape1 and double-breasted flannel waistcoat4 ,the coat sleeve to be cut and turned4 ,a scarlet saddle-cloth1 bound singly with blue1 and the front of the bridle lapt with scarlet4' ,the third rule contrasts oddly with our modern meets at half-past ten and half-past eleven o'clock3--',the harriers shall not wait for any member after eight o'clock in the morning4' ,as to drinking1 it was ordered 'that three collar bumpers be drunk after dinner1 and the same after supper2 after that every member might do as he pleased in regard to drinking4' ,by another rule every member was 'to present on his marriage to each member of the hunt1 a pair of well-stitched leather breeches1'#bac-99 then costing a guinea a pair4 ,in #agfi1 the club commenced ,fox-hunting4 ,the uniform was ordered to be changed to 'a red coat1 unbound1 with small frock sleeve1 a green velvet cape1 and green waistcoat1 and that the sleeve have no buttons2 in every other form to be like the old uniform2 and the red saddle-cloth to be bound with green instead of blue1 the fronts of the saddles to remain the same4' ,at the same time there was an alteration in regard to drinking orders--',that instead of three collar bumpers1 only one shall be drunk1 except a fox be killed above ground1 and then one other collar glass shall be drunk to ,fox-hunting4 ,among the names of the original members in #agfb1 we recognise many whose descendants have maintained in this generation their ancestral reputation as sportsmen4 ,for instance1 ,crewe1 ,mainwaring1 ,wilbraham1 ,smith1 ,barry1 ,cholmondeley1 ,stanley1 ,grosvenor1 ,townley1 ,watkin ,williams ,wynne1 ,stanford4 ,but1 although the ,tarporley ,hunt ,club has been maintained and thriven through the reigns of ,george ,,iii41 ,george ,,iv41 ,william ,,iv41 and ,victoria1 the pack of hounds1 destroyed or removed by various accidents1 have been more than once renewed4 ,but the ,brocklesby pack has been maintained in the family of the present ,earl of ,yarborough more than #acj years without break or change of blood2 and a written pedigree of the pack has been kept for upwards of #ajj years2 and it is now the oldest pack in the kingdom4 ,the ,cottesmore1 which was established before the ,brocklesby1 has been repeatedly dispersed and has long passed out of the hands of the family of the ,noels--by whom it was first established #bjj years ago4 ,by the kindness of ,lord ,yarborough1 ,i was permitted to examine all the papers connected with his hounds4 ,among them is a memorandum dated ,april #bj1 #agac3 it is agreed between ,sir ,john ,tyrwhitt1 ,charles ,pelham1 ,esq41 and ,robert ,vyner1 ,esq4 7another name well known in modern hunting annals71 that the foxhounds now kept by the said ,sir ,john ,tyrwhitt and ,mr4 ,pelham shall be joyned in one pack1 and the three have a joint interest in the said hounds for five years1 each for one-third of the year4 ,and it was agreed that the establishment should consist of sixteen couple of hounds1 three horses1 and a huntsman and a boy4 ,so apparently they only hunted one day a week4 ,it would seem that1 under the terms of the agreement1 the united pack soon passed into the hands of ,mr4 ,pelham1 and down to the present day the hounds have been branded with a ,p4 ,i also found at ,brocklesby a rough memoranda of the kennel from #agaj to #agdf2 after that date the ,stud ,book has been distinctly kept up without a break4 ,from #agig the first ,lord ,yarborough kept journals of the pedigree of hounds in his own handwriting2 and since his time by the father1 the grandfather1 and great-grandfather of the present huntsman4 ,in the time of the first ,lord ,yarborough1 his country extended over the whole of the ,south ,wold country1 part of the now ,burton ,hunt1 and part of ,north ,nottinghamshire2 and he used to go down into both those districts for a month at a time to hunt the woodlands4 ,there were1 as he told his grandson when he began hunting1 only three or four fences between ,horncastle and ,brigg1 a distance of at least thirty miles4 ,sir ,thomas ,tyrwhitt kept harriers at his ,manor ,house of ,aylsby1 at the foot of the ,lincolnshire ,wolds1 before he turned them into fox-hounds4 ,a barn at ,aylsby was formerly known as the ,kennels4 ,the ,aylsby estate has passed1 in the female line1 into the ,oxfordshire family of the ,tyrwhitt ,drakes1 who are so well known as masters of hounds1 and first-rate sportsmen2 while a descendant of ,squire ,vyner1 of ,lincolnshire1 has1 within the last twenty years1 been a master of fox-hounds in ,warwickshire and ,worcestershire4 ,mr4 ,meynell1 the father of modern fox-hunting1 and founder of the ,quorn ,hunt1 formed his pack chiefly of drafts from the ,brocklesby4 ,between the period that fox-hunting superseded hare-hunting in the estimation of country squires1 and that when the celebrated ,mr4 ,meynell reduced it to a science1 and prepared the way for making hunting in ,leicestershire almost an aristocratic institution1 a great change took place in the breed of the hounds and horses1 and in the style of horsemanship4 ,under the old system1 the hounds were taken out before light to hunt back by his drag the fox who had been foraging all night1 and set on him as he lay above his stopped-earth1 before he had digested his meal of rats or rabbits4 ,the breed of hounds partook more of the long-eared1 dew-lapped1 heavy1 crock-kneed southern hound1 or of the bloodhound4 ,well-bred horses1 too1 were less plentiful than they are now4 ,but the change to fast hounds1 fast horses1 and fast men1 took place at a much more distant date than some of our hard-riding young swells of #ahed seem to imagine4 ,a portrait of a celebrated hound1 ,ringwood1 at ,brocklesby ,park1 painted by ,stubbs1 the well-known animal painter in #agib1 presents in an extraordinary manner the type and character of some of the best hounds remotely descended from him1 although the ,cheshire song says3-- ,when each horse wore a crupper1 each squire a pigtail1 ,ere ,blue ,cap and ,wanton taught greyhounds to scurry1 ,with music in plenty--oh1 where was the hurry8 ,but it is more than eighty years since ,blue ,cap and ,wanton ran their race over ,newmarket ,heath1 which for speed has never been excelled by any modern hounds4 ,and it is a curious fact1 that although ,somerville1 the author of ,the ,chase1 died in #agdb1 his poem contains as clear and correct directions for fox-hunting1 with few exceptions1 as if it were written yesterday4 ,so that the art must have arrived at perfection within sixty or seventy years4 ,in the long reign of ,george ,,iii4 the distinction between town and country was much broken down1 and the isolation in which country squires lived destroyed4 ,packs of hounds1 kept for the amusement of a small district1 became1 as it were1 public property4 ,at length the meets of hounds began to be regularly given in the country newspapers4 ,with every change sportsmen of the old school have prophesied the total ruin of fox-hunting4 ,roads and canals excited great alarm to our fathers4 ,in our time every one expected to see sport entirely destroyed by railroads2 but we were mistaken1 and have lived to consider them almost an essential auxiliary of a good hunting district4 ,looking back at the manner in which fox-hunting has grown up with our habits and customs1 and increased in the number of packs1 number of hunting days1 and number of horsemen1 in full proportion with wealth and population1 one cannot help being amused at the simplicity with which ,mrs4 ,beecher ,stowe1 who comes from a country where people seldom amuse themselves out of doors 7except in making money71 tells in her ,sunny ,memories1 how1 when she dined with ,lord ,john ,russell1 at ,richmond1 the conversation turned on hunting2 and she expressed her astonishment that1 in the height of ,english civilisation1 this vestige of the savage state should remain4 ,thereupon they only laughed1 and told stories about fox-hunters4 ,they might have answered with old ,gervase ,markham1 ,of all the field pleasures wherewith ,old ,time and man's inventions hath blessed the hours of our recreations1 there is none so excellent as the delight of hunting1 being compounded like an harmonious concert of all the best partes of most refined pleasures1 as music1 dancing1 running and ryding4 ,mrs4 ,stowe's distinguished countryman1 ,washington ,irving1 took a sounder view of our rural pleasures2 for he says in his charming ,sketch ,book3-- ,the fondness for rural life among the higher classes of the ,english has had a great and salutary effect upon national character4 ,i do not know a finer race of men than the ,english gentlemen4 ,instead of the softness and effeminacy which characterizes the men of rank of most countries1 they exhibit a union of elegance and strength1 of robustness of frame and freshness of complexion1 which ,i am inclined to attribute to their living so much in the open air1 pursuing so eagerly the invigorating recreations of the country4 ,,footnotes3 #bac-99 ,i think this is a mistake4 ,in a copy of the rules forwarded to me by a ,cheshire squire1 one of the hereditary members of the club1 it is a pair of gloves4 ,but in the notes1 the songs and ballads by ,r4 ,egerton ,warburton1 ,esq41 of ,arley ,hall1 it is printed breeches4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,wild ,,ponies ,,of ,,exmoor4 ,in ,england there are so few wild horses1 that the following description of a visit ,i made to ,exmoor a few years ago in the month of ,september1 may be doubly interesting1 since ,mr4 ,rarey has shown a short and easy method of dealing with the principal produce of that truly wild region4 ,the road from ,south ,molton to ,exmoor is a gradual ascent over a succession of hills1 of which each descent1 however steep1 leads to a still longer ascent1 until you reach the high level of ,exmoor4 ,the first six miles are through real ,devonshire lanes2 on each side high banks1 all covered with fern and grass1 and topped with shrubs and trees2 for miles we were hedged in with hazels1 bearing nuts with a luxuriance wonderful to the eyes of those accustomed to see them sold at the corners of streets for a penny the dozen4 ,in spring and summer1 wild flowers give all the charms of colour to these game-preserving hedgerows2 but a rainy autumn had left no colour among the rich green foliage1 except here and there a pyramid of the bright red berries of the mountain ash4 ,so1 up hill and down dale1 over water-courses--now merrily trotting1 anon descending1 and not less merrily trudging up1 steep ascents--we proceed by a track as sound as if it had been under the care of a model board of trustees--for the simple reason that it rested on natural rock4 ,we pushed along at an average rate of some six miles an hour1 allowing for the slow crawling up hills2 passing many rich fields wherein fat oxen of the ,devon breed calmly grazed1 with sheep that had certainly not been bred on mountains4 ,once we passed a deserted copper-mine2 which1 after having been worked for many years1 had at length failed1 or grown unprofitable1 under the competition of the richer mines of ,cuba and ,south ,australia4 ,a long chimney1 peering above deserted cottages1 and a plentiful crop of weeds1 was the sole monument of departed glories--in shares and dividends--and mine-captain's promises4 ,at length the hedges began to grow thinner2 beeches succeeded the hazels2 the road1 more rugged and bare showed the marks where winter's rains had ploughed deep channels2 and1 at the turn of a steep hill1 we saw1 on the one hand1 the brown and blue moor stretching before and above us2 and on the other hand1 below1 like a map1 the fertile vale lay unrolled1 various in colour1 according to the crops1 divided by enclosures into every angle from most acute to most obtuse4 ,below was the cultivation of centuries2 above1 the turnip--the greatest improvement of modern agriculture--flourished1 a deep green1 under the protection of fences of very recent date4 ,one turnpike1 and cottages at rare intervals1 had so far kept up the idea of population2 but now1 far as the horizon extended1 not a place of habitation was to be seen2 until1 just in a hollow bend out of the ascending road1 we came upon a low white farm-house1 of humble pretensions1 flanked by a great turf-stack 7but no signs of corn2 no fold-yard full of cattle71 which bore1 on a board of great size1 in long letters1 this imposing announcement1 ,the ,poltimore ,arms4 ,our driver not being of the usual thirsty disposition of his tribe1 we did not test the capabilities of the one hostelry and habitation on ,lord ,poltimore's ,moorland ,estate1 but1 pushing on1 took the reins while our conductor descended to open a gate in a large turf and stone wall4 ,we passed through--left ,devon--entered ,somerset2 and the famous ,exmoor estate of #bj1jjj acres1 bounded by a wall forty miles in length1 the object of our journey1 lay before us4 ,very dreary was this part of our journey1 although1 contrary to the custom of the country1 the day was bright and clear1 and the ,september sun defeated the fogs1 and kept at a distance the drizzling rains which in winter sweep over ,exmoor4 ,we had now left the smooth1 rocky-floored road1 and were travelling along what most resembled the dry bed of a torrent3 turf banks on each side seemed rather intended to define than to divide the property4 ,as far as the eye could reach1 the rushy tufted moorland extended1 bounded in the distance by lofty1 round-backed hills4 ,thinly scattered about were horned sheep and ,devon red oxen4 ,for about two miles we jolted gently on1 until1 beginning to descend a hill1 our driver pointed in the valley below to a spot where stacks of hay and turf guarded a series of stone buildings1 saying1 ,there's the ,grange4 ,the first glance was not encouraging--no sheep-station in ,australia could seem more utterly desolate2 but it improved on closer examination4 ,the effects of cultivation were to be seen in the different colours of the fields round the house1 where the number of stock grazing showed that more than ordinary means must have been taken to improve the pasture4 ,we started on ,exmoor ponies to ride to ,simon's ,bath4 ,exmoor1 previous to #ahah1 was the property of the ,crown1 and leased to ,sir ,thomas ,dyke ,acland1 who has an estate of a similar character close adjoining4 ,he used its wild pasture 7at that time it was without roads7 for breeding ponies and feeding ,exmoor sheep4 ,there are no traces of any population having ever existed on this forest since ,roman times4 ,the ,romans are believed to have worked iron-mines on the moor1 which have recently been re-opened4 ,exmoor consists of #bj1jjj acres1 on an elevation varying from #ajjj to #abjj feet above the sea1 of undulating table-land1 divided by valleys1 or combes1 through which the ,river ,exe--which rises in one of its valleys--with its tributary1 the ,barle1 forces a devious way1 in the form of pleasant trout-streams1 rattling over and among huge stones1 and creeping through deep pools--a very angler's paradise4 ,like many similar districts in the ,scotch ,highlands1 the resort of the red deer1 it is called a forest1 although trees--with the exception of some very insignificant plantations--are as rare as men4 ,after riding all day with a party of explorers1 one of them suddenly exclaimed1 ,look1 there is a man6 ,a similar expression escaped me when we came in sight of the first tree--a gnarled thorn1 standing alone on the side of a valley4 ,the sides of the steep valleys1 of which some include an acre1 and others extend for miles1 are usually covered with coarse herbage1 heather1 and bilberry plants1 springing from a deep black or red soil3 at certain spots a greener hue marks the site of the bogs which impede1 and at times almost engulph1 the incautious horseman4 ,these bogs are formed by springs1 which1 having been intercepted by a pan of sediment1 and prevented from percolating through the soil1 stagnate1 and cause1 at the same time1 decay and vicious vegetation4 ,they are seldom deep1 and can usually be reclaimed by subsoiling or otherwise breaking the pan1 and so drying the upper layers of bog4 ,bog-turf is largely employed on ,exmoor as fuel4 ,on other precipitous descents1 winter torrents have washed away all the earth1 and left avalanches of bare loose stones1 called1 in the western dialect1 crees4 ,to descend these crees at a slapping pace in the course of a stag-hunt1 requires no slight degree of nerve2 but it is done1 and is not so dangerous as it looks4 ,exmoor may be nothing strange to those accustomed to the wild1 barren scenery4 ,to one who has known country scenes only in the best-cultivated regions of ,england1 and who has but recently quitted the perpetual roar of ,london1 there is something strangely solemn and impressive in the deep silence of a ride across the forest4 ,horses bred on the moors1 if left to themselves1 rapidly pick their way through pools and bogs1 and canter smoothly over dry flats of natural meadow2 creep safely down the precipitous descents1 and climb with scarcely a puff of distress these steep ascents2 splash through fords in the trout-streams1 swelled by rain1 without a moment's hesitation1 and trot along sheep-paths1 bestrewed with rolling stones1 without a stumble3 so that you are perfectly at liberty to enjoy the luxury of excitement1 and follow out the winding valleys1 and study the rich brown and purple herbage4 ,it was while advancing over a great brown plain in the centre of the moor1 with a deep valley on our left1 that our young quick-eyed guide suddenly held up his hand1 whispering1 ,ride on without seeming to take notice2 there are the deer4 ,a great red stag1 lying on the brown grass1 had sprung up1 and was gazing on our party--too numerous and too brightly attired to be herdsmen1 whom he would have allowed to pass without notice4 ,behind him were clustered four hinds and a calf4 ,they stood still for some minutes watching our every movement1 as we tried to approach them in a narrowing circle4 ,then the stag moved off slowly1 with stately1 easy1 gliding steps1 constantly looking back4 ,the hinds preceded him3 they reached the edge of the valley1 and disappeared4 ,we galloped up1 and found that they had exchanged the slow retreat for a rapid flight1 clearing every slight or suspicious obstacle with a grace1 ease1 and swiftness it was delightful to witness4 ,in an incredibly short time they had disappeared1 hidden by undulations in the apparently flat moor4 ,these were one of the few herds still remaining on the forest4 ,in a short time the wild deer of ,exmoor will be a matter of tradition2 and the hunt1 which may be traced back to the time of ,queen ,elizabeth1 will1 if continued1 descend to the cart and calf business4 ,a sight scarcely less interesting than the deer was afforded by a white pony mare1 with her young stock--consisting of a foal still sucking1 a yearling1 and a two-year-old--which we met in a valley of the ,barle4 ,the two-year-old had strayed away feeding1 until alarmed by the cracking of our whips and the neighing of its dam1 when it came galloping down a steep combe1 neighing loudly1 at headlong speed4 ,it is thus these ponies learn their action and sure-footedness4 ,it was a district such as we had traversed--entirely wild1 without inclosures1 or roads1 or fences--that came into the hands of the father of the present proprietor4 ,he built a fence of forty miles around it1 made roads1 reclaimed a farm for his own use at ,simon's ,bath1 introduced ,highland cattle on the hills1 and set up a considerable stud for improving the indigenous race of ponies1 and for rearing full-sized horses4 ,these improvements1 on which some three hundred thousand pounds were sunk1 were not profitable2 and it is very doubtful whether any considerable improvements could have been prosecuted successfully1 if railways had not brought better markets within reach of the district4 ,coming from a part of the country where ponies are the perquisites of old ladies and little children1 and where the nearer a well-shaped horse can be got to sixteen hands the better1 the first feeling on mounting a rough little unkemped brute1 fresh from the moor1 barely twelve hands 7four feet7 in height1 was intensely ridiculous4 ,it seemed as if the slightest mistake would send the rider clean over the animal's head4 ,but we learned soon that the indigenous pony1 in certain useful qualities1 is not to be surpassed by animals of greater size and pretensions4 ,from the ,grange to ,simon's ,bath 7about three miles71 the road1 which runs through the heart of ,exmoor proper1 was constructed1 with all the other roads in this vast extra-parochial estate1 by the father of the present proprietor1 ,f4 ,knight1 ,esq41 of ,wolverly ,house1 ,worcestershire1 ,m4,p4 for ,east ,worcestershire 7,parliamentary ,secretary of the ,poor ,law ,board1 under ,lord ,derby's ,government74 ,in the course of a considerable part of the route1 the contrast of wild moorland and high cultivation may be found only divided by the carriage-way4 ,at length1 descending a steep hill1 we came in sight of a view--of which ,exmoor and its kindred district in ,north ,devon affords many--a deep gorge1 at whose precipitous base a trout-stream rolled along1 gurgling and plashing1 and winding round huge masses of white spar4 ,the far bank sometimes extended out into natural meadows1 where red cattle and wild ponies grazed1 and sometimes rose precipitously4 ,at one point1 where both banks were equally steep and lofty1 the far side was covered by a plantation with a cover of under-wood2 but no trees of sufficient magnitude to deserve the name of a wood4 ,this is a spot famous in the annals of a grand sport that soon will be among things of the past--,wild ,stag ,hunting4 ,in this wood more than once the red monarch of ,exmoor has been roused1 and bounded over the rolling plains beyond1 amid the shouts of excited hunters and the deep cry of the hounds1 as with a burring scent they dashed up the steep breast of the hill4 ,but there was no defiant stag there that day2 so on we trotted on our shaggy sure-footed nags1 beneath a burning sun--a sun that sparkled on the flowing waters as they gleamed between far distant hills1 and threw a golden glow upon the fading tints of foliage and herbage1 and cast deep shadows from the white overhanging rocks4 ,next we came to the deep pool that gives the name to ,simon's ,bath1 where some unhappy man of that name1 in times when deer were more plentiful than sheep1 drowned himself for love1 or in madness1 or both--long before roads1 farms1 turnip crops1 a school1 and a church were dreamed of on ,exmoor4 ,here fences give signs of habitation and cultivation4 ,a rude1 ancient bridge1 with two arches of different curves1 covered with turf1 without side battlements or rails1 stretches across the stream1 and leads to a small house built for his own occupation by the father of ,mr4 ,knight1 pending the completion of a mansion of which the unfinished walls of one wing rise like a dismantled castle from the midst of a grove of trees and ornamented shrubs4 ,a series of gentle declivities1 plantations1 a winding1 full-flowing stream1 seem only to require a suitable edifice and the hand of an artist gardener to make1 at comparatively trifling expense1 an abode unequalled in luxuriant and romantic beauty4 ,we crossed the stream--not by the narrow bridge1 but by the ford2 and1 passing through the straggling stone village of ,simon's ,bath1 arrived in sight of the field where the ,tattersall of the ,west was to sell the wild and tame horse stock bred on the moors4 ,it was a field of some ten acres and a half1 forming a very steep slope1 with the upper path comparatively flat1 the sloping side broken by a stone quarry1 and dotted over with huge blocks of granite4 ,at its base flowed an arm of the stream we had found margining our route4 ,a substantial1 but1 as the event proved1 not sufficiently high stone fence bounded the whole field4 ,on the upper part1 a sort of double pound1 united by a narrow neck1 with a gate at each end1 had been constructed of rails1 upwards of five feet in height4 ,into the first of these pounds1 by ingenious management1 all the ponies1 wild and tame1 had been driven4 ,when the sale commenced1 it was the duty of the herdsmen to separate two at a time1 and drive them through the narrow neck into the pound before the auctioneer4 ,around a crowd of spectators of every degree were clustered--'squires and clergymen1 horse-dealers and farmers1 from ,northamptonshire and ,lincolnshire1 as well as ,south ,devon1 and the immediate neighbourhood4 ,these ponies are the result of crosses made years ago with ,arab1 ,dongola1 and thorough-bred stallions1 on the indigenous race of ,exmoors1 since carefully culled from year to year for the purpose of securing the utmost amount of perfection among the stallions and mares reserved for breeding purposes4 ,the real ,exmoor seldom exceeds twelve hands2 has a well-shaped head1 with very small ears2 but the thick round shoulder peculiar to all breeds of wild horses1 which seem specially adapted for inclemencies of the weather2 indeed1 the whole body is round1 compact1 and well ribbed4 ,the ,exmoor has very good quarters and powerful hocks2 legs straight1 flat1 and clean2 the muscles well developed by early racing up and down steep mountain sides while following their dams4 ,in about forty lots the prevailing colours were bay1 brown1 and gray2 chestnuts and blacks were less frequent1 and not in favour with the country people1 many of whom seemed to consider that the indigenous race had been deteriorated by the sedulous efforts made and making to improve it--an opinion which we could not share after examining some of the best specimens1 in which a clean blood-like head and increased size seemed to have been given1 without any diminution of the enduring qualities of the ,exmoor4 ,the sale was great fun4 ,perched on convenient rails1 we had the whole scene before us4 ,the auctioneer rather hoarse and quite matter-of-fact2 the ponies wildly rushing about the first enclosure1 were with difficulty separated into pairs to be driven in the sale section2 when fairly hemmed in through the open gate1 they dashed and made a sort of circus circuit1 with mane and tail erect1 in a style that would draw great applause at ,astley's4 ,then there was the difficulty of deciding whether the figures marked in white on the animal's hind-quarters were #h or #c or #e4 ,instead of the regular trot up and down of ,tattersall's1 a whisk of a cap was sufficient to produce a tremendous caper4 ,a very pretty exhibition was made by a little mare1 with a late foal about the size of a setter dog4#bbh-99 ,the sale over1 a most amusing scene ensued3 every man who had bought a pony wanted to catch it4 ,in order to clear the way1 each lot1 as sold1 as wild and nearly as active as deer1 had been turned into the field4 ,a joint-stock company of pony-catchers1 headed by the champion wrestler of the district--a hawk-nosed1 fresh-complexioned1 rustic ,don ,juan--stood ready to be hired1 at the moderate rate of sixpence per pony caught and delivered4 ,one carried a bundle of new halters2 the others1 warmed by a liberal distribution of beer1 seemed as much inspired by the fun as the sixpence4 ,when the word was given1 the first step was to drive a herd into the lowest corner of the field in as compact a mass as possible4 ,the bay1 gray1 or chestnut1 from that hour doomed to perpetual slavery and exile from his native hills1 was pointed out by the nervous anxious purchaser4 ,three wiry fellows crept cat-like among the mob1 sheltering behind some tame cart-horses2 on a mutual signal they rushed on the devoted animal2 two--one bearing a halter--strove to fling each one arm round its neck1 and with one hand to grasp its nostrils--while the insidious third1 clinging to the flowing tail2 tried to throw the poor quadruped off its balance4 ,often they were baffled in the first effort1 for with one wild spring the pony would clear the whole lot1 and flying with streaming mane and tail across the brook up the field1 leave the whole work to be recommenced4 ,sometimes when the feat was cleverly performed1 pony and pony-catchers were to be seen all rolling on the ground together2 the pony yelling1 snorting1 and fighting with his fore feet1 the men clinging on like the ,lapith and the ,centaurs1 and how escaping crushed ribs or broken legs it is impossible to imagine4 ,on one occasion a fine brown stallion dashed away1 with two plucky fellows hanging on to his mane3 rearing1 plunging1 fighting with his fore feet1 away he bounded down a declivity among the huge rocks1 amid the encouraging cheers of the spectators3 for a moment the contest was doubtful1 so tough were the sinews1 and so determined the grip of ,davy1 the champion2 but the steep bank of the brook1 down which the brown stallion recklessly plunged1 was too much for human efforts 7in a moment they all went together into the brook71 but the pony1 up first1 leaped the opposite bank and galloped away1 whinnying in short-lived triumph4 ,after a series of such contests1 well worth the study of artists not content with pale copies from marbles or casts1 the difficulty of haltering these snorting steeds--equal in spirit and probably in size to those which drew the car of ,boadicea--was diminished by all those uncaught being driven back to the pound2 and there1 not without furious battles1 one by one enslaved4 ,yet even when haltered1 the conquest was by no means concluded4 ,some refused to stir1 others started off at such a pace as speedily brought the holder of the halter on his nose4 ,one respectable old gentleman1 in gray stockings and knee-breeches1 lost his animal in much less time than it took him to extract the sixpence from his knotted purse4 ,yet in all these fights there was little display of vice2 it was pure fright on the part of the ponies that made them struggle so4 ,a few days' confinement in a shed1 a few carrots1 with a little salt1 and gentle treatment1 reduces the wildest of the three-year-olds to docility4 ,when older they are more difficult to manage4 ,it was a pretty sight to view them led away1 splashing through the brook--conquered1 but not yet subdued4 ,in the course of the evening a little chestnut stallion1 twelve hands1 or four feet in height1 jumped1 at a standing jump1 over the bars out of a pound upward of five feet from the ground1 only just touching the top rail with his hind feet4 ,we had hoped to have a day's wild stag hunting1 but the hounds were out on the other side of the country4 ,however1 we had a few runs with a scratch pack of harriers after stout moorland hares4 ,the dandy school1 who revel in descriptions of coats and waistcoats1 boots and breeches1 and who pretend that there is no sport without an outfit which is only within the reach of a man with ten thousand a year1 would no doubt have been extremely disgusted with the whole affair4 ,we rose at five o'clock in the morning and hunted puss up to her form 7instead of paying a shilling to a boy to turn her out7 with six couples1 giving tongue most melodiously4 ,viewing her away we rattled across the crispy brown moor1 and splattered through bogs with a loose rein1 in lunatic enjoyment1 until we checked at the edge of a deep combe4 ,then--when the old yellow ,southerner challenged1 and our young host cheered him with ,hark to ,reveller1 hark6--to hear the challenge and the cheer re-echoed again from the opposite cliff2 and--as the little pack in full cry again took up the running1 and scaled the steep ascent--to see our young huntsman1 bred in these hills1 go rattling down the valleys1 and to follow by instinct1 under a vague idea1 not unmixed with nervous apprehensions of the consequences of a slip1 that what one could do two could1 was vastly exciting1 and amusing1 and1 in a word1 decidedly jolly4 ,so with many facts1 some new ideas1 and a fine stock of health from a week of open air1 ,i bade farewell to my hospitable hosts and to romantic ,exmoor4 ,,footnotes3 #bbh-99 ,according to tradition1 the ,exmoor ponies are descended from horses brought from the ,east by the ,phoenicians1 who traded there with ,cornwall for metals4 ,illustration3 ,,sitz ,,bath4 ,,postscript4 ,,the ,,hunting ,,man',s ,,health4 ,without health there can be no sport4 ,a man at the commencement of the hunting often requires condition more than his horse1 especially if engaged in sedentary occupations1 and averse to summer riding or walking4 ,of course the proper plan is to train by walking or riding4 ,i remember1 some years ago1 when three months of severe mental occupation had kept me entirely out of the saddle1 going out in ,northamptonshire1 fortunately admirably mounted1 when the hounds were no sooner in cover than they were out of it1 running breast high1 five minutes after ,i had changed from my seat in a dog-cart to the saddle4 ,we had thirty-five minutes' sharp run1 without a check1 and for the latter part of the run ,i was perfectly beaten1 almost black in the face1 and scarcely able to hold my horse together4 ,i did not recover from this too sudden exertion for many days4 ,those who are out of condition will do well to ride1 instead of driving to cover4 ,in changing from town to country life1 between the different hours of rising and hearty meals--the result of fresh air and exercise--the stomach and bowels are very likely to get out of order4 ,it is as well1 therefore1 to be provided with some mild digestive pills3 violent purges are as injurious to men as to horses1 and more inconvenient4 ,the enema is a valuable instrument1 which a hunting man should not be without1 as its use1 when you are in strong exercise1 is often more advisable than medicine4 ,but one of the most valuable aids to the health and spirits of a hard-riding man is the ,sitz ,bath1 which1 taken morning and evening1 cold or tepid1 according to individual taste1 has even more advantageous effects on the system than a complete bath4 ,it braces the muscles1 strengthens the nerves1 and tends to keep the bowels open4 ,sitz baths are made in zinc1 and are tolerably portable2 but in a country place you may make shift with a tub half-filled with water4 ,in taking this kind of bath1 it is essential that the parts not in the water should be warm and comfortable4 ,for this end1 in cold weather1 case your feet and legs in warm stockings1 and cover your person and tub with a poncho1 through the hole of which you can thrust your head4 ,in default of a poncho1 a plaid or blanket will do1 and in warm weather a sheet4 ,if you begin with tepid water1 you will soon be able to bear cold1 as after the first shock the cold disappears4 ,the water must not reach higher than your hips1 rather under than over4 ,the time for a ,sitz bath varies from ten to twenty minutes1 not longer1 during which you may read or smoke2 but then you will need sleeves1 for it is essential that you should be covered all the time4 ,i often take a cup of coffee in this bath1 it saves time in breakfasting4 ,in the illustration1 the blanket has been turned back to show the right position4 ,,the ,,hot-,,air ,,or ,,indian ,,bath4 ,in case of an attack of cold or influenza1 or a necessity for sweating off a few pounds1 or especially after a severe fall1 there is no bath so effective and so simple as the hot-air or ,indian bath4 ,this is made with a wooden-bottomed kitchen chair1 a few blankets1 a tin cup1 and a claret-glass of spirits of wine4 ,for want of spirits of wine you might use a dozen of ,price's night lights4 ,take a wooden-bottomed chair1 and place it in a convenient part of the bedroom1 where a fire should be previously lighted4 ,put under the chair a narrow metal cup or gallipot1 if it will stand fire filled with spirits of wine4 ,let the bather strip to his drawers1 and sit down on the chair with a fold of flannel under him1 for the seat will get extremely hot--put on his knees a slop-basin1 with a sponge and a little cold water4 ,then take four blankets or rugs1 and lay them1 one over his back1 one over his front1 and one on each side1 so as to cover him closely in a woollen tent1 and wrap his head up in flannel or silk--if he is cold or shivering put his feet in warm water1 or on a hot brick wrapped in flannel4 ,then light the spirits of wine1 which will very soon make a famous hot-air bath4 ,by giving the patient a little cold water to drink1 perspiration will be encouraged2 if he finds the air inconveniently hot before he begins to perspire1 he can use the sponge and slop-basin to bathe his chest1 c4 ,illustration3 ,,indian ,,bath4 ,when the perspiration rolls like rain from his face1 and you think he has had enough1 have a blanket warmed at the fire1 strip him1 roll him in it1 and tumble him into bed4 ,in five or ten minutes1 you can take away the blanket and put on his night shirt--give him a drink of white wine whey1 and he will be ready to go to sleep comfortably4 ,this bath can be administered when a patient is too ill to be put in a warm bath1 and is more effective4 ,i have seen admirable results from it on a gentleman after a horse had rolled over him4 ,it can also be prepared in a few minutes1 in places where to get a warm bath would be out of the question4 ,in the illustration1 the blanket is turned back1 to show the proper position1 and by error the head is not covered4 ,woodfall and ,kinder ,printers1 ,angel ,court1 ,skinner ,street1 ,london4 ,if the steamboat and the railway have abridged time and space1 and made a large addition to the available length of human existence1 why may not our intellectual journey be also accelerated1 our knowledge more cheaply and quickly acquired1 its records rendered more accessible and portable1 its cultivators increased in number1 and its blessings more cheaply and widely diffused8--,,quarterly ,,review4 ,,london3 ,,farringdon ,,street4 ,,george ,,routledge ,,co4',s ,,new ,,and ,,cheap ,,editions ,,of ,standard and ,popular ,works ,,in ,,history1 ,,biography1 ,,fiction1 ,,travels ,,voyages1 ,,natural ,,history1 ,,poetry the ,,drama1 ,,sporting1 ,,useful1 ,,religious1 ,,juvenile1 ,and ,,miscellaneous ,,literature2 ,,with ,,the ,,addition ,,of ,illustrated ,present ,books1 ,,and ,,the ,,popular ,,cheap ,,libraries4 ,,to ,,be ,,obtained ,,by ,,order ,,of ,,all ,,booksellers1 ,,home ,,or ,,colonial4 ,in ordering1 specially mention ,,routledge',s ,,editions4 ,,history4 ,in #a vol4 price #es4 cloth lettered4 ,,russell',s ,,modern ,,europe ,,epitomized4 ,for the use of ,students and ,schools1 with an ,index1 forming a complete ,text-,book of ,modern ,history2 a perfect treasury of ,facts1 ,dates1 and ,important ,events2 the ,history of ,kingdoms and ,states1 and ,lives of celebrated ,characters4 ,by ,,george ,,townsend4 ,in epitomizing this valuable book of reference1 ,mr4 ,townsend has endeavoured to give as fair a view of the leading details of ,modern ,history as was possible within the limits4 ,the more interesting portions of the subjects that stand out in bold and full relief on the map of the past have been described at greater length1 while less important matters have been abridged1 without interrupting the thread of the narrative4 ,every date has been verified1 and the entire work submitted to the most careful revision4 ,in fact1 ,mr4 ,townsend's aim has been to supply what has long been wanting in ,english literature--a ,handbook in which the chief events of ,modern ,history are set forth in a clear1 concise1 and intelligent form4 ,all candidates for offices in her ,majesty's ,civil ,service are examined in ,russell's ,modern ,europe4 ,three ,editions of ,robertson and ,prescott's ,charles the ,fifth4 ,,prescott ,,and ,,robertson',s ,,history ,,of ,,charles the ,,fifth1 being ,,robertson',s ,history of his ,reign4 ,with important original additions by ,w4 ,h4 ,,prescott4 ,new ,index1 and ,steel ,portrait4 ,uniform with the ,editions of ,mr4 ,,prescott',s other ,works published by ,r4 ,,bentley4 #a4 ,library ,edition1 #b vols4 #hvo1 cloth lettered1 with a ,portrait1 price #bds4 #b4 ,cabinet ,edition1 #b vols4 post #hvo1 with a ,portrait1 price #abs4 #c4 ,the #a vol4 ,edition1 in crown #hvo1 price #es4 ,in this edition ,mr4 ,prescott has given a brilliant sketch and minute account of the latter days of ,charles the ,fifth4--,times4 ,robertson's ,charles the ,fifth is only a history of that reign1 less than three pages being devoted to ,charles's life subsequent to his abdication4 ,yet this is the most curious and interesting portion of that monarch's existence4 ,the result of ,mr4 ,prescott's examination of the ,archives of ,simancas has been to exhibit1 under a very different aspect1 the monastic life of ,charles1 from that in which it has hitherto been written1 and to give great completeness to the original work of ,robertson4 ,each in #b vols4 boards1 #ds42 or in cloth1 #es4 ,,prescott',s 7,w4 ,h47 ,,historical ,,works4 ,cheap ,complete ,edition4 ,viz43 ,,ferdinand ,,and ,,isabella4 #b vols4 ,,conquest ,,of ,,mexico4 #b vols4 ,,conquest ,,of ,,peru4 #b vols4 ,,philip ,,the ,,second4 #b vols4 ,also1 uniform1 ,,charles ,,the ,,fifth4 #b vols4 ,by ,,robertson1 with a continuation by ,,prescott4 asterism ,this issue of ,mr4 ,prescott's ,historical ,works is the only cheap one that contains1 without the slightest abridgment1 all the ,notes of the original octavo ,american editions1 with full ,indexes4 ,to ,mr4 ,prescott belongs the rare distinction of uniting solid merit with extensive popularity4 ,he has been exalted to the first class of ,historians--both by the popular voice and the suffrages of the learned4 ,his fame1 also1 is not merely local1 or even national--it is as great in ,london1 ,paris1 and ,berlin1 as at ,boston or ,new ,york4 ,his works have been translated into ,spanish1 ,german1 ,french1 and ,italian2 and1 into whatever region they have penetrated1 they have met a cordial welcome1 and done much to raise the character of ,american letters and scholarship4--,whipple's ,essay4 ,prescott's ,works in point of style rank with the ablest ,english historians1 and paragraphs may be found in which the grace and elegance of ,addison are combined with ,robertson's cadence and ,gibson's brilliancy4--,athenum4 ,price #bs4 boards1 or #bs4 #f;d4 cloth4 ,,prescott',s ,,essays1 ,,biographical ,,and ,,critical4--,comprising3 ,c4 ,b4 ,brown1 the ,novelist4 ,irving's ,conquest of ,granada4 ,cervantes4 ,sir ,walter ,scott4 ,chateaubriand's ,eastern ,literature4 ,bancroft's ,united ,states4 ,molire4 ,italian ,narrative ,poetry4 ,scottish ,song4 ,poetry and ,romance of the ,italians4 ,in #b vols4 fcap4 #hvo1 boards1 #ds42 or in cloth1 #es4 ,,bancroft',s ,,history ,,of ,,america4 ,the ,colonization and its ,results4 ,with ,index4 asterism ,this standard ,work has1 in the five volumes1 more than #fjjj references to the best ,historical ,works and ,manuscripts in existence4 ,it takes its stand in literature by the side of ,alison's ,europe1 and ,macaulay's ,england4 ,its style is lofty and eloquent1 written with candour1 neither exaggerating vices of character1 nor reviving national animosities1 but rendering a just tribute to virtue1 wherever found4 ,in fcap4 #hvo1 boards1 each vol4 #bs41 or in cloth1 #bs4 #f;d4 ,,bancroft',s ,,history ,,of ,,america4 ,vols4 #c1 #d1 and #e1 with ,index4 ,continuing the ,history from its ,colonization1 and completing a period in the ,history of the ,american ,revolution4 ,this cheap edition of ,mr4 ,bancroft's standard ,work is now complete as far as he has written it1 and contains the history of the ,american ,revolution considered in all its causes--the rise of the ,union of the ,united ,states from the body of the people--the change in the colonial policy of ,france--and the consequences of the endeavours of ,great ,britain to consolidate her power over ,america4 ,in #c vols4 post #hvo1 price #aes4 cloth lettered4 ,,michaud',s ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,crusades1 ,the ,first ,english ,edition translated from the ,french2 with ,notes4 ,memoir and ,preface by ,w4 ,,robson4 ,michaud is faithful1 accurate1 and learned3 his mind is lofty and generous1 and exactly suitable to the proper filling up of a history of the ,crusades4--,,alison4 7,blackwood's ,magazine47 ,mr4 ,robson has done a great service in making ,michaud's admirable work accessible to the general reader4--,the ,spectator4 ,in #a vol4 #hvo1 price #ads4 cloth lettered4 ,,the ,,british ,,expedition ,,to ,,the ,,crimea4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,,russell1 ,the ,times' ,special ,correspondent4 ,being a ,revised ,edition of ,the ,war1 with additions and corrections4 ,illustrated with ,plans of the ,battles1 ,woodcuts1 and ,steel ,portrait of ,author4 ,it is not surprising if ,i avail myself of my brief leisure to revise1 for the first time1 and re-write portions of my work1 which relate to the most critical actions of the war4 ,from the day the ,guards landed at ,malta1 down to the fall of ,sebastopol1 and the virtual conclusion of the war1 ,i have had but one short interval of repose4 ,my sincere desire has been1 and is1 to tell the truth1 as far as ,i know it1 respecting all ,i have witnessed4 ,many incidents in the war1 from various hands 7many of them now cold for ever71 ,i have availed myself of2 but the matter of the work is chiefly composed of the facts and materials accumulated in my letters4 ,in post #hvo1 price #es4 cloth gilt4 ,a ,,history ,,of ,,british ,,india1 from the ,earliest ,period of ,english ,intercourse to the ,present ,time4 ,by ,,charles ,,macfarlane4 ,with ,additions to the year #aheh4 ,illustrated with numerous ,engravings4 ,this admirable aid to the study of ,british ,india we particularly recommend1 as one of the best epitomes that our literature possesses4--,north ,wales ,chronicle4 ,new ,edition1 brought down to the ,peace of ,paris1 #ahef4 ,in #d vols4 #hvo4 price #a #ajs4 cloth lettered4 ,,russell',s ,,modern ,,europe1 with a ,view of the ,progress of ,society from the ,rise of the ,modern ,kingdoms4 ,new ,edition1 continued to the ,peace of ,paris1 #ahef1 to which is added a compendious ,index compiled expressly for this ,edition4 ,the ,,fourth ,,volume1 from the year #ahjb to #ahef1 is sold separately1 price #ajs4 #f;d42 it forms the best handbook of ,general ,history for the last half-century that can be had4 ,all the ,candidates for the ,government ,civil ,service are examined in ,russell's ,modern ,europe1 as to their knowledge of ,general ,history4 ,in #b vols4 crown #hvo1 cloth1 price #es41 or in #a vol4 cloth gilt1 #es4 #f;d4 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,extraordinary ,,popular ,,delusions4 ,by ,,charles ,,mackay1 ,,ll4,d4 ,the ,third ,edition4 ,illustrated with ,one ,hundred and ,twenty ,engravings1 from scarce ,prints and other authentic sources4 ,among which will be found the following interesting subjects3--,the ,,south ,,sea ,,bubble1 ,the ,,tulipomania1 ,,relics1 ,,modern ,,prophecies1 ,,duels ,,and ,,ordeals1 ,,love ,,of ,,the ,,marvellous1 ,the ,o4 ,p4 ,,mania1 ,the ,,crusades1 ,the ,,witch ,,mania1 ,the ,,slow ,,poisoners1 ,,haunted ,,houses1 ,the ,,alchymists1--,,pretended ,,antiquity ,,of ,,the ,,art1 ,,avicenna1 ,,albertus ,,magnus1 ,,thomas ,,aquinas1 ,,raymond ,,lulli1 ,,roger ,,bacon1 ,,pope ,,john ,,xxii41 ,,cornelius ,,agrippa1 ,,paracelsus1 ,,dr4 ,,dee and ,,edward ,,kelly1 ,the ,,cosmopolite1 ,,sendivogius1 ,the ,,rosicrucians1 ,alchymical ,writers of the ,seventeenth ,century1 ,,de ,,lisle1 ,,albert ,,aluys1 ,,count ,,de ,,st4 ,,germains1 ,,cagliostro1 ,present ,state of the ,sciences1 c4--,,fortune-,,telling1 ,the ,,magnetisers1 c4 ,these volumes will captivate the attention of readers who1 according to their various tempers1 feel either inclined to laugh at or sigh over the follies of mankind4--,times4 ,in #a vol4 post #hvo1 price #es4 cloth lettered4 ,,bonnechose',s ,,history ,,of ,,france4 ,the first ,english ,edition4 ,translated by ,w4 ,,robson1 ,esq41 ,translator of ,michaud's ,history of the ,crusades1 c4 ,with ,illustrations and ,index4 ,it is a cleverly written volume1 the translation also being easy and flowing2 and there is no ,english manual of ,french history at once so portable and authentic as this4--,the ,guardian4 ,in #a vol4 post #hvo1 price #es4 cloth lettered4 ,,felice',s ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,protestants ,,of ,,france1 from the ,commencement of the ,reformation to the ,present ,time4 ,translated from the ,revised and ,corrected ,edition4 ,we recommend this work to our readers as one of the most interesting of ,religious ,history that we have met with after ,merle d',aubign's ',reformation2' and perhaps1 to the reading public generally1 more interesting and more novel than even that very popular work4--,atlas4 ,in #a vol4 royal #hvo1 price #fs4 #f;d4 cloth extra4 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,popes4 ,by ,,leopold ,,ranke4 ,including their ,church and ,state1 the ,re-organization of the ,inquisition1 the ,rise1 ,progress1 and ,consolidation of the ,jesuits1 and the means taken to effect the ,counter-reformation in ,germany1 to revive ,romanism in ,france1 and to suppress ,protestant ,principles in the ,south of ,europe4 ,translated from the last edition of the ,german by ,,walter ,k4 ,,kelly1 of ,trinity ,college1 ,dublin4 ,this translation of ,ranke we consider to be very superior to any other in the ,english language4--,dublin ,review4 ,in small post #hvo1 price #es4 cloth extra4 ,,embassies ,,and ,,foreign ,,courts4 ,a ,history of ,diplomacy4 ,by ,,the ,,roving ,,englishman4 ,the ,second ,edition4 ,the ',roving ,englishman' is a satirical chronicler4 ,his style is not less lively than severe--not subtle enough for irony1 but caustic1 free1 and full of earnest meaning4 ,this volume is also an admirable manual1 skilfully adapted to the purpose of diffusing a general knowledge of history and the working of diplomacy4--,the ,athenum4 ,in small post #hvo1 price #es4 cloth extra1 gilt4 ,,pictures ,,from ,,the ,,battle ,,fields4 ,by ,,the ,,roving ,,englishman4 ,the ,third ,edition1 with ,illustrations from ,sketches taken on the spot1 and ,chapters respecting-- ,scutari and its ,hospitals4 ,miss ,nightingale4 ,balaklava4 ,a ,snow ,storm4 ,the ,commissariat again4 ,a ,camp ,dinner4 ,the ,heights before ,sebastopol4 ,the ,bashi-,bazouk4 ,russian ,officers and ,soldiers4 ,the ,french ,officer4 ,the ,zouave4 ,who is unfamiliar with those brilliant little sketches of travel--particularly the pictures of ,turkish life and manners--from the pen of the ',roving ,englishman1' that were1 week after week1 the very tit-bits of ',household ,words8'--,who did not hail their collection into a companionable-sized volume8--and who will not thank our truly 'fast' friend--the friend of almost everything and everybody but foreign noodles--the ',roving ,englishman1' for this new book of sketches8 ,in fcap4 #hvo1 price #as4 #h;d4 strongly bound1 or in cloth gilt1 #bs41 or with the ,questions and ,coloured ,map1 red sheep1 #cs4 ,,landmarks ,,of ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,england4 ,by the ,rev4 ,,james ,,white4 7,the ,twenty-second ,thousand47 ,we hold this to be a pattern volume of cheap literature4 ,it is so written that it cannot fail to amuse and enlighten the more ignorant2 yet it is a book that may be read with pleasure and profit1 too1 by the most polished scholar4 ,in a word1 excellent gifts are applied to the advantage of the people--a poetical instinct and a full knowledge of ,english ,history4 ,it has nothing about it of common-place compilation4 ,it is the work of a man of remarkable ability1 having as such a style of its own1 and a grace that cannot fail to exercise its refining influence upon uneducated people4 ,the amount of solid information it compresses in a small compass excites in the reader's mind repeated surprise4--,the ,examiner4 asterism ,is placed on the list of ,school ,books of the ,educational ,committee of the ,privy ,council4 ,in fcap4 #hvo1 price #as4 #f;d41 or #bs4 cloth gilt4 ,,landmarks ,,of ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,greece4 ,by the ,rev4 ,,james ,,white4 ,this book1 with its companion volume1 deserves to have a place in every house where there are young readers1 and in many a house where there are none but elder ones1 able to appreciate the genial writings of a man1 who having taste and knowledge at command1 sits down to write in the simplest way the story of a people for a people's reading4--,examiner4 ,in fcap4 #hvo1 price #bs4 cloth1 or #bs4 #f;d4 roan lettered4 ,,goldsmith',s ,,history ,,of ,,england4 ,a ,new ,edition1 with ,continuation to the ,death of ,wellington4 ,with ,portraits of all the ,sovereigns4 ,in this edition1 the editor has added some facts which had been overlooked by the author1 and preceded the original work by a short notice of the earlier history1 gathered from the old chroniclers1 and continued to the present time4 ,to each chapter is appended a series of questions1 by means of which the tutor will readily be enabled to examine the pupil as to the impressions the facts have made on his memory4 asterism ,is placed on the list of ,school ,books of the ,educational ,committee of the ,privy ,council4 ,,biography4 ,in #d vols4 crown #hvo1 price #ajs41 or in #b vols4 cloth gilt1 #ajs4 ,,boswell',s ,,life ,,of ,,dr4 ,,johnson1 with numerous ,portraits1 ,views1 and ,characteristic ,designs1 engraved from authentic sources4 ,homer is not more decidedly the first of heroic poets1 ,shakspeare is not more decidedly the first of dramatists1 ,demosthenes is not more decidedly the first of orators1 than ,boswell is the first of biographers4 ,many of the greatest men that have ever lived have written biography4 ,boswell was one of the smallest men that ever lived1 and he has beaten them all4 ,his was talent1 and uncommon talent1 and to ,jemmy ,boswell we indeed owe many hours of supreme delight4--,macaulay4 ,in crown #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth extra1 gilt4 ,,the ,,life1 ,,public ,,and ,,domestic1 ,,of ,,the ,,right ,,hon4 ,,edmund ,,burke4 ,by ,,peter ,,burke1 ,esq4 7of the ,inner ,temple and the ,northern ,circuit74 ,profusely illustrated with ,portraits1 ,scenes of ,events1 and ,landscape ,views1 relating to the great ,orator and the other noted persons of his time and career4 ,this volume attempts to relate the biography of ,edmund ,burke as a private person and a public character in an easily intelligible shape4 ,the author's aim has been to furnish a plain and popular biography1 in which he trusts he has succeeded4 ,in fcap4 #hvo1 #cs4 boards1 or #cs4 #f;d4 cloth gilt4 ,,elliston',s ,,life and ,,enterprises4 ,by ,,george ,,raymond4 ,illustrated with ,portrait and ,engravings on steel1 from designs by ,phiz1 ,cruikshank1 c4 ,this is a very entertaining memoir of one of the most gentlemanly1 accomplished1 and versatile actors who adorned the ,english stage4 ,the life of ,r4 ,w4 ,elliston1 unlike that of the majority of his professional brethren1 affords ample materials for a readable book1 and this volume presents indubitable testimony in proof of that fact4--,morning ,post4 ,in #a vol4 crown #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth extra4 ,,extraordinary ,,men3 their ,boyhood and ,early ,youth4 ,by ,,william ,,russell1 ,esq4 ,the ,sixth ,edition1 illustrated with #ej ,engravings of ,portraits1 ,birthplaces1 ,incidents1 c4 c4 ,what a title to interest the youth of this nation6 ,it teaches in every page lessons of prudence1 frugality1 industry1 and perseverance2 and how difficulties1 moral and physical1 have been successfully overcome4 ,in #a vol4 crown #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth extra1 gilt4 ,,extraordinary ,,women3 their ,girlhood and ,early ,years4 ,by ,,william ,,russell1 ,esq4 ,illustrated with numerous ,engravings designed and executed by ,messrs4 ,dalziel4 ,this volume contains the lives of the ,empress ,josephine1 ,christina ,queen of ,sweden1 ,catherine ,empress of ,russia1 ,mrs4 ,fry1 ,madame ,roland1 ,mrs4 ,hutchinson1 ,isabella of ,castile1 ,marie ,antoinette1 ,lady ,stanhope1 ,madame de ,genlis1 ,mrs4 ,opie1 c4 c4 ,in #a vol4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth lettered4 ,,exmouth',s 7,,lord7 ,,life4 ,,by ,,edward ,,osler4 ,it is the wisdom of those to whom ,england will hereafter commit the honour of her flag1 to study well the examples of the great sea officers whose services illustrate the annals of their country4 ,among these bright examples1 none is more worthy of careful study than ,admiral ,lord ,exmouth4 ,we therefore hail with pleasure the cheap edition of this great and good sailor4 ,in #a vol4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth gilt4 ,,marlborough',s ,,life4 ,by ,,charles ,,macfarlane4 ,with ,two ,illustrations4 ,this is an excellent life of the great ,general for young readers1 and for those who have not time to make themselves acquainted with the larger works on the subject4--,atlas4 ,in #a vol4 post #hvo1 price #es4 cloth gilt4 ,,the ,,great ,,commanders ,,of ,,all ,,nations4 ,by ,g4 ,p4 ,r4 ,,james4 ,a new revised ,edition1 comprising the ,lives of ,henry the ,fifth1 ,turenne1 the ,great ,cond1 ,marlboro'1 ,peterboro'1 ,general ,wolfe1 ,cromwell1 ,duke of ,alva1 ,gonzalvo de ,cordova1 c41 c41 with ,eight ,illustrations4 ,in #a vol4 post #hvo1 price #es4 cloth gilt4 ,,the ,,buccaneers 7,,history ,,of72 or1 ,the ,monarchs of the ,spanish ,main4 ,by ,,walter ,,thornbury4 ,with ,eight ,illustrations by ,phiz4 ,in #a vol4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth gilt4 ,,wellington 7,,life ,,of74 ,by ,,chas4 ,,macfarlane4 ,with ,illustrations by ,john ,gilbert4 ,the times in which we live seem to call for an animated revival of our military prowess1 and of the science1 skill1 valour1 and achievements of our fathers1 as well on the battle-field as on the ocean4 ,in fcap4 #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth lettered4 ,,grimaldi',s ,,life4 ,edited by ,,charles ,,dickens1 and ,illustrated by ,george ,cruikshank4 ,the editor has made such alterations in the original manuscript as he conceived would improve the narration of the facts1 without any departure from the facts themselves4--,introductory ,chapter4 ,in #b vols4 post #hvo1 price #ajs4 cloth lettered4 ,,cranmer',s ,,life4 ,by ,,john ,,strype1 ,m4,a41 being ,memorials of the ,most ,reverend ,father in ,god1 ,thomas ,cranmer1 some time ,lord ,archbishop of ,canterbury4 ,a ,new ,edition1 by ,,philip ,e4 ,,barnes1 ,esq41 ,b4,a41 ,f4,l4,s41 of the ,middle ,temple1 ,barrister-at-,law4 ,the works of ,strype hold a place amongst the very best authorities1 as forming a most valuable portion of the history of the reformation of religion in this country1 no less than as of standard excellence1 inasmuch as the narratives of the most interesting events in the annals of our country were based by this truly ,protestant author upon documentary evidence1 and drawn from original ,,mss41 the greater part of which are still extant4 ,in #a vol4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #bs4 #f;d4 cloth gilt4 ,,nelson',s ,,life4 ,by ,,joseph ,,allen1 ,author of ,battles of the ,british ,navy4 ,with a ,portrait of ,nelson4 ,to ,mr4 ,allen we owe the inexpressible advantage of being able to read ,nelson's biography unencumbered by idle speculations1 denuded of the tedious detail1 and yet sufficiently nautical to give an appropriate colouring to the exciting and glorious narrative4--,united ,service ,gazette4 ,in #a vol4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #es4 cloth extra1 or with gilt edges1 #es4 #f;d4 ,,richelieu',s ,,life4 ,by ,w4 ,,robson4 ,with ,illustrations4 ,the reader will find much pleasure and profit in perusing ,mr4 ,robson's very able and intelligent biography4--,observer4 ,the student will find the events of ,richelieu's life reflected as in a mirror4--,liverpool ,albion4 ,in #b vols4 post #hvo1 price #gs4 cloth lettered4 ,,channing',s 7,,dr47 ,,life and ,,correspondence4 ,edited by his ,nephew1 ,,william ,,henry ,,channing4 ,a ,new ,edition1 with a ,portrait4 ,his nephew has compiled his biography with singular judgment4 ,he has followed the method of ,lockhart in his ,life of ,scott4 ,as far as possible1 the narrative is woven with letters and diaries3 the subject speaks for himself1 and only such intermediate observations of the editor are given as are necessary to form a connected whole4 ,in #a vol4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #es4 cloth extra1 or with gilt edges1 #es4 #f;d4 ,,julius ,c,,sar 7,,life ,,of74 ,by the ,ven4 ,,john ,,williams1 ,archdeacon of ,cardigan1 ,author of ,life of ,alexander4 ,printed on superfine paper1 with ,four ,illustrations4 ,in writing this ,life of ,julius ,csar1 it has been the aim of the author to give as truthful a view of the thoughts1 words1 and deeds of this 'foremost man of all the world1' as well as the chief characters of his opponents and supporters2 thus rendering it1 as it were1 a biography of the celebrated characters who lived in ,csar's time4 ,,standard ,,biography4--,,cheap ,,editions ,in vols4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #as4 #f;d4 each1 cloth extra4 ,life of ,nelson4 ,by ,joseph ,allen4 ,life of ,wellington4 ,by ,mac,farlane4 ,peel 7,sir ,robert71 ,life of4 ,with a ,portrait by ,w4 ,harvey4 ,life of ,oliver ,goldsmith4 ,by ,washington ,irving4 ,lives of the ,successors of ,mahomet4 ,by ,washington ,irving4 ,monk and ,washington4 ,by ,f4 ,guizot4 ,representative ,men4 ,by ,r4 ,w4 ,emerson4 ,,fiction4 ,,the ,,standard ,,edition ,,of ,,the ,,novels ,,and ,,romances ,,of ,,sir ,,edward ,,bulwer ,,lytton1 ,,bart41 ,m4,p4 ,uniformly printed in crown #hvo1 corrected and revised throughout1 with new ,prefaces4 #bj vols4 in #aj1 price #c #cs4 cloth extra2 or any volumes separately1 in cloth binding1 as under3-- s4 d4 ,,rienzi3 ,,the ,,last ,,of ,,the ,,tribunes #c #f ,,paul ,,clifford #c #f ,,pelham3 ,,or1 ,,the ,,adventures ,,of ,a ,,gentleman #c #f ,,eugene ,,aram4 ,a ,tale #c #f ,,last ,,of ,,the ,,barons #e #j ,,last ,,days ,,of ,,pompeii #c #f ,,godolphin #c #j ,,pilgrims ,,of ,,the ,,rhine #b #f ,,night ,,and ,,morning #d #j ,,ernest ,,maltravers #c #f ,,alice2 ,,or ,,the ,,mysteries #c #f ,,the ,,disowned #c #f ,,devereux #c #f ,,zanoni #c #f ,,leila2 ,,or ,,the ,,siege ,,of ,,granada #b #f ,,harold #d #j ,,lucretia #d #j ,,the ,,caxtons #d #j ,,my ,,novel 7#b vols47 #h #j ,or the ,set complete in #bj vols4 #c #aa #f half-calf extra #e #e #j half-morocco #e #aa #f ,no collection of prose fictions1 by any single author1 contains the same variety of experience--the same amplitude of knowledge and thought--the same combination of opposite extremes1 harmonized by an equal mastership of art2 here1 lively and sparkling fancies2 there1 vigorous passion or practical wisdom--these works abound in illustrations that teach benevolence to the rich1 and courage to the poor2 they glow with the love of freedom2 they speak a sympathy with all high aspirations1 and all manly struggle2 and where1 in their more tragic portraitures1 they depict the dread images of guilt and woe1 they so clear our judgment by profound analysis1 while they move our hearts by terror or compassion1 that we learn to detect and stifle in ourselves the evil thought which we see gradually unfolding itself into the guilty deed4--,extract from ,bulwer ,lytton and his ,works4 ,the above are printed on superior paper1 bound in cloth4 ,each volume is embellished with an ,illustration2 and this ,standard ,edition is admirably suited for private1 select1 and public ,libraries4 ,the odd ,numbers and ,parts to complete volumes may be obtained2 and the complete series is now in course of issue in ,three-halfpenny ,weekly ,numbers1 or in ,monthly ,parts1 ,sevenpence each4 ,,uniform ,,illustrated ,,editions ,,of ,,mr4 ,,ainsworth',s ,,works4 ,in #a vol4 demy #hvo1 price #fs4 each1 cloth1 emblematically gilt4 ,,tower ,,of ,,london 7,the74 ,with ,forty ,illustrations on ,steel2 and numerous ,engravings on ,wood by ,george ,cruikshank4 ,,lancashire ,,witches4 ,illustrated by ,j4 ,gilbert4 ,,jack ,,sheppard4 ,illustrated by ,george ,cruikshank4 ,,old ,,st4 ,,paul',s4 ,illustrated by ,george ,cruikshank4 ,,guy ,,fawkes4 ,illustrated by ,george ,cruikshank4 ,in #a vol4 demy #hvo1 price #es4 each1 cloth gilt4 ,,crichton4 ,with ,steel ,illustrations1 from designs by ,h4 ,k4 ,browne4 ,,windsor ,,castle4 ,with ,steel ,engravings1 and ,woodcuts by ,cruikshank4 ,,miser',s ,,daughter4 ,illustrated by ,george ,cruikshank4 ,,rookwood4 ,with ,illustrations by ,john ,gilbert4 ,,spendthrift4 ,with ,illustrations by ,phiz4 ,,star ,,chamber4 ,with ,illustrations by ,phiz4 ,it is scarcely surprising that ,harrison ,ainsworth should have secured to himself a very wide popularity1 when we consider how happily he has chosen his themes4 ,sometimes1 by the luckiest inspiration1 he has chosen a romance of captivating and enthralling fascinations1 such as ',crichton1' the ',admirable ,crichton4' ,surely no one ever hit upon a worthier hero of romance1 not from the days of ,apuleius to those of ,le ,sage or of ,bulwer ,lytton4 ,sometimes the scene and the very title of his romance have been some renowned structure1 a palace1 a prison1 or a fortress4 ,it is thus with the ',tower of ,london1' ',windsor ,castle1' ',old ,st4 ,paul's4' ,scarcely less ability1 or1 rather1 we should say1 perhaps more correctly1 scarcely less adroitness in the choice of a new theme1 in the instance of one of his latest literary productions1 viz41 the ',star ,chamber4' ,but the readers of ,mr4 ,ainsworth--and they now number thousands upon thousands--need hardly be informed of this3 and now that a uniform illustrated edition of his works is published1 we do not doubt but that this large number of readers even will be considerably increased4--,sun4 ,in #a vol4 fcap4 #hvo1 price #cs4 #f;d4 cloth gilt1 or with gilt edges1 #ds4 ,,flitch ,,of ,,bacon 7,the72 or1 the ,custom of ,dunmow4 ,a ,tale of ,english ,home4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,,ainsworth1 ,esq4 ,with ,illustrations by ,john ,gilbert4 ,the ,second ,edition4 ,certainly no custom was ever more popular2 the fame of it is bruited throughout the length and breadth of the land4 ,it is a subject that gives excellent scope to a writer of fiction2 and ,mr4 ,ainsworth1 by skilful treatment1 has rendered it most entertaining4 ,the materials are put together with dramatic force4--,examiner4 ,in our judgment1 one of the best of ,mr4 ,ainsworth's romances4--,scottish ,citizen4 ,in #a vol41 price #hs4 #f;d4 cloth gilt4 ,,count ,,of ,,monte ,,cristo4 ,by ,,alexandre ,,dumas4 ,comprising the ,chteau d',if1 with #bj ,illustrations1 drawn on ,wood by ,m4 ,valentin1 and executed by the best ,english engravers4 ',monte ,cristo' is ,dumas' best production1 and the work that will convey his name to the remembrance of future generations as a writer4 ,in #hvo1 cloth extra1 price #bs4 #f;d4 gilt back4 ,,fanny1 ,,the ,,little ,,milliner2 or1 the ,rich and the ,poor4 ,by ,,charles ,,rowcroft1 ,author of ,tales of the ,colonies1 c4 ,with #bg ,illustrations by ,phiz4 ,in #b vols4 #hvo1 reduced to #abs4 #f;d4 cloth1 emblematically gilt2 or the #b vols4 in #a1 price #ajs4 #f;d4 cloth extra1 gilt4 ,,carleton',s ,,traits ,,and ,,stories ,,of ,,the ,,irish ,,peasantry4 ,a new ,pictorial ,edition1 with an ,autobiographical ,introduction1 ,explanatory ,notes1 and numerous ,illustrations on ,wood and ,steel1 by ,phiz1 c4 ,the following ,tales and ,sketches are comprised in this ,edition3-- ,ned ,m',keown4 ,the ,three ,tasks4 ,shane ,fadh's ,wedding4 ,larry ,m',farland's ,wake4 ,the ,battle of the ,factions4 ,the ,station4 ,the ,party ,fight and ,funeral4 ,the ,lough ,derg ,pilgrim4 ,the ,hedge ,school4 ,the ,midnight ,mass4 ,the ,donah1 or the ,horse ,stealers4 ,phil ,purcell1 ,the ,pig ,driver4 ,geography of an ,irish ,oath4 ,the ,llanham ,shee4 ,going to ,maynooth4 ,phelim ,o',toole's ,courtship4 ,the ,poor ,scholar4 ,wildgoose ,lodge4 ,tubber ,derg1 or the ,red ,well4 ,neal ,malone4 ,also1 a ,new ,cheap ,re-,issue4 ,in #e vols4 fcap4 #hvo1 fancy boards1 with new illustrations1 #gs4 #f;d42 or in cloth extra1 gilt1 with steel portrait1 #ajs4 ,unless another master-hand like ,carleton's should appear1 it is in his pages1 and his alone1 that future generations must look for the truest and fullest picture of the ,irish peasantry1 who will ere long have passed away from the troubled land1 and from the records of history4--,edinburgh ,review1 ,oct4 #aheb4 ,truly--,intensely ,irish4--,blackwood4 ,in #hvo1 cloth1 full gilt1 price #fs4 ,,the ,,fortunes ,,of ,,torlogh ,o',,brien3 a ,tale of the ,wars of ,king ,james4 ,with ,steel ,illustrations by ,phiz4 ,this stirring tale contains the best history of the ,battle of the ,boyne1 and is written with a master hand4 ,it is fully equal to any of ,lever's works4--,observer4 ,in fcap4 #afmo1 price #as4 sewed wrapper4 ,,the ,,new ,,tale ,,of ,a ,,tub4 ,by ,f4 ,w4 ,n4 ,,bayley4 ,illustrated by ,engravings reduced from the original ,drawing by ,aubrey4 ,fun and humour from beginning to end4--,athenum4 ,,routledge',s ,,standard ,,novels4 ,price #bs4 #f;d4 each1 cloth gilt4 ,this ,collection now comprises the best ,novels of our more celebrated ,authors4 ,the volumes are all printed on good paper1 with an ,illustration1 and form1 without exception1 the best and cheapest collection of light reading that is anywhere to be obtained4 ,the following are now ready3-- #a4 ,romance of ,war4 ,by ,james ,grant4 #b4 ,peter ,simple4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #c4 ,adventures of an ,aide-de-,camp4 ,by ,james ,grant4 #d4 ,whitefriars4 ,by the ,author of ,whitehall4 #e4 ,stories of ,waterloo4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,maxwell4 #f4 ,jasper ,lyle4 ,by ,mrs4 ,ward4 #g4 ,mothers and ,daughters4 ,by ,mrs4 ,gore4 #h4 ,scottish ,cavalier4 ,by ,james ,grant4 #i4 ,the ,country ,curate4 ,by ,gleig4 #aj4 ,trevelyan4 ,by ,lady ,scott4 #aa4 ,captain ,blake2 or1 ,my ,life4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,maxwell4 #ac4 ,tylney ,hall4 ,by ,thomas ,hood4 #ad4 ,whitehall4 ,by the ,author of ,whitefriars4 #ae4 ,clan ,albyn4 ,by ,mrs4 ,johnstone4 #af4 ,csar ,borgia4 ,by the ,author of ,whitefriars4 #ag4 ,the ,scottish ,chiefs4 ,by ,miss ,porter4 #ah4 ,lancashire ,witches4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,ainsworth4 #ai4 ,tower of ,london4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,ainsworth4 #bj4 ,the ,family ,feud4 ,by the ,author of ,alderman ,ralph4 #ba4 ,frank ,hilton2 or1 the ,queen's ,own4 ,by ,james ,grant4 #bb4 ,the ,yellow ,frigate4 ,by ,james ,grant4 #bd4 ,the ,three ,musketeers4 ,by ,alexandre ,dumas4 #be4 ,the ,bivouac4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,maxwell4 #bf4 ,the ,soldier of ,lyons4 ,by ,mrs4 ,gore4 #bg4 ,adventures of ,mr4 ,ledbury4 ,by ,albert ,smith4 #bh4 ,jacob ,faithful4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #bi4 ,japhet in ,search of a ,father4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #cj4 ,the ,king's ,own4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #ca4 ,mr4 ,midshipman ,easy4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #cb4 ,newton ,forster4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #cc4 ,the ,pacha of ,many ,tales4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #cd4 ,rattlin the ,reefer4 ,edited by ,captain ,marryat4 #ce4 ,the ,poacher4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #cf4 ,the ,phantom ,ship4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #cg4 ,the ,dog ,fiend4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #ch4 ,percival ,keene4 ,by ,captain ,marryat4 #ci4 ,hector ,o',halloran4 ,by ,w4 ,h4 ,maxwell4 #dj4 ,the ,pottleton ,legacy4 ,by ,albert ,smith4 #da4 ,the ,pastor's ,fireside4 ,by ,miss ,porter4 #db4 ,my ,cousin ,nicholas4 ,by ,ingoldsby4 #dc4 ,the ,black ,dragoons4 ,by ,james ,grant4 ,transcriber's ,note ,the following typographical errors were corrected4 ,page ,error iii ,mr4 ,rarey's ,introduction changed to ,mr4 ,rarey's ,introduction4 v snaffle4--the changed to snaffle4--,the vii struogling changed to struggling #aj under the auspicies changed to under the auspices #aa violent loungings changed to violent longeings fn #bj-99 ,april #g4' changed to ,april #g4 #bc shere humbug changed to sheer humbug #bf omiting changed to omitting #cj scimetar changed to scimitar #ca spangled troope changed to spangled troupe #ca horse wont changed to horse won't #fd suppleing changed to suppling #hh long wholebone whip changed to long whalebone whip #ie any horse changed to any horse4 #abh round to the right4 changed to round to the right4 7based on comparison to another edition of the book7 #abi gotamongst changed to got amongst #abi aid-de-camps changed to aide-de-camps #aei of my pupils changed to of my pupils4 #agc white potatoe oats changed to white potato oats #agc #delbs4 changed to #de lbs4 #ahe distance1 we though changed to distance1 we thought #bjb ,mobbing a fox changed to ,mobbing a fox4 #baj danger of stubbing changed to danger of stubbing4 #baf distinction bewteen changed to distinction between ,ads #b ,bancrofts changed to ,bancroft's bullfinch _/ bulfinch farm-house _/ farmhouse fox-hounds _/ foxhounds jibbing _/ gibbing off-side _/ offside over-run _/ overrun practice _/ practise 7and other forms of the word also vary7 road-side _/ roadside steeple-chase _/ steeplechase thorough-bred _/ thoroughbred