Transcriber's Note

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. A list of correctionsis found at the end of the text. Inconsistencies in spelling andhyphenation have been maintained. A list of inconsistently spelledand hyphenated words is found at the end of the text. 

Oe ligatures have been expanded. 

[Illustration: Zebra strapped up. ]

 HORSE-TAMING--HORSEMANSHIP--HUNTING. 

 A New Illustrated Edition of

 J. S. RAREY'S

 ART OF TAMING HORSES;

 WITH THE SUBSTANCE OF THE LECTURES AT THE ROUND HOUSE, AND ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS ON HORSEMANSHIP AND HUNTING, FOR THE YOUNG AND TIMID. 

 BY THE SECRETARY TO THE FIRST SUBSCRIPTION OF FIVE THOUSAND GUINEAS, AUTHOR OF "GALLOPS AND GOSSIPS, " AND HUNTING CORRESPONDENT OF THE "ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS. "

 LONDON: ROUTLEDGE, WARNES, AND ROUTLEDGE, FARRINGDON STREET. 1859. 

 [_The right of Translation is reserved. _]

CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. 

 PAGE

 Mr. Rarey's pamphlet first published in Ohio. --Experience of old system. --Compiled and invented new. --Tying up the fore-leg known many years ago, _see_ Stamford Almanack. --Forgotten and not valued. --Reference to Captain Nolan's and Colonel Greenwood's works on horsemanship. --Dick Christian missed the discovery. --Baucher's plan of laying down a horse explained. --Mademoiselle Isabel's whip-and-spur plan. --Account of the Irish whisperer Dan Sullivan. --Usual modes of taming vicious horses. --Starving. --Physic. --Sleepless nights. --Bleeding. --Biting the ear. --Story of Kentish coachman. --The Ellis system. --Value of the Rarey system as compared with that of ordinary horse-tamers. --Systems of Australia and Arabia compared. --The South American plan explained. --A French plan. --Grisoné the Neapolitan's advice. --The discovery of Mr. Rarey by Mr. Goodenough. --Visit to Canada. --To England. --Lord Alfred Paget. --Sir Richard Airey. --System made known to them. --To Mr. Jos. Anderson. --Messrs. Tattersall. --Sir Matthew Ridley's black horse tamed. --Subscription list of 500 opened. --Stafford tamed. --Description of. --Teaching commenced with Lords Palmerston, Granville, &c. --Cruiser tamed. --History of. --Enthusiastic crowd at Cruiser exhibition. --System approved by the Earl of Jersey and Sir Tatton Sykes. --Close of first subscription list. --Anecdote of Mr. Gurney's colt--Personal sketch of Mr. Rarey 1

CHAPTER II. 

 Mr. Rarey's Introduction. --Remarks on 26

CHAPTER III. 

 The three fundamental principles of the Rarey Theory. --Heads of the Rarey Lectures. --Editor's paraphrase. --That any horse may be taught docility. --That a horse should be so handled and tied as to feel inferior to man. --That a horse should be allowed to see, smell, and feel all fearful objects. --Key note of the Rarey system 32

CHAPTER IV. 

 How to drive a colt from pasture. --How to drive into a stable. --The kind of halter. --Experiment with a robe or cloak. --Horse-taming drugs. --The Editor's remarks. --Importance of patience. --Best kind of head-stall. --Danger of approaching some colts. --Hints from a Colonel of the Life Guards 39

CHAPTER V. 

 Powell's system of approaching a colt. --Rarey's remarks on. --Lively high-spirited horses tamed easily. --Stubborn sulky ones more difficult. --Motto, "Fear, love and obey. "--Use of a whalebone gig-whip. --How to frighten and then approach. --Use kind words. --How to halter and lead a colt. --By the side of a horse. --To lead into a stable. --To tie up to a manger. --Editor's remarks. --Longeing. --Use and abuse of. --On bitting. --Sort of bit for a colt. --Dick Christian's bit. --The wooden gag bit 51

CHAPTER VI. 

 Taming a colt or horse. --Rarey's directions for strapping up and laying down detailed. --Explanations by Editor. --To approach a vicious horse with half door. --Cartwheel. --No. 1 strap applied. --No. 2 strap applied. --Woodcuts of. --How to hop about. --Knot up bridle. --Struggle described. --Lord B. 's improved No. 2 strap. --Not much danger. --How to steer a horse. --Laid down, how to gentle. --To mount, tied up. --Place and preparations for training described 67

CHAPTER VII. 

 The Drum. --The Umbrella. --Riding-habit. --How to bit a colt. --How to saddle. --To mount. --To ride. --To break. --To harness. --To make a horse follow and stand without holding. --Baucher's plan. --Nolan's plan 90

CHAPTER VIII. 

 Value of good horsemanship to both sexes. --On teaching children. --Anecdote. --Havelock's opinion. --Rarey's plan to train ponies. --The use of books. --Necessity of regular teaching for girls; boys can be self-taught. --Commence without a bridle. --Ride with one pair of reins and two hands. --Advantage of hunting-horn on side-saddle. --On the best plan for mounting. --Rarey's plan. --On a man's seat. --Nolan's opinion. --Military style. --Hunting style. --Two examples in Lord Cardigan. --The Prussian style. --Anecdote by Mr. Gould, Blucher, and the Prince Regent. --Hints for men learning to ride. --How to use the reins. --Pull right for right, and left for left. --How to collect your horse 111

CHAPTER IX. 

 On bits. --The snaffle. --The use of the curb. --The Pelham. --The Hanoverian bit described. --Martingales. --The gentleman's saddle to be large enough. --Spurs. --Not to be too sharp. --The Somerset saddle for the timid and aged. --The Nolan saddle without flaps. --Ladies' saddle described. --Advantages of the hunting-horn crutch. --Ladies' stirrup. --Ladies' dress. --Hints on. --Habit. --Boots. --Whips. --Hunting-whips. --Use of the lash. --Gentleman's riding costume. --Hunting dress. --Poole, the great authority. --Advantage of cap over hat in hunting. --Boot-tops and Napoleons. --Quotation from Warburton's ballads 135

CHAPTER X. 

 Advantage of hunting. --Libels on. --Great men who have hunted. --Popular notion unlike reality. --Dick Christian and the Marquis of Hastings. --Fallacy of "lifting" a horse refuted. --Hints on riding at fences. --Harriers discussed. --Stag-hunting a necessity and use where time an object. --Hints for novices. --"Tally-ho!" expounded. --To feed a horse after a hard ride. --Expenses of horse-keep. --Song by Squire Warburton, "A word ere we start" 154

CHAPTER XI. 

 The Fitzwilliam. --Brocklesby. --A day on the Wolds. --Brighton harriers. --Prince Albert's harriers 176

CHAPTER XII. 

 Hunting Terms 199

CHAPTER XIII. 

 The origin of Fox-hunting 210

CHAPTER XIV. 

 The wild ponies of Exmoor 218

POSTSCRIPT 232

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

 TO FACE 1. ZEBRA STRAPPED UP Drawn by Louis Huard, Esq. Title-page 2. HORSE WITH STRAP NO. 1 Ditto " 67 3. HORSE WITH STRAPS NOS. 1 AND 2 Ditto " 76 4. THE HORSE STRUGGLING Ditto " 79 5. THE HORSE EXHAUSTED Ditto " 80 6. THE HORSE TAMED Ditto " 82 7. SECOND LESSON IN HARNESS Ditto " 100 8. RAILS AND DOUBLE DITCH Ditto " 153

VIGNETTES. 

 PAGE WILD HORSE'S HEAD 25 HALTER OR BRIDLE 39 WOODEN GAG BIT 66 STRAP NO. 1 74 STRAP NO. 2 76 LORD B. 'S IMPROVED NO. 2 77 SURCINGLE STRAP FOR NO. 2 78 SIDE SADDLE, AND LADY'S SEAT ON 111 SIDE SADDLE, OFFSIDE VIEW OF 135 CURB, OR HARD AND SHARP 136 PLAIN SNAFFLE 137 PELHAM 138 HANOVERIAN 139 SITZ, OR HUNTSMAN'S BATH 232 HOT-AIR OR INDIAN BATH 235

 THE ART OF TAMING HORSES. 

CHAPTER I. 

 Mr. Rarey's pamphlet first published in Ohio. --Experience of old system. --Compiled and invented new. --Tying up the fore-leg known many years ago, _see_ Stamford Almanack. --Forgotten and not valued. --Reference to Captain Nolan's and Colonel Greenwood's works on horsemanship. --Dick Christian missed the discovery. --Baucher's plan of laying down a horse explained. --Mademoiselle Isabel's whip-and-spur plan. --Account of the Irish whisperer Dan Sullivan. --Usual modes of taming vicious horses. --Starving. --Physic. --Sleepless nights. --Bleeding. --Biting the ear. --Story of Kentish coachman. --The Ellis system. --Value of the Rarey system as compared with that of ordinary horse-tamers. --Systems of Australia and Arabia compared. --The South American plan explained. --A French plan. --Grisoné the Neapolitan's advice. --The discovery of Mr. Rarey by Mr. Goodenough. --Visit to Canada. --To England. --Lord Alfred Paget. --Sir Richard Airey. --System made known to them. --To Mr. Jos. Anderson. --Messrs. Tattersall. --Sir Matthew Ridley's black horse tamed. --Subscription list of 500 opened. --Stafford tamed. --Description of. --Teaching commenced with Lords Palmerston, Granville, &c. --Cruiser tamed. --History of. --Enthusiastic crowd at Cruiser exhibition. --System approved by the Earl of Jersey and Sir Tatton Sykes. --Close of first subscription list. --Anecdote of Mr. Gurney's colt. --Personal sketch of Mr. Rarey. 

Mr. Rarey is a farmer from Ohio, in the United States. Five years ago hewrote the little book which forms the _text_ of the following completeaccount of his system, with pictorial illustrations, which areessential for explaining the means he now employs for subduing the mostrefractory animals. Without these explanations, it would be extremelydifficult for any one who had not enjoyed the advantage of hearing Mr. Rarey's explanations, to practise his system successfully, or evensafely. The original work contains a mere outline of the art, sinceperfected by five years' further study and practice. The author did notrevise his first sketch, for very obvious reasons. 

He was living in obscurity, teaching his system for a few dollars inOhio and Texas. He never taught in the great cities or seabord states ofthe United States. When he had imparted his art to a pupil, he bound himto secrecy, and presented him with a copy of his pamphlet. He did notdream, then, of becoming the great Lion of the London Season, andrealising from English subscribers nearly 20, 000_l. _ It will beobserved, that in the original American edition, the operation of tyingup the foot is described in one chapter, and, at an interval of somepages, that of laying a horse down, in another; and that neither thedifficulties nor the necessary precautions, nor the extraordinaryresults, are described with the clearness their importance requires. 

Mr. Rarey has now very properly released his subscribers from thecontract which bound them to secrecy; and it is now in every point ofview important that this valuable system of rendering horses docile andaffectionate, fit for hacks or chargers, ladies' pads or harness, or thesafe conveyance of the aged, crippled, and sick, should be placed withinthe reach of the thousands whose business it is to deal with horses, aswell as of that large class of gentlemen who are obliged to observeeconomy while keeping up their equestrian tastes. After all, it is tothe horse-breeding farmers and grooms to whom Mr. Rarey's art will be ofthe most practical use. 

As it is, enough of the system has oozed out to suggest to the ignorantnew means of cruelty. A horse's leg is strapped up, and then theunlearned proceed to bully the crippled animal, instead of--to borrow anexpressive Americanism--"to gentle him. "

Before entering into the details for practising the Rarey system, it maybe interesting to give a sketch of the "facts" that have placed Mr. Rarey in his present well-deserved position, as an invincibleHorse-Tamer, as well as a Reformer of the whole modern system oftraining horses--a position unanimously assigned to him by all the firsthorsemen of the day. 

Mr. Rarey has been a horse-breaker in the United States from hisearliest youth, and had frequently to break in horses five or six yearsold, that had run wild until that mature undocile age. 

At first he employed the old English rough-rider method, and in thecourse of his adventures broke almost every bone in his body, for hispluck was greater than his science. But he was not satisfied withfollowing old routine; he inquired from the wandering horsemen andcircus trainers into their methods (it may be that he was at one timeattached to a circus himself), and read every book he could lay hishands on. By inquiry and by study--as he says in one of hisadvertisements--"he thought out" the plan and the principles of hispresent system. 

The methods he uses for placing a colt or horse completely in his powerare not absolutely new, although it is possible that he has re-inventedand has certainly much improved them. The Russian (_i. E. _ Courland)Circus Riders have long known how, single-handed, to make a horse liedown by fastening up one fore-leg, and then with a rope suddenly pullingthe other leg from under him. The trick was practised in England morethan forty years ago, and forgotten. That no importance was attached tothis method of throwing a horse is proved by the fact, that in the workson horsemanship, published during the last twenty years, no reference ismade to it. When Mr. Starkey, of Wiltshire, a breeder and runner ofrace-horses, [4-*] saw Mr. Rarey operate for the first time, he said, "Why I knew how to throw a horse in that way years ago, but I did notknow the use of it, and was always in too great a hurry!" Lord Bernersmade nearly the same remark to me. Nimrod, Cecil, Harry Hieover, Scrutator--do not appear to have ever heard of it. The best modernauthority on such subjects (British Rural Sports), describes a number ofdifficulties in breaking colts which altogether disappear under theRarey system--especially the difficulty of shoeing. 

Captain Nolan, who was killed at Balaklava, served in an Hungarianregiment, in the Austrian service, afterwards in our own service inIndia, and visited Russia, France, Denmark, and South Germany, tocollect materials for his work on the "History of Cavalry and on theTraining of Horses, " although he set out with the golden rule laid downby the great Greek horseman, Xenophon, more than a thousand yearsago--"HORSES ARE TAUGHT, NOT BY HARSHNESS, BUT BY GENTLENESS, " onlyrefers incidentally to a plan for throwing a horse down, in an extractfrom Baucher's great work, which will presently be quoted, but attachesno importance to it, and was evidently totally ignorant of thefoundation of the Rarey system. 

The accomplished Colonel Greenwood, who was equally learned in the_manége_ of the _Haute Ecole_, and skilled in the style of the Englishhunting-fields, gives no hint of a method which reduces the time fortaming colts from months to hours, and makes the docility of five horsesout of six merely a matter of a few weeks' patience. 

The sporting newspapers of England and America were so completely offthe true scent when guessing at the Rarey method, that they put faith inrecipes of oils and scents for taming horses. 

Dick Christian--a genius in his way--when on horseback unmatched forpatience and pluck, but with no taste for reading and no talent forgeneralizing, used to conquer savages for temporary use by tying up onefore-foot, and made good water-jumpers of horses afraid of water bymaking them smell it and wade through it; so that he came very near theRarey methods, but missed the chain of reasoning that would have led himto go further with these expedients. [5-*]

Mons. Baucher, of Paris (misprinted Faucher in the American edition), the great modern authority in horse-training and elaborate schoolequitation, under whom our principal English cavalry generals havestudied--amongst others, two enthusiastic disciples of Mr. Rarey, LordVivian and General Laurenson, commanding the cavalry atAldershott--admitted Mr. Rarey's system was not only "most valuable, "but "quite new to him. "

After Mr. Rarey had taught five or six hundred subscribers, some of whomof course had wives, Mr. Cooke, of Astley's, began to exhibit a way ofmaking a horse lie down, which bore as much resemblance to Mr. Rarey'ssystem, as Buckstone's or Keeley's travestie of Othello would to aserious performance by a first-rate tragedian. Mr. Cooke pulling at astrap over the horse's back, was, until he grew, by practice, skilful, more than once thrown down by the extension of the off fore-leg. 

Indeed, the proof that the circus people knew neither the Rarey plan, nor the results to be obtained from it, is to be found in the fact, thatthey continually failed in subduing unruly horses sent to them for thatpurpose. 

A friend of mine, an eminent engineer, sent to Astley's, about two yearsago, a horse which had cost him two hundred pounds, and was useless froma habit of standing still and rearing at the corner of streets; he wasreturned worse rather than better, and sold for forty pounds. Sixlessons from Mr. Rarey would have produced, at least, temporarydocility. 

Monsieur Baucher, in his _Méthode d'Equitation_, says, _speaking of thesurprise created by the feats_ he performed with trainedhorses, --"According to some, I was a new 'Carter, '[6-*] taming my horsesby depriving them of rest and nourishment: others would have it, that Itied ropes to their legs, and suspended them in the air; some againsupposed that I fascinated them by the power of the eye; and part of theaudience, seeing my horses (Partisan, Capitaine, Neptune, and Baridan)work in time to my friend Monsieur Paul Cuzent's charming music, seriously argued that the horses had a capital ear for music, and thatthey stopped when the clarionets and trombones ceased to play, and thatthe music had more power over the horse than I had. That the beastobeyed an '_ut_' or a '_sol_' or '_staccato_, ' but my hands and legswent for nothing. 

"Could any one imagine that such nonsense could emanate from people whopassed for horsemen?

"Now from this, although in some respects the same class of nonsensethat was talked about Mr. Rarey, it does not seem that any Parisianveterinary surgeon staked his reputation on the efficacy of oils andscents. "

M. Baucher then proceeds to give what he calls sixteen "_Airs deManége_, " which reflect the highest credit on his skill as a rationalhorseman, using his hands and legs. But he proceeds to say--"It is withregret I publish the means of making a horse kneel, limp, lie down, andsit on his haunches in the position called the '_Cheval Gastronomie_, 'or 'The Horse at Dinner. ' This work is degrading to the poor horse, andpainful to the trainer, who no longer sees in the poor trembling beastthe proud courser, full of spirit and energy, he took such pleasure intraining. 

"To make a horse kneel, tie his pastern-joint to his elbow, make fast alonger line to the other pastern-joint, have this held tight, and strikethe leg with the whip; the instant he raises it from the ground, pull atthe longeing line to bend the leg. He cannot help it--he must fall onhis knees. Make much of the horse in this position, and let him get upfree of all hindrance. 

"As soon as he does this without difficulty, leave off the use of thelongeing line, and next leave both legs at liberty: by striking him onthe shins with the whip, he will understand that he is to kneel down. 

"When on his knees, send his head well to the off-side, and, supportinghim with the left rein, pull the right rein down against his neck tillhe falls to the near side; when down at full length, you cannot maketoo much of him; _have his head held that he may not get up toosuddenly_, or before you wish him. You can do this by placing your rightfoot on the right reins; this keeps the horse's nose raised from theground, and thus deprives him of the power of struggling successfullyagainst you. Profit by his present position to make him sit up on hishaunches, and in the position of the 'Cheval Gastronomie. '"

The difference between this and Rarey's plan of laying down a horse isas great as between Franklin's kite and Wheatstone's electricaltelegraph; and foremost to acknowledge the American's merits was M. Baucher. 

So little idea had cavalry authorities that a horse could be trainedwithout severity, that, during the Crimean war, a Mademoiselle Isabelcame over to this country with strong recommendations from the Frenchwar minister, and was employed at considerable cost at Maidstone forsome months in spoiling a number of horses by _her system_, theprincipal features of which consisted in a new dumb jockey, and a severespur attached to a whip!

It is true that Mademoiselle Isabel's experiment was made contrary tothe wishes and plans of the head of the Cavalry Training Department, thelate General Griffiths; but it is not less true that within the last twoyears influential cavalry officers were looking for an improvement intraining horses from an adroit use of the whip and spur. 

From the time of Alexander the Great down to the NorthumberlandHorse-Breaker, there have been instances of courageous men who have beenable to do extraordinary things with horses. But they may be dividedinto two classes, neither of which have been able to originate or imparta system for the use of ordinary horsemen. 

The one class relied and relies on personal influence over loweranimals. They terrify, subdue, or conciliate by eye, voice, and touch, just as some wicked women, not endowed with any extraordinary externalcharms, bewitch and betray the wisest men. 

The other class rely on the infliction of acute pain, or, stupefactionby drugs, or other similar expedients for acquiring a temporaryascendancy. 

In a work printed in 1664, quoted by Nolan, we have a melancholy accountof the fate of an ingenious horse-tamer. "A Neapolitan, called Pietro, had a little horse, named Mauroço, doubtless a Barb or Arab, which hehad taught to perform many tricks. He would, at a sign from his master, lie down, kneel, and make as many courvettes (springs on his hind-legsforward, like rearing), as his master told him. He jumped over a stick, and through hoops, carried a glove to the person Pietro pointed out, andperformed a thousand pretty antics. He travelled through the greaterpart of the Continent, but unfortunately passing through Arles, thepeople in that 'age of faith, ' took him for a sorcerer, and burned himand poor Mauroço in the market-place. " It was probably from thisincident that Victor Hugo took the catastrophe of La Esmeralda and hergoat. 

Dan Sullivan, who flourished about fifty years ago, was the greatesthorse-tamer of whom there is any record in modern times. His triumphcommenced by his purchasing for an old song a dragoon's horse at Mallow, who was so savage "that he was obliged to be fed through a hole in thewall. " After one of Sullivan's lessons the trooper drew a car quietlythrough Mallow, and remained a very proverb of gentleness for yearsafter. In fact, with mule or horse, one half-hour's lesson from Sullivanwas enough; but they relapsed in other hands. Sullivan's own account ofthe secret was, that he originally acquired it from a wearied soldierwho had not money to pay for a pint of porter he had drunk. The landlordwas retaining part of his kit as a pledge, when Sullivan, who sat in thebar, vowed he would never see a hungry man want, and gave the soldier sogood a luncheon, that, in his gratitude, he drew him aside at parting, and revealed what he believed to be an Indian charm. 

Sullivan never took any pupils, and, as far as I can learn, neverattempted to train colts by his method, although that is a moreprofitable and useful branch of business than training vicious horses. It is stated in an article in "Household Words" on Horse-Tamers, that hewas so jealous of his gift that even the priest of Ballyclough could notwring it from him at the confessional. His son used to boast how hisreverence met his sire as they both rode towards Mallow, and charged himwith being a confederate of the wicked one, and how the "whisperer" laidthe priest's horse under a spell, and forthwith led him a weary chaseamong the cross roads, till he promised in despair to let Sullivan alonefor ever. Sullivan left three sons: one only practised his art, withimperfect success till his death; neither of the others pretended to anyknowledge of it. One of them is to this day a horse-breaker at Mallow. 

The reputation of Mr. Rarey brought to light a number of provincialhorse-tamers, and, amongst others, a grandson of Sullivan has opened alist under the auspices of the Marquis of Waterford, for teaching hisgrandfather's art of horse-taming. It is impossible not to ask, why, ifthe art is of any value, it has not been taught long ago?

In Ireland as in England, the accepted modes of taming a determinedcolt, or vicious horse, are either by a resolute rider with whip andspur, and violent longeings, or by starving, physic, and sleeplessnights. It was by these means combined that the well-known horseman, Bartley the bootmaker, twenty years ago, tamed a splendid thorough-bredhorse, that had defied all the efforts of all the rough-riders of theHousehold Cavalry regiments. 

Bleeding a vicious horse has been recommended in German books onequitation. In the family Robinson Crusoe, paterfamilias conquers thequagga by biting its ear, and every farrier knows how to apply a twitchto a horse's ear or nose to secure his quietness under an operation. AMr. King, some years since, exhibited a learned horse, which he said hesubdued by pinching a nerve of its mouth, called "_the nerve ofsusceptibility_. "

The writer in the "Household Words" article, to which I have alreadyreferred, tells how "a coachman in Kent, who had been quite mastered byhorses, called in the assistance of a professed whisperer. After hisghostly course the horses had the worst of it for two months, when theirill-humour returned, and the coachman himself immediately darkened hisstable, and held what he termed a little conversation with them, whichkept them placid till two more months had passed. He did not seemaltogether to approve of the system, and plainly confessed that it wascruel. " Putting shot in the ear is an old stupid and fatal trick ofignorant carters to cure a gibbing horse--it cures and kills him too. 

The latest instantaneous system which acquired a certain degree oftemporary popularity was that introduced from the western prairies, byMr. Ellis, of Trinity College, Cambridge, which consisted in breathinginto the nostrils of a colt, or buffalo colt, while its eyes werecovered. But although on some animals this seemed to produce a soothingeffect, on others it totally failed. 

There can be very little doubt that most of the mysterious"horse-whisperers" relied for their power of subduing a vicious horsepartly on the special personal influence already referred to, and partlyon some one of those cruel modes of intimidating the animal. It has beenobserved that idiots can sometimes manage the most savage horses andbulls, and conciliate the most savage dogs at first sight. 

The value of Mr. Rarey's system consists in the fact that it may betaught to, and successfully practised by, a ploughboy of thirteen orfourteen for use on all except extremely vicious and powerful horses. 

It requires patience--it requires the habit of dealing with horses aswell as coolness; but the real work is rather a matter of skill thanstrength. Not only have boys of five or six stone become successfulhorse-tamers, but ladies of high rank have in the course of ten minutesperfectly subdued and reduced to death-like calmness fiery blood-horses. 

Therefore, in dealing with Mr. Rarey's plan we are not wasting our timeabout a trick for conquering these rare exceptions--incurably-savagehorses--but considering the principles of a universally applicablesystem for taming and training horses for man's use, with a perfectionof docility rarely found except in aged pet horses, and with a rapidityheretofore quite unknown. 

The system of Arabia and Australia are the two extremes. In Australia, where the people are always in a hurry, the usual mode of breaking inthe bush horses is _to ride them quiet_; that is, to let the man fightit out with the horse until the latter gives in; for the time, at anyrate. The result is, that nine-tenths of the Australian horses arevicious, and especially given to the trick of "buck-jumping. " This vilevice consists in a succession of leaps from all-fours, the beastdescending with the back arched, the limbs rigid, and the head as lowdown between the legs as possible. Not one horseman in a hundred can sitthree jumps of a confirmed buck-jumper. Charles Barter, who was one ofthe hardest riders in the Heythrope Hunt, in his "Six Months in Natal, "says, "when my horse began buck-jumping I dismounted, and I recommendevery one under the same circumstances to do the same. "

The Guachos on the South American Pampas lasso a wild horse, throw himdown, cover his head with one of their ponchos, or cloaks, and, havinggirthed on him one of their heavy demi-piqued saddles, from which it isalmost impossible to be dislodged, thrust a curb-bit, capable ofbreaking the jaw with one tug, into the poor wretch's mouth, mount himwith a pair of spurs with rowels six inches long, and ride him over thetreeless plains until he sinks exhausted _in a fainting state_. Buthorses thus broken are almost invariably either vicious or stupid; infact, idiotic. There is another milder method sometimes adopted by thesePampas horsemen, on which, no doubt, Mr. Rarey partly founded hissystem. After lassoing a horse, they blind his eyes with a poncho, tiehim fast to a post, and girth a heavy saddle on him. The animalsometimes dies at once of fright and anger: if not, he trembles, sweats, and would, after a time, fall down from terror and weakness. The Guachothen goes up to him, caresses him, removes the poncho from his eyes, continues to caress him; so that, according to the notion of thecountry, the horse becomes grateful and attached to the man fordelivering him from something frightful; and from that moment theprocess of training becomes easy, and, with the help of the long spurs, is completed in a few days. This plan must spoil as many horses as itmakes quiet, and fail utterly with the more nervous and high-spirited;for the very qualities that render a horse most useful and beautiful, when properly trained, lead him, when unbroken, to resist moreobstinately rough violent usage. 

In a French newspaper article on Mr. Rarey's system, it is related thata French horse-breaker, in 1846, made a good speculation by purchasingvicious horses, which are more common in France than in England, andselling them, after a few days' discipline, perfectly quiet. His remedylay in a loaded whip, freely applied between the ears when any symptomof vice was displayed. This expedient was only a revival of the methodof Grisoné, the Neapolitan, called, in the fifteenth century, theregenerator of horsemanship, predecessor of the French school, whosays--"In breaking young horses, put them into a circular pit; be verysevere with those that are sensitive, and of high courage; beat thembetween the ears with a stick. " His followers tied their horses to thepillars in riding-schools, and beat them to make them raise theirfore-legs. We do not approve of Grisoné's maxims at the present day inprint, but we leave our horses too much to ignorant colt-breakers, whopractise them. 

The Arabs alone, who have no need to hurry the education of theirhorses, and who live with them as we do with our pet dogs, train theircolts by degrees, with patient gentleness, and only resort to severemeasures to teach them to gallop and stop short. For this reason Arabsare most docile until they fall into the hands of cruel grooms. 

It was from considering the docility of the high-bred Arab horse andintractableness of the quibly, roughly broken prairie or Pampas horse, that Mr. Rarey was led to think over and perfect the system which he hasrepeatedly explained and illustrated by living examples in his lectures, and very imperfectly explained in his valuable, original, but crudelittle book. 

It is very fortunate that this book did not find its way to Englandbefore Mr. Rarey himself came and conquered Cruiser, and in face-to-faceinterviews gained the confidence and co-operation of all ourhorse-loving aristocracy. For had the book appeared unsupported bylectures (or such explanations written and pictorial as this editionwill supply), there would have been so many accidents and so manyfailures, that Mr. Rarey would have had great difficulty in obtaining ahearing, and for many years our splendid colts would have been left tothe empirical treatment of ignorant rough-riders. 

An accident withdrew the great reformer of horse-training fromobscurity. 

In the course of his travels as a teacher of horse-taming he met withMr. Goodenough, a sharp, hard-fisted New Englander, of the true "Yankee"breed, so well-described by Sam Slick, settled in the city of Toronto, Canada, as a general dealer. In fact, a "sort of Barnum. " Mr. Goodenoughsaw that there was money to be made out of the Rarey system--formed apartnership with the Ohio farmer--conducted him to Canada--obtained anopportunity of exhibiting his talents before Major Robertson, Aide-de-camp to General Sir William Eyre, K. C. B. , Commander of theforces, and, through the Major, before Sir William himself, who is (as Ican say from having seen him with hounds) an accomplished horseman andenthusiastic fox-hunter. From these high authorities the partnersobtained letters of introduction to the Horse Guards in England, and toseveral gentlemen attached to the Court; in one of the letters ofintroduction, General Eyre said, "that the system was new to him, andvaluable for military purposes. " On arriving in England, Mr. Rarey madeknown his system, and was fortunate enough to convert and obtain theactive assistance of Sir Richard Airey, Quarter-Master General, LordAlfred Paget, [16-*] and Colonel Hood, the two first being noted fortheir skill as horsemen, and the two latter being attached to the Court. From these gentlemen of high degree, Mr. Rarey proceeded, under goodadvice, to make known his art to Mr. Joseph Anderson of Piccadilly, andhis prime minister, the well-known George Rice--tamed for them a blackhorse that had been returned by Sir Matthew White Ridley, as unridablefrom vice and nervousness. The next step was an introduction to Messrs. Tattersall of Hyde Park, whose reputation for honour and integrity inmost difficult transactions is world wide and nearly a century old. Introduced at Hyde Park Corner with the strongest recommendations andcertificates from such authorities as Lord Alfred Paget, Sir RichardAirey, Colonel Hood, &c. , &c. , Messrs. Tattersall investigated Mr. Rarey's system, and became convinced that its general adoption wouldconfer an invaluable benefit on what may be called "the great horseinterest, " and do away with a great deal of cruelty and unnecessaryseverity now practised on the best-bred and most high-spirited animalsthrough ignorance of colt-breakers and grooms. They, therefore, decided, with that liberality which has always distinguished the firm, to lendMr. Rarey all the assistance in their power, without taking anycommission, or remuneration of any kind. 

As the methods used by Mr. Rarey are so exceedingly simple, the questionnext arose of how Mr. Rarey was to be remunerated when teaching in acity where hundreds live by collecting and retailing news. His previouslessons had been given to the thinly-populated districts of Ohio andTexas, where each pupil was a dealer in horses, and kept his secret forhis own sake. Had he been the inventor of an improved corkscrew orstirrup-iron, a patent would have secured him that limited monopolywhich very imperfectly rewards many invaluable mechanical inventions. Had his countrymen chosen to agree to a reciprocity treaty for copyrightof books, he might have secured some certain remuneration by a printedpublication of his Lectures. But they prefer the liberty of borrowingour copyrights without consulting the author, and we occasionally returnthe compliment. In this instance the author cannot say that the Britishnation has not paid him handsomely. 

After a consultation with Mr. Rarey's noble patrons, it was decided thata list should be opened at Hyde Park Corner for subscribers at £1010_s. _ each, paid in advance, the teaching to commence as soon as fivehundred subscriptions had been paid, each subscriber signing anengagement, under a penalty of £500, not to teach or divulge Mr. Rarey'smethod, and Messrs. Tattersall undertaking to hold the subscriptions intrust until Mr. Rarey had performed his part of the agreement. [17-*] Tothis fund, at the request of my friends Messrs. Tattersall, I agreed toact as Secretary. My duties ceased when the list was filled, and themanagement of the business passed from those gentlemen to Mr. Rarey'spartner, Mr. Goodenough, on the 3rd of May, 1858. 

This list was opened the first day at Mr. Jos. Anderson's, after Mr. Rarey had exhibited, not his method, but the results of his method onthe celebrated black, or rather iron-gray, horse already mentioned. 

Leaving the list to fill, Mr. Rarey went to Paris, and there tamed thevicious and probably half-mad coaching stallion, Stafford. [18-*] It isnot generally known that having omitted the precautions of gagging thiswild beast with the wooden bit, which forms one of the vignettes of thisbook, he turned round suddenly, while the tamer was soothing his legs, caught his shoulder in his mouth, and would have made an end of theRarey system if assistance had not been at hand in the shape of Mr. Goodenough and a pitchfork. 

Intense enthusiasm was created in Paris by the conquest of Stafford, but250 francs was too large a sum to found a long subscription list in acity so little given to private horsemanship, and a French experimentdid not produce much effect in England. 

In fact, the English list, which started so bravely under distinguishedpatronage, after touching some 250 names, languished, and in spite oftestimonials from great names, only reached 320, when Mr. Rarey, at thepressing recommendation of his English friends, returned from Paris, andfixed the day for commencing his lessons in the private riding-school ofthe Duke of Wellington, the use of which had been in the kindest manneroffered by his Grace as a testimony of his high opinion of the value ofthe new system. 

The course was commenced on the 20th March, by inviting to a privatelesson a select party of noblemen and gentlemen, twenty-one in all, including, amongst other accomplished horsemen and horse-breeders, LordPalmerston, the two ex-masters of the Royal Buckhounds, Earls Granvilleand Bessborough, the Marquis of Stafford, Vice-President of theFour-Horse Driving Club, and the Honourable Admiral Rous, the leadingauthority of the Jockey Club on all racing matters. The favourablereport of these, perhaps, among the most competent judges of anythingappertaining to horses in the world, settled the value of Mr. Rarey'slessons, and the list began to fill speedily; many of the subscribers, no doubt, being more influenced by the prevailing fashion and curiosity, than by an inclination to turn horse-tamers. 

But early in April, when it became known that Mr. Rarey had tamedCruiser, [20-*] the most vicious stallion in England, "who could do morefighting in less time than any horse in the world, " and that he hadbrought him to London on the very day after, that he first backed himand had ridden him within three hours after the first interview, slowconviction swelled to enthusiasm. The list filled up rapidly. 

The school in Kinnerton Street, to which Mr. Rarey was obliged toremove, was crowded, the excitement increasing with each lesson. On theday that Cruiser was exhibited for the first time, long before the doorswere open, the little back street was filled with a fashionable mob, including ladies of the highest rank. An admission by noblenon-subscribers with notes, gold, and cheques in hands, was begged forwith a polite insinuating humility that was quite edifying. A hatful often-guinea subscriptions was thrust upon the unwilling secretary at thedoor with as much eagerness as if he had been the allotter of shares ina ten per cent railway in the day of Hudsonian guarantees. And it mustbe observed that this crowd included among the mere fashion-mongersalmost every distinguished horseman and hunting-man in the threekingdoms. 

It is quite too late now to attempt to depreciate a system the value ofwhich has been repeatedly and openly acknowledged by authorities abovequestion. As to the "secret, " the subscribers must have known that itwas impossible that a system that required so much space, and involvedso much noise, could long remain a secret. 

The Earl of Jersey, so celebrated in this century as a breeder ofrace-horses, in the last century as a rider to hounds, _stood_ througha long lesson, and was as much delighted as his son the HonourableFrederick Villiers, Master of the Pytchley Hounds. Sir Tatton Sykes ofSledmere, perhaps the finest amateur horseman that ever rode a race, whose equestrian performances on the course and in the hunting-fielddate back more than sixty years, was as enthusiastic in his approval asthe young Guardsman who, fortified by Mr. Rarey's lessons, mastered amare that had defied the efforts of all the farriers of the HouseholdCavalry. 

In a word, the five-hundred list was filled, and overflowed, thesubscribers were satisfied, and the responsibility of Messrs. Tattersallas stakeholders for the public ceased, and the Secretary and Treasurerto the fund, having wound up the accounts and retired, the connectionbetween Mr. Rarey and the Messrs. Tattersall resolved itself into theuse of an office at Hyde Park Corner. 

The London subscription list had passed eleven hundred names, and, inconjunction with the subscription received in Yorkshire, Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin, and Paris, besides private lessons at £25 each, hadrealised upwards of £20, 000 for Mr. Rarey and his partner, when thefive-hundred secrecy agreement was extinguished by the re-publication ofthe little American pamphlet already mentioned. 

It was high time that it should, for, while Mr. Rarey had beenhandsomely paid for his instruction, the more scrupulous of hissubscribers were unable to practise his lessons for want of a placewhere they could work in secrecy. 

But although the re-publication of Mr. Rarey's American pamphletvirtually absolved his subscribers from the agreement which he gave upformally a few days later in his letter to the _Times_, it is quiteabsurd to assert that the little pamphlet teaches the Art ofHorse-Taming as now practised by Mr. Rarey. Certainly no one but ahorseman skilled in the equitation of schools could do much with a horsewithout great danger of injuring the animal and himself, if he had noother instruction than that contained in Mr. Rarey's clever, original, but vague chapters. 

In the following work I shall endeavour to fill up the blanks in Mr. Rarey's sketch, and with the help of pictures and diagrams, show how acool determined man or boy may break in any colt, and make him a docilehack, harness horse, or hunter; stand still, follow, and obey the voicealmost as much as the reins. 

To say that written or oral instructions will teach every man how tograpple with savages like Stafford, Cruiser, Phlegon, or Mr. Gurney'sgray colt, would be sheer humbug--that must depend on the man; but wehave an instance of what can be done that is encouraging. When Mr. Rareywas so ill that he was unable to sit Mr. Gurney's gray colt, theboasting Mr. Goodenough tried his hand, and was beaten pale andtrembling out of the circus by that equine tiger; but Mr. Thomas Rice, the jobmaster of Motcombe Street, who had had the charge of Cruiser inMr. Rarey's absence up to that time, although he had never before triedhis hand at Rareyfying a horse, stuck to the gray colt, laid down, madehim fast, and completely conquered him in one evening, so that he wasfit to be exhibited the next day, when Mr. Goodenough, _more suo_, claimed the benefit of the victory. 

Several ladies have succeeded famously in horse-taming; but they havebeen ladies accustomed to horses and to exercise, and always withgentlemen by, in case a customer proved too tough. 

Before concluding this desultory but necessary introductory sketch ofthe rise, progress, and success of the Rarey system, it will be as well, perhaps, for the benefit of lady readers, to give a personal sketch ofMr. Rarey, who is by no means the athletic giant that many imagine. 

Mr. Rarey is about thirty years of age, of middle height, andwell-proportioned figure, wiry and active rather than muscular--hiscomplexion is almost effeminately fair, with more colour than is usuallyfound in those of his countrymen who live in the cities of thesea-coast. And his fair hair, large gray eyes, which only light up andflash fire when he has an awkward customer to tackle, give himaltogether the appearance of a Saxon Englishman. His walk is remarkablylight and springy, yet regular, as he turns round his horse; somethingbetween the set-up of a soldier and the light step of a sportsman. Altogether his appearance and manners are eminently gentlemanly. Although a self-educated and not a book-educated man, his conversation, when he cares to talk, for he is rather reserved, always displays a gooddeal of thoughtful originality, relieved by flashes of playful humour. This may be seen in his writing. 

It may easily be imagined that he is extremely popular with all thosewith whom he has been brought in contact, and has acquired the personalfriendship of some of the most accomplished noblemen and gentlemen ofthe day. 

Mr. Rarey's system of horse-training will infallibly supersede allothers for both civil and military purposes, and his name will take rankamong the great social reformers of the nineteenth century. May we havemany more such importations from America!

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[4-*] Owner of Fisherman. 

[5-*] See "The Post and the Paddock, " by "The Druid. "

[6-*] Carter, one of the Van Amburgh showmen. 

[16-*] Son of the late Marquis of Anglesea, one of the finest horsemenof his day, even with one leg, after he left the other at Waterloo. 

[17-*] The list itself is one of the most extraordinary documents everprinted, in regard to the rank and equestrian accomplishments of thesubscribers. 

[18-*] "Stafford is a half-bred carriage stallion, six years old. Forthree years he has formed one of the breeding-stud at Cluny, where hehas acquired the character of being a most dangerous animal. He wasabout to be withdrawn from the stud and destroyed, in consequence of theprotests of the breeders--for a whole year he had obstinately refused tobe dressed, and was obliged to be closely confined in his box. He rushedat every one who appeared with both fore-feet, and open mouthed. Everymeans of subduing and restraining him was adopted; he was muzzled, blindfolded, and hobbled. In order to give Mr. Rarey's method a trial, Stafford was sent to Paris, and there a great number of persons, including the principal members of the Jockey Club, had an opportunityof judging of his vicious disposition. 

"After being alone with Stafford for an hour and a half, Mr. Rarey rodeon him into the Riding School, guiding him with a common snaffle-bridle. The appearance of the horse was completely altered: he was calm anddocile. His docility did not seem to be produced by fear or constraint, but the result of perfect confidence. The astonishment of the spectatorswas increased when Mr. Rarey unbridled him, and guided the late savageanimal, with a mere motion of his hands or indication with his leg, aseasily as a trained circus-horse. Then, dashing into a gallop, hestopped him short with a single word. 

"Mr. Rarey concluded his first exhibition by beating a drum onStafford's back, and passing his hand over his head and mouth. Staffordwas afterwards ridden by a groom, and showed the same docility in hishands as in those of Mr. Rarey. 

"Mr. Rarey succeeded on the first attempt in putting him in harness witha mare, although he had never had his head through a collar before; andhe went as quietly as the best-broken carriage-horse in Paris. Mr Rareyconcluded by firing a six-chambered revolver from his back. "--_ParisIllustrated Journal. _

[20-*] "Cruiser was the property of Lord Dorchester, and was a goodfavourite for the Derby in Wild Dayrell's year, but broke down beforethe race. Like all Venison horses, his temper was not of the mildestkind, and John Day was delighted to get rid of him. When started forRawcliffe, he told the man who led him on no account to put him into astable, as he would never get him out. This injunction was of coursedisregarded, for when the man wanted some refreshment, he put him into acountry public-house stable, and left him, and to get him out, the roofof the building had to be pulled off. At Rawcliffe, he was alwaysexhibited by a groom with a ticket-of-leave bludgeon in his hand, andfew were bold enough to venture into his yard. This animal, whose temperhas depreciated him perhaps a thousand pounds in value, I think would be'the right horse in the right place' for Mr. Rarey. Phlegon and Vaticanwould also be good patients. I am sorry to hear that the latter has beenblinded: if leathern blinds had been put on his eyes, the same effectwould have been produced. "--_Morning Post_, March 2, 1858. 

"Mr. Rarey, when here, first subjugated a two-year old filly, perfectlyunbroken. This he accomplished under half an hour, riding on her, opening an umbrella, beating a drum upon her, &c. He then took Cruiserin hand, and in three hours Mr. Rarey and myself mounted him. He had notbeen ridden for nearly three years, and was so vicious that it wasimpossible even to dress him, and it was necessary to keep him muzzledconstantly. The following morning Mr. Rarey led him behind an opencarriage, on his road to London. This horse was returned to me by theRawcliffe and Stud Company on account of his vice, it being consideredas much as a man's life was worth to attend to him. 

"Greywell, April 7. " "DORCHESTER. "

CHAPTER II. 

 Mr. Rarey's Pamphlet. --Introduction. 

Mr. Rarey's American Pamphlet would make about fifty pages of this type, if given in full; but, in revising my Illustrated Edition, I havedecided on omitting six pages of Introduction, which, copied from Mr. Rollo Springfield, an American author, do not contain any reliable factsor useful inferences. 

The speculations of the American author, as to the early history of thehorse, are written without sufficient information. So far from the"polished Greeks" having, as he states, "ridden without bridles, " wehave the best authority in the frieze of the Parthenon for knowing that, although they rode barebacked on their compact cobby ponies, they usedreins and handled them skilfully and elegantly. 

To go still further back, the bas-reliefs in the British Museum, discovered by Mr. Layard in the Assyrian Palace of Nimroud, containspirited representation of horses with bridles, ridden in hunting and inpursuit of enemies, as well as driven in war-chariots. These horses areArabs, while those of the Elgin Marbles more resemble the cream-colouredHanoverians which draw the state carriage of our sovereigns. In one ofthe Nimroud bas-reliefs, we have cavalry soldiers standing with thebridles of their horses in their hands, "waiting, " as Mr. Bonomi tellsus, "for the orders to mount;" but, as they stand on the left side, withthe bridles in their left hands, it is difficult to understand how theycould obey such an order with reasonable celerity. 

The Arabian stories, as to the performances of Arab horses and theirowners, must be received with considerable hesitation, for the horse isone of the subjects on which Orientals love to found their poeticalfireside stories. This is certain, that the Arab horse being highlybred, is very intelligent, being reared from its birth in the family ofits master, extremely docile, and, being always in the open air and fedon a moderate quantity of dry food, very hardy. 

If we lived with our horses, as we do with our dogs, they would beequally affectionate and tractable. 

In Norway, in consequence of the severity of the climate, the ponies areall housed during the winter, and thus become so familiar with theirowner that there is scarcely any difficulty in putting them intoharness, even the first time. 

English thoroughbred horses, when once acclimatized and bred in the openair on the dry pastures of Australia and South Africa, are found, if notput to work too early, as enduring as the Arab. Experiments in theIndian artillery have proved that the Australian horse and theCape[27-*] horse, which has also been improved by judicious crosseswith English blood, are superior for strength and endurance to theEastern horses bred in the stud establishments of the East IndiaCompany. 

The exaggerated idea that long prevailed of the value of the Arab horse, as compared with the English thorough-bred, which is an Eastern horseimproved by long years of care and ample food, has been to a greatextent dissipated by the large importation of Arabs that took placeafter the Crimean war--in fact, they are on the average pretty ponies ofgreat endurance, but of very little use in this country, where size isindispensable for profit. In the East they are of great value forcavalry; they are hardy and full of fire and spirit. "But, " says CaptainNolan, "no horse can compare with the English--no horse is more easilybroken in to anything and everything--there is no quality in which theEnglish horse does not excel--no performance in which he cannot beat allcompetition;" and Nolan was as familiar with the Eastern, Hungarian, andGerman crosses with the Arab as with the English thorough-bred. 

We spoil our horses, first by pampering them in hot stables under warmclothing; next, by working them too young; and, lastly, by entrustingtheir training to rude, ignorant men, who rely for leading colt the wayhe should go on mere force, harsh words, a sharp whip, and the worryinguse of the longeing rein. Rarey has shown how easily, quietly, andsafely horses may be tamed; but we must also train men before we canobtain full benefit from our admirable breeds of horses. 

Proof that our horses have become feeble from pampering may be found inDevonshire. There the common hacks of the county breed on the moors, and, crossed with native ponies, are usually undersized and coarse andheavy about the shoulders, like most wild horses, and all the inferiorbreeds of Arabs, but they are hardy and enduring to a degree that aYorkshire breeder would scarcely believe. Mean-looking Galloways willdraw a heavy dog-cart over the Devonshire hills fifty miles a-day formany days in succession. 

A little common sense has been introduced into the management of ourcavalry, since the real experience of the Crimean war. General SirCharles Napier was not noticed when, nearly ten years ago, he wrote, "The cavalry charger, on a Hounslow Heath parade, well fed, wellgroomed, goes through a field-day without injury, although carrying morethan twenty stone weight; he and his rider presenting together, a kindof alderman centaur. But if in the field, half starved, they have, atthe end of a forced march, to charge an enemy! The biped full of fireand courage, transformed by war-work to a wiry muscular dragoon, is ableand willing, but the overloaded quadruped cannot gallop--he staggers. "

Our poor horses thus loaded, are expected to bound to hand and spur, while the riders wield their swords worthily. They cannot; and both manand horse appear inferior to their Indian opponents. The Easternwarrior's eye is quick, but not quicker than the European's; his heartis big, yet not bigger than the European's; his arm is strong, but notso strong as the European's; the swing of his razor-like scimitar isterrible, but an English trooper's downright blow splits the skull. Whythen does the latter fail? The light-weighted horse of the darkswordsman carries him round his foe with elastic bounds, and the strongEuropean, unable to deal the cleaving blow, falls under the activity ofan inferior adversary!

Since the war, light men with broad chests have been enlisted for Indianservice. The next step, originally suggested by Nolan, that everycavalry soldier should train his own horse, will be made easy by theintroduction of the Rarey system. Country horse-breakers are tooignorant, too prejudiced, and too much interested in keeping up amystery that gives them three months employment, instead of three weeks, to adopt it. The reform will probably commence in the army and in racingstables. 

 * * * * *

In the following pages, I have given the text of the American edition ofMr. Rarey's pamphlet, and added the information I have derived fromhearing his lectures, seeing his operations on "Cruiser, " and otherdifficult horses, and from the experience of my friends and self intaming horses. Thus, in Chap. VI. To Mr. Rarey's five pages I have addedsixteen, and nine woodcut illustrations. In Chap. VII. The directionsfor the drum, umbrella, and riding habit are in print for the firsttime, as well as the directions for mounting with slack girths. Chaps. VIII. To XIV. Have been added, in order to make this little work acomplete manual for those who wish to benefit in riding as well astraining horses from the experience of others. 

In my opinion, the Rarey system is invaluable for training colts, breaking horses into harness, and curing kickers and jibbers. I do notprofess to be a horse-tamer, my pursuits are too sedentary during thegreater part of the year, but I have succeeded with even colts. I triedmy hand on two of them wild from the Devonshire moors, in August last, and succeeded perfectly in an hour. I made them as affectionate as petponies, ready to follow me everywhere, as well as to submit to bemounted and ridden. 

As to curing vicious horses, all that can be safely said is, that itputs it into the power of a _courageous, calm-tempered horseman_ toconquer any horse. "Cruiser" was quiet in the hands of Mr. Rarey and Mr. Rice, but when insulted in the circus of Leicester Square by a violentjerk, he rushed at his tormentor with such ferocity that he cleared thering of all the spangled troupe, yet, in the midst of his rage, hehalted and ran up on being called by Rarey. 

From this we learn that such a horse won't be bullied and must not befeared. But such vicious horses are rare exceptions. It is curious, thatMr. Rarey should have made his reputation by the least useful exerciseof his art. 

FOOTNOTES:

[27-*] The Cape horse has recently come into notice, in consequence ofthe publication of "Papers relating to the Purchase of Horses at theCape for the Army of India. " It seems that not less than 3300 have beenpurchased for that purpose; that Cape horses purchased by ColonelHavelock arrived from India in the Crimea in better condition than anyother horses in the regiment; and that in the Caffre War Cape horsescondemned by the martinets of a Remount Committee, carried the 7thDragoons, averaging, in marching order, over nineteen stone, and noprivation or fatigue could make General Cathcart's horses succumb. Thesehorses are bred between the Arabs introduced by the Dutch and theEnglish thoroughbred. I confess I see with, surprise that ColonelApperley, the remount agent, recommends crosses with Norfolk trottingand Cleveland stallions. No such cross has ever answered in thiscountry. Had he recommended thoroughbred weight-carrying stallions inpreference to Arabs, I could have understood his condemnation of thelatter. I should have hesitated to set my opinion against ColonelApperley, had I not found that he differs entirely from the late GeneralSir Walter Gilbert, the greatest horseman, take him for all in all, as acavalry officer, as a flat and steeple-chase rider, and rider to houndsof his day. --_See Napier's Indian Misgovernment_, p. 286 _et seq. _

CHAPTER III. 

 The three fundamental principles of the Rarey Theory. --Heads of the Rarey Lectures. --Editor's paraphrase. --That any horse may be taught docility. --That a horse should be so handled and tied as to feel inferior to man. --That a horse should be allowed to see, smell, and feel all fearful objects. --Key note of the Rarey system. 

FIRST. --That he is so constituted by nature that he will not offerresistance to any demand made of him which he fully comprehends, if madein a way consistent with the laws of his nature. 

SECOND. --That he has no consciousness of his strength beyond hisexperience, and can be handled according to our will without force. 

THIRD. --That we can, in compliance with the laws of his nature, by whichhe examines all things new to him, take any object, however frightful, around, over, or on him, that does not inflict pain--without causing himto fear. 

To take these assertions in order, I will first give you some of thereasons why I think he is naturally obedient, and will not offerresistance to anything fully comprehended. The horse, though possessedof some faculties superior to man's, being deficient in reasoningpowers, has no knowledge of right or wrong, of free will and independentgovernment, and knows not of any imposition practised upon him, howeverunreasonable these impositions may be. Consequently, he cannot come toany decision as to what he should or should not do, because he has notthe reasoning faculties of man to argue the justice of the thingdemanded of him. If he had, taking into consideration his superiorstrength, he would be useless to man as a servant. Give him _mind_ inproportion to his strength, and he will demand of us the green fieldsfor his inheritance, where he will roam at leisure, denying the right ofservitude at all. God has wisely formed his nature so that it can beoperated upon by the knowledge of man according to the dictates of hiswill; and he might well be termed an unconscious, submissive servant. This truth we can see verified in every day's experience by the abusespractised upon him. Any one who chooses to be so cruel can mount thenoble steed and run him till he drops with fatigue, or, as is often thecase with the more spirited, falls dead beneath his rider. If he had thepower to reason, would he not rear and pitch his rider, rather thansuffer him to run him to death? Or would he condescend to carry at allthe vain impostor, who, with but equal intellect, was trying to imposeon his equal rights and equally independent spirit? But, happily for us, he has no consciousness of imposition, no thought of disobedience exceptby impulse caused by the violation of the law of his nature. Consequently, when disobedient, it is the fault of man. 

Then, we can but come to the conclusion that, if a horse is not taken ina way at variance with the laws of his nature, he will do anything thathe fully comprehends, without making any offer of resistance. 

Second--The fact of the horse being unconscious of the amount of hisstrength can be proven to the satisfaction of any one. For instance, such remarks as these are common, and perhaps familiar to yourrecollection. One person says to another, "If that wild horse there wasconscious of the amount of his strength, his owner would have nobusiness with him in that vehicle: such light reins and harness, too--ifhe knew, he could snap them asunder in a minute, and be as free as theair we breathe;" and, "That horse yonder, that is pawing and fretting tofollow the company that is fast leaving him--if he knew his strength, hewould not remain long fastened to that hitching post so much against hiswill, by a strap that would no more resist his powerful weight andstrength than a cotton thread would bind a strong man. " Yet these facts, made common by every-day occurrence, are not thought of as anythingwonderful. Like the ignorant man who looks at the different phases ofthe moon, you look at these things as he looks at her different changes, without troubling your mind with the question, "Why are these thingsso?" What would be the condition of the world if all our minds laydormant? If men did not think, reason, and act, our undisturbed, slumbering intellects would not excel the imbecility of the brute; weshould live in chaos, hardly aware of our existence. And yet, with allour activity of mind, we daily pass by unobserved that which would bewonderful if philosophized and reasoned upon; and with the sameinconsistency wonder at that which a little consideration, reason, andphilosophy, would make but a simple affair. 

Third--He will allow any object, however frightful in appearance, tocome around, over, or on him, that does not inflict pain. 

We know, from a natural course of reasoning, that there has never beenan effect without a cause; and we infer from this that there can be noaction, either in animate or inanimate matter, without there first beingsome cause to produce it. And from this self-evident fact we know thatthere is some cause for every impulse or movement of either mind ormatter, and that this law governs every action or movement of the animalkingdom. Then, according to this theory, there must be some cause beforefear can exist; and if fear exists from the effect of imagination, andnot from the infliction of real pain, it can be removed by complyingwith those laws of nature by which the horse examines an object, anddetermines upon its innocence or harm. 

A log or stump by the road-side may be, in the imagination of the horse, some great beast about to pounce upon him; but after you take him up toit, and let him stand by it a little while, and touch it with his nose, and go through his process of examination, he will not care anythingmore about it. And the same principle and process will have the sameeffect with any other object, however frightful in appearance, in whichthere is no harm. Take a boy that has been frightened by a false face, or any other object that he could not comprehend at once; but let himtake that face or object in his hands and examine it, and he will notcare anything more about it. This is a demonstration of the sameprinciple. 

With this introduction to the principles of my theory, I shall nextattempt to teach you how to put it into practice; and whateverinstructions may follow, you can rely on as having been provenpractically by my own experiments. And knowing, from experience, justwhat obstacles I have met with in handling bad horses, I shall try toanticipate them for you, and assist you in surmounting them, bycommencing with the first steps to be taken with the colt, andaccompanying you through the whole task of breaking. 

These three principles have been enlarged upon and explained in a fullerand more familiar manner by Mr. Rarey in his Lectures, of which thefollowing are the heads. 

"Principles on which horses should be treated and educated--not by fearor force--By an intelligent application of skill with firmness andpatience--How to approach a colt--How to halter--How teach to lead intwenty minutes--How to subdue and cause to lie down in fifteenminutes--How to tame and cure fear and nervousness--How to saddle andbridle--How to accustom to be mounted and ridden--How to accustom to adrum--to an umbrella--to a lady's habit, or any other object, in a fewminutes--How to harness a horse for the first time--How to drive a horseunbroken to harness, and make go steady, single or double, in a coupleof hours--How to make any horse stand still until called--How to make ahorse follow his owner. "

 * * * * *

In plain language, Mr. Rarey means, that--

1st. That any horse may be taught to do anything that a horse can do iftaught in a proper manner. 

2nd. That a horse is not conscious of his own strength until he hasresisted and conquered a man, and that by taking advantage of man'sreasoning powers a horse can be handled in such a manner that he shallnot find out his strength. 

3rd. That by enabling a horse to examine every object with which wedesire to make him familiar, with the organs naturally used for thatpurpose, viz. _seeing_, _smelling_, and _feeling_, you may take anyobject around, over, and on him that does not actually hurt him. 

Thus, for example, the objects which affright horses are the feel ofsaddles, riding-habits, harness, and wheeled carriages; the sight ofumbrellas and flags; loaded waggons, troops, or a crowd; the sound ofwheels, of drums, of musketry. There are thousands of horses that bydegrees learn to bear all these things; others, under our old imperfectsystem, never improve, and continue nervous or vicious to the end oftheir lives. Every year good sound horses are drafted from the cavalry, or from hunters' barbs and carriage-horses, into omnibuses and Hansomcabs, because they cannot be made to bear the sound of drums andfirearms, or will not submit to be shod, and be safe and steady incrowded cities, or at covert side. Nothing is more common than to hearthat such a horse would be invaluable if he would go in harness, orcarry a lady, or that a racehorse of great swiftness is almost valuelessbecause his temper is so bad, or his nervousness in a crowd so greatthat he cannot be depended on to start or to run his best. 

All these varieties of nervous and vicious animals are deteriorated invalue, because they have not been educated to confide in and implicitlyobey man. 

The whole object of the Rarey system is, to give the horse fullconfidence in his rider, to make him obedient to his voice and gestures, and to impress the animal with the belief that he could not successfullyresist him. 

Lord Pembroke, in his treatise on Horsemanship, says, "His hand is thebest whose indications are so clear that his horse cannot mistake them, _and whose gentleness and fearlessness_ alike induce obedience to them. ""The noblest animal, " says Colonel Greenwood, "will obey such a rider;and it is ever the noblest, most intelligent horses, that rebel themost. In riding a colt or a restive horse we should never forget that hehas the right to resist, and that as far as he can judge we have not theright to insist. The great thing in horsemanship is to get the horse tobe your party, not to obey only, but to obey willingly. For this reasonthe lessons cannot be begun too early, or be too progressive. "

The key-note to the Rarey system is to be found in the opening sentenceof his early lectures in England: "Man has reason in addition to hissenses. A horse judges everything by SEEING, SMELLING, and FEELING. " Itmust be the business of every one who undertakes to train colts thatthey shall _see_, _smell_, and _feel_ everything that they are to wearor to bear. 

[Illustration: HALTER OR BRIDLE FOR COLTS. ]

CHAPTER IV. 

 How to drive a colt from pasture. --How to drive into a stable. --The kind of halter. --Experiment with a robe or cloak. --Horse-taming drugs. --The Editor's remarks. --Importance of patience. --Best kind of head-stall. --Danger of approaching some colts. --Hints from a Colonel of the Life Guards. 

HOW TO DRIVE A COLT FROM PASTURE. 

Go to the pasture and walk around the whole herd quietly, and at such adistance as not to cause them to scare and run. Then approach them veryslowly, and if they stick up their heads and seem to be frightened, stand still until they become quiet, so as not to make them run beforeyou are close enough to drive them in the direction you want them to go. And when you begin to drive, do not flourish your arms or halloo, butgently follow them off, leaving the direction open that you wish them totake. Thus taking advantage of their ignorance, you will be able to getthem into the pound as easily as the hunter drives the quails into hisnet. For, if they have always run in the pasture uncared for (as manyhorses do in prairie countries and on large plantations), there is noreason why they should not be as wild as the sportsman's birds, andrequire the same gentle treatment, if you want to get them withouttrouble; for the horse, in his natural state, is as wild as a stag, orany of the undomesticated animals, though more easily tamed. 

HOW TO STABLE A COLT WITHOUT TROUBLE. 

The next step will be, to get the horse into a stable or shed. Thisshould be done as quietly as possible, so as not to excite any suspicionin the horse of any danger befalling him. The best way to do this, is tolead a broken horse into the stable first and hitch (tie) him, thenquietly walk around the colt and let him go in of his own accord. It isalmost impossible to get men who have never practised on this principleto go slowly and considerately enough about it. They do not know thatin handling a wild horse, above all other things, is that good old adagetrue, that "haste makes waste;" that is, waste of time--for the gain oftrouble and perplexity. 

One wrong move may frighten your horse, and make him think it necessaryto escape at all hazards for the safety of his life--and thus make twohours' work of a ten minutes' job; and this would be all your own fault, and entirely unnecessary--_for he will not run unless you run after him, and that would not be good policy unless you knew that you could outrunhim, for you will have to let him stop of his own accord after all_. Buthe will not try to break away unless you attempt to force him intomeasures. If he does not see the way at once, and is a little fretfulabout going in, do not undertake to drive him, but give him a littleless room outside, by gently closing in around him. Do not raise yourarms, but let them hang at your side, for you might as well raise aclub: _the horse has never studied anatomy, and does not know but thatthey will unhinge themselves and fly at him_. If he attempts to turnback, walk before him, but do not run; and if he gets past you, encirclehim again in the same quiet manner, and he will soon find that you arenot going to hurt him; and then you can walk so close around him that hewill go into the stable for more room, and to get farther from you. Assoon as he is in, remove the quiet horse and shut the door. This will behis first notion of confinement--not knowing how he got into such aplace, nor how to get out of it. That he may take it as quietly atpossible, see that the shed is entirely free from dogs, chickens, oranything that would annoy him. Then give him a few ears of corn, and lethim remain alone fifteen or twenty minutes, until he has examined hisapartment, and has become reconciled to his confinement. 

TIME TO REFLECT. 

And now, while your horse is eating those few ears of corn, is theproper time to see that your halter is ready and all right, and toreflect on the best mode of operations; for in horse-breaking it ishighly important that you should be governed by some system. And youshould know, before you attempt to do anything, just what you are goingto do, and how you are going to do it. And, if you are experienced inthe art of taming wild horses, you ought to be able to tell, within afew minutes, the length of time it would take you to halter the colt, and teach him to lead. 

THE KIND OF HALTER. 

Always use a leather halter, and be sure to have it made so that it willnot draw tight around his nose if he pulls on it. It should be of theright size to fit his head easily and nicely; so that the nose-band willnot be too tight or too low. Never put a rope halter on an unbrokencolt, under any circumstances whatever. Rope halters have caused morehorses to hurt or kill themselves than would pay for twice the cost ofall the leather halters that have ever been needed for the purpose ofhaltering colts. It is almost impossible to break a colt that is verywild with a rope halter, without having him pull, rear, and throwhimself, and thus endanger his life; and I will tell you why. It is justas natural for a horse to try to get his head out of anything that hurtsit, or feels unpleasant, at it would be for you to try to get your handout of a fire. The cords of the rope are hard and cutting; this makeshim raise his head and draw on it, and as soon as he pulls, the slipnoose (the way rope-halters are always made) tightens, and pinches hisnose, and then he will struggle for life, until, perchance, he throwshimself; and who would have his horse throw himself, and run the risk ofbreaking his neck, rather than pay the price of a leather halter? Butthis is not the worst. _A horse that has once pulled on his halter cannever be as well broken as one that has never pulled at all. _

But before we attempt to do anything more with the colt, I will give yousome of the characteristics of his nature, that you may betterunderstand his motions. Every one that has ever paid any attention tothe horse, has noticed his natural inclination to smell everything whichto him looks new and frightful. This is their strange mode of examiningeverything. And when they are frightened at anything, though they lookat it sharply, they seem to have no confidence in their eyesight alone, but must touch it with their nose before they are entirely satisfied;and, as soon as they have done that, all seems right. 

EXPERIMENT WITH THE ROBE. 

If you want to satisfy yourself of this characteristic of the horse, andto learn something of importance concerning the peculiarities of hisnature, &c. , turn him into the barn-yard, or a large stable will do, andthen gather up something that you know will frighten him--a red blanket, buffalo robe, or something of that kind. Hold it up so that he can seeit, he will stick up his head and snort. Then throw it down somewhere inthe centre of the lot or barn, and walk off to one side. Watch hismotions, and study his nature. If he is frightened at the object, hewill not rest until he has touched it with his nose. You will see himbegin to walk around the robe and snort, all the time getting a littlecloser, as if drawn up by some magic spell, until he finally gets withinreach of it. He will then very cautiously stretch out his neck as far ashe can reach, merely touching it with his nose, as though he thought itwas ready to fly at him. But after he has repeated these touches a fewtimes, for the first time (though he has been looking at it all thewhile) he seems to have an idea what it is. But now he has found, by thesense of feeling, that it is nothing that will do him any harm, and heis ready to play with it. And if you watch him closely, you will see himtake hold of it with his teeth, and raise it up and pull at it. And in afew minutes you can see that he has not that same wild look about hiseye, but stands like a horse biting at some familiar stump. 

Yet the horse is never so well satisfied when he is about anything thathas frightened him, as when he is standing with his nose to it. And, innine cases out of ten, you will see some of that same wild look abouthim again, as he turns to walk from it. And you will, probably, see himlooking back very suspiciously as he walks away, as though he thought itmight come after him yet. And in all probability, he will have to goback and make another examination before he is satisfied. But he willfamiliarize himself with it, and, if he should run in that field a fewdays, the robe that frightened him so much at first will be no more tohim than a familiar stump. 

We might very naturally suppose from the fact of the horse's applyinghis nose to everything new to him, that he always does so for thepurpose of smelling these objects. But I believe that it is as much ormore for the purpose of feeling, and that he makes use of his nose, ormuzzle (as it is sometimes called), as we would of our hands; because itis the only organ by which he can touch or feel anything with muchsusceptibility. 

I believe that he invariably makes use of the four senses, SEEING, HEARING, SMELLING, and FEELING, in all of his examinations, of which thesense of feeling is, perhaps, the most important. And I think that inthe experiment with the robe, his gradual approach and final touch withhis nose was as much for the purpose of feeling as anything else, hissense of smell being so keen that it would not be necessary for him totouch his nose against anything in order to get the proper scent; for itis said that a horse can smell a man at a distance of a mile. And if thescent of the robe was all that was necessary he could get that severalrods off. But we know from experience, that if a horse sees and smells arobe a short distance from him he is very much frightened (unless he isused to it) until he touches or feels it with his nose; which is apositive proof that feeling is the controlling sense in this case. 

HORSE-TAMING DRUGS (?). 

It is a prevailing opinion among horsemen generally that the sense ofsmell is the governing sense of the horse. And Baucher, as well asothers, has with that view got up receipts of strong smelling oils, &c. , to tame the horse, sometimes using the chestnut of his leg, which theydry, grind into powder, and blow into his nostrils, sometimes using theoils of rhodium, origanum, &c. , that are noted for their strong smell;and sometimes they scent the hand with the sweat from under the arm, orblow their breath into his nostrils, &c. , &c. All of which, as far asthe scent goes, have no effect whatever in gentling the horse, orconveying any idea to his mind; _though the acts that accompany theseefforts--handling him, touching him about the nose and head, and pattinghim, as they direct you should, after administering the articles, mayhave a very great effect, which they mistake for the effect of theingredients used_. And Baucher, in his work, entitled "The Arabian Artof Taming Horses, " page 17, tells us how to accustom a horse to a robe, by administering certain articles to his nose; and goes on to say thatthese articles must first be applied to the horse's nose, before youattempt to break him, in order to operate successfully. 

Now, reader, can you, or any one else, give one single reason how scentcan convey any idea to the horse's mind of what we want him to do? Ifnot, then of course strong scents of any kind can be of no use in tamingthe unbroken horse. For, everything that we get him to do of his ownaccord, without force, must be accomplished by conveying our ideas tohis mind. I say to my horse, "Go-'long!" and he goes; "Ho!" and hestops, because these two words, of which he has learned the meaning bythe tap of the whip and the pull of the rein that first accompaniedthem, convey the two ideas to his mind of _go_ and _stop_. 

It is impossible to teach the horse a single thing by the means of scentalone; and as for affection, that can be better created by other means. 

How long do you suppose a horse would have to stand and smell a bottleof oil, before he would learn to bend his knee and make a bow at yourbidding, "Go yonder and bring my hat, " or "Come here and lie down?" Theabsurdity of trying to break or tame the horse by the means of receiptsfor articles to smell at, or of medicine to swallow, is self-evident. 

The only science that has ever existed in the world, relative to thebreaking of horses, that has been of any value, is that method which, taking them in their native state, improves their intelligence. 

EDITOR'S REMARKS. 

The directions for driving colts from the pasture are of less importancein this country where fields are enclosed, and the most valuable coltswear headstalls, and are handled, or ought to be, from their earliestinfancy; but in Wales, and on wastes like Exmoor[47-*] or Dartmoor, theadvice may be found useful. 

Under all circumstances it is important that the whole training of acolt (and training of the boy who is to manage horses) should beconducted from first to last on consistent principles; for, in the mereprocess of driving a colt from the field to the fold-yard, ideas ofterror may be instilled into the timid animal, for instance, by idledrumming on a hat, which it will take weeks or months to eradicate. 

The next step is to get the colt into a stable, barn, or other buildingsufficiently large for the early operations, and secluded from thosesights and sounds so common in a farm-yard, which would be likely todistract his attention. In training a colt the squeaking of a litter ofpigs has lost me the work of three hours. An outfield, empty barn, orbullock-shed, is better than any place near the homestead. 

It is a good plan to keep an intelligent old horse expressly for thepurpose of helping to train and lead the young colts. I have knownhorses that seemed to take a positive pleasure in helping to subdue awild colt when first put in double harness. 

The great point is not to force or frighten a colt into the stable, butto edge him into it quietly, and cause him to glide in of his ownaccord. In this simple operation, the horse-trainer will test himselfthe indispensable quality of a horse trainer--_patience_. A word I shallhave to repeat until my readers are almost heartily sick of the"_damnable iteration_. " There is a world of equestrian wisdom in twosentences of the chapter just quoted, "he will not run unless you runafter him, " and "the horse has not studied anatomy. "

The observations about rope halters are very sound, and in addition Imay add, that the mouths of hundreds of horses are spoiled by thepractice of passing a looped rope round the lower jaw of a fiery horse, which the rider often makes the stay for keeping himself in his seat. 

The best kind of head-stall for training colts is that delineated at thehead of this chapter, [48-*] called the Bush Bridle, to which any kind ofbit may be attached, and by unbuckling the bit it is converted into acapital halter, with a rope for leading a colt or picketing a horse atnight. 

The long rope is exactly what Mr. Rarey recommends for teaching a coltto lead. Every one of any experience will agree that "a horse that hasonce pulled on his halter can never be so well broken as one that hasnever pulled at all. "

The directions for stroking and patting the body and limbs of a coltare curious, as proving that an operation which we have been in thehabit of performing as a matter of course without attaching anyparticular virtue to it, has really a sort of mesmeric effect insoothing and conciliating a nervous animal. The directions in Chapter V. For approaching a colt deserve to be studied very minutely, rememberingalways the maxim printed at p. 57--_Fear and anger, a good horsemanshould never feel. _

It took Mr. Rarey himself two hours to halter a savage half-broken coltin Liverpool, but then he had the disadvantage of being surrounded by animpatient whispering circle of spectators. At Lord Poltimore's seat inDevonshire, in February last (1858), Lord Rivers was two hours alonewith a very sulky biting colt, but finally succeeded in haltering andsaddling him. Yet his lordship had only seen one lesson illustrated on avery difficult horse at the Duke of Wellington's school. But thisoperation is much more easily described than executed, because somecolts will smell at your hand one moment, and turn round as quick aslightning, and plant their heels in your ribs if you are not veryactive, and don't stand very close to them. On the directions for usingthe whip, p. 55, with colts of a stubborn disposition, I can saynothing, never having seen it so employed; but it is evident, that itmust be employed with very great discretion. 

The directions for haltering are very complete, but to execute them witha colt or horse that paws violently, even in play, with his fore-feet, requires no common agility. But I may mention that I saw Mr. Rarey aloneput a bridle on a horse seventeen bands high that was notoriouslydifficult to bridle even with two men assisting in the operation. 

In reference to the hints for treating a colt in a little work fromwhich I have already quoted, a colonel in the Life Guards says, "Thegreat thing in horsemanship is to get your horse to be of your party;not only to obey, but to obey willingly. For this reason, a young horsecannot be begun with too early, and his lessons cannot be too graduallyprogressive. He should wear a head-stall from the beginning, beaccustomed to be held and made fast by the head, to give up all fourfeet, to bear the girthing of a roller, to be led, &c. " But if all thisuseful preliminary education, in which climbing through gaps after anold hunter, and taking little jumps, be omitted, then the Rarey systemcomes in to shorten your domesticating labours. 

"A wild horse, until tamed, is just as wild and fearful as a wild stagtaken for the first time in the toils. 

"When a horse hangs back and leads unwillingly, the common error is toget in front of him and pull him. This may answer when the man isstronger than the horse, but not otherwise. 

"In leading you should never be further forward than your horse'sshoulder: with your right-hand hold his head in front of you by thebridle close to his mouth or the head-stall, and with your left handtouch him with a whip as far back as you can; if you have not a whip youcan use a stirrup-leather. "

FOOTNOTES:

[47-*] See page 215--"The Wild Ponies of Exmoor. "

[48-*] Made by Stokey, North Street, Little Moorfields, London. 

CHAPTER V. 

 Powell's system of approaching a colt. --Haley's remarks on. --Lively high-spirited horses tamed easily. --Stubborn sulky ones more difficult. --Motto, "Fear, love and obey. "--Use of a whalebone gig-whip. --How to frighten and then approach. --Use kind words. --How to halter and lead a colt. --By the side of a horse. --To lead into a stable. --To tie up to a manger. --Editor's remarks. --Longeing. --Use and abuse of. --On bitting. --Sort of bit for a colt. --Dick Christian's bit. --The wooden gag bit. 

But, before we go further, I will give you Willis J. Powell's system ofapproaching a wild colt, as given by him in a work published in Europe, about the year 1814, on the "Art of Taming Wild Horses. "[51-*] He says, "A horse is gentled by my secret in from two to sixteen hours. " The timeI have most commonly employed has been from four to six hours. He goeson to say, "Cause your horse to be put in a small yard, stable, or room. If in a stable or room, it ought to be large, in order to give him someexercise with the halter before you lead him out. If the horse belongsto that class which appears only to fear man, you must introduceyourself gently into the stable, room, or yard, where the horse is. Hewill naturally run from you, and frequently turn his head from you; foryou must walk about extremely slow and softly, so that he can see youwhenever he turns his head towards you, which he never fails to do in ashort time, say in a quarter or half an hour. I never knew one to bemuch longer without turning towards me. 

"At the very moment he turns his head, hold out your left hand towardshim, and stand perfectly still, keeping your eyes upon the horse, watching his motions, if he makes any. If the horse does not stir forten or fifteen minutes, advance as slowly as possible, and withoutmaking the least noise, always holding out your left hand, without anyother ingredient in it than what nature put in it. " He says, "I havemade use of certain ingredients before people, such as the sweat undermy arm, &c. , to disguise the real secret, and many believed that thedocility to which the horse arrived in so short a time was owing tothese ingredients: but you see from this explanation that they were ofno use whatever. The implicit faith placed in these ingredients, thoughinnocent of themselves, becomes 'faith without works. ' And thus menremained always in doubt concerning the secret. If the horse makes theleast motion when you advance towards him, stop, and remain perfectlystill until he is quiet. Remain a few moments in this condition, andthen advance again in the same slow and almost imperceptible manner. Take notice--if the horse stirs, stop, without changing your position. It is very uncommon for the horse to stir more than once after you beginto advance, yet there are exceptions. He generally keeps his eyessteadfast on you, until you get near enough to touch him on theforehead. When you are thus near to him, raise slowly and by degreesyour hand, and let it come in contact with that part just above thenostrils, as lightly as possible. If the horse flinches (as many will), repeat with great rapidity these light strokes upon the forehead, goinga little farther up towards his ears by degrees, and descending withthe same rapidity until he will let you handle his forehead all over. Now let the strokes be repeated with more force over all his forehead, descending by lighter strokes to each side of his head, until you canhandle that part with equal facility. Then touch in the same lightmanner, making your hands and fingers play around, the lower part of thehorse's ears, coming down now and then to his forehead, which may belooked upon as the helm that governs all the rest. 

"Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance towards the neck, withthe same precautions, and in the same manner; observing always toaugment the force of the strokes whenever the horse will permit it. Perform the same on both sides of the neck, until he lets you take it inyour arms without flinching. 

"Proceed in the same progressive manner to the sides, and then to theback of the horse. Every time the horse shows any nervousness, returnimmediately to the forehead, as the true standard, patting him with yourhands, and thence rapidly to where you had already arrived, alwaysgaining ground a considerable distance farther on every time thishappens. The head, ears, neck, and body being thus gentled, proceed fromthe back to the root of the tail. 

"This must be managed with dexterity, as a horse is never to be dependedon that is skittish about the tail. Let your hand fall lightly andrapidly on that part next to the body a minute or two, and then you willbegin to give it a slight pull upwards every quarter of a minute. At thesame time you continue this handling of him, augment the force of thestrokes as well as the raising of the tail, until you can raise it andhandle it with the greatest ease, which commonly happens in a quarter ofan hour in most horses, in others almost immediately, and in some muchlonger. It now remains to handle all his legs; from the tail come backagain to the head, handle it well, as likewise the ears, breast, neck, &c. , speaking now and then to the horse. Begin by degrees to descend tothe legs, always ascending and descending, gaming ground every time youdescend, until you get to his feet. 

"Talk to the horse in Latin, Greek, French, English, or Spanish, or inany other language you please; but let him hear the sound of your voice, which at the beginning of the operation is not quite so necessary, butwhich I have always done in making him lift up his feet. 'Hold up yourfoot'--'Lève le pied'--'Alza el pié'--'Aron ton poda, ' &c. ; at the sametime lift his foot with your hand. He soon becomes familiar with thesounds, and will hold up his foot at command. Then proceed to the hindfeet, and go on in the same manner; and in a short time the horse willlet you lift them, and even take them up in your arms. 

"All this operation is no magnetism, no galvanism; it is merely takingaway the fear a horse generally has of a man, and familiarizing theanimal with his master. As the horse doubtless experiences a certainpleasure from this handling, he will soon become gentle under it, andshow a very marked attachment to his keeper. "

RAREY'S REMARKS ON POWELL'S TREATMENT. 

These instructions are very good, but not quite sufficient for horses ofall kinds, and for haltering and leading the colt; but I have insertedthem here because they give some of the true philosophy of approachingthe horse, and of establishing confidence between man and horse. Hespeaks only of the kind that fear man. 

To those who understand the philosophy of horsemanship, these are theeasiest trained; for when we have a horse that is wild and lively, wecan train him to our will in a very short time--for they are generallyquick to learn, and always ready to obey. But there is another kind thatare of a stubborn or vicious disposition; and although they are notwild, and do not require taming, in the sense it is generallyunderstood, they are just as ignorant as a wild horse, if not more so, and need to be taught just as much: and in order to have them obeyquickly, it is very necessary that they should be made to fear theirmaster; for, in order to obtain perfect obedience from any horse, wemust first have him fear us, for our motto is, "_Fear, love and obey_;"and we must have the fulfilment of the first two before we can expectthe latter; for it is by our philosophy of creating fear, love, andconfidence, that we govern to our will every kind of horse whatever. 

Then, in order to take horses as we find them, of all kinds, and totrain them to our liking, we should always take with us, when we go intoa stable to train a colt, a long switch whip (whalebone buggy-whips arethe best), with a good silk cracker, so as to cut keenly and make asharp report. This, if handled with dexterity, and rightly applied, accompanied with a sharp, fierce word, will be sufficient to enliven thespirits of any horse. With this whip in your right hand, with the lashpointing backward, enter the stable alone. It is a great disadvantage, in training a horse, to have any one in the stable with you; you shouldbe entirely alone, so as to have nothing but yourself to attract hisattention. If he is wild, you will soon see him on the opposite side ofthe stable from you; and now is the time to use a little judgment. Ishould not require, myself, more than half or three-quarters of an hourto handle any kind of colt, and have him running about in the stableafter me; though I would advise a new beginner to take more time, andnot be in too much of a hurry. If you have but one colt to gentle, andare not particular about the length of time you spend, and have not hadany experience in handling colts, I would advise you to take Mr. Powell's method at first, till you gentle him, which, he says, takesfrom two to six hours. But as I want to accomplish the same, and, whatis more, teach the horse to lead, in less than one hour, I shall giveyou a much quicker process of accomplishing the same end. Accordingly, when you have entered the stable, stand still, and let your horse lookat you a minute or two, and as soon as he is settled in one place, approach him slowly, with both arms stationary, your right hanging byyour side, holding the whip as directed, and the left bent at the elbow, with your hand projecting. As you approach him, go not too much towardshis head or croup, so as not to make him move either forward orbackward, thus keeping your horse stationary; if he does move a littleeither forward or backward, step a little to the right or left verycautiously; this will keep him in one place. As you get very near him, draw a little to his shoulder, and stop a few seconds. If you are in hisreach he will turn his head and smell your hand, not that he has anypreference for your hand, but because that is projecting, and is thenearest portion of your body to the horse. This all colts will do, andthey will smell your naked hand just as quickly as they will of anythingthat you can put in it, and with just as good an effect, however muchsome men have preached the doctrine of taming horses by giving them thescent of articles from the hand. I have already proved that to be amistake. As soon as he touches your hand with his nose, caress him asbefore directed, always using a very light, soft hand, merely touchingthe horse, always rubbing the way the hair lies, so that your hand willpass along as smoothly as possible. As you stand by his side, you mayfind it more convenient to rub his neck or the side of his head, whichwill answer the same purpose as rubbing his forehead. Favour everyinclination of the horse to smell or touch you with his nose. _Alwaysfollow each touch or communication of this kind with the most tender andaffectionate caresses, accompanied, with a kind look, and pleasant wordof some sort_, such as, "Ho! my little boy--ho! my little boy!" "Prettyboy!" "Nice lady!" or something of that kind, constantly repeating thesame words, with the same kind, steady tone of voice; for the horse soonlearns to read the expression of the face and voice, and will know aswell when fear, love, or anger prevails, as you know your own feelings;two of which, FEAR AND ANGER, A GOOD HORSEMAN SHOULD NEVER FEEL. 

IF YOUR HORSE IS OF A STUBBORN DISPOSITION. 

If your horse, instead of being wild, seems to be of a stubborn or_mulish_ disposition; if he lays back his ears as you approach him, orturns his heels to kick you, he has not that regard or fear of man thathe should have, to enable you to handle him quickly and easily; and itmight be well to give him a few sharp cuts with the whip, about thelegs, pretty close to the body. It will crack keenly as it plies aroundhis legs, and the crack of the whip will affect him as much as thestroke; besides, one sharp cut about his legs will affect him more thantwo or three over his back, the skin on the inner part of his legs orabout his flank being thinner, more tender, than on his back. But donot whip him much--just enough to frighten him; _it is not because wewant to hurt the horse that we whip him_--we only do it to frighten viceand stubbornness out of him. But whatever you do, do quickly, sharply, and with a good deal of fire, but always without anger. If you are goingto frighten him at all, you must do it at once. Never go into a pitchedbattle with your horse, and whip him until he is mad and will fight you;it would be better not to touch him at all, for you will establish, instead of fear and respect, feelings of resentment, hatred, andill-will. It will do him no good, but harm, to strike him, unless youcan frighten him; but if you can succeed in frightening him, you canwhip him without making him mad; _for fear and anger never existtogether in the horse_, and as soon as one is visible, you will findthat the other has disappeared. As soon as you have frightened him, sothat he will stand up straight and pay some attention to you, approachhim again, and caress him a good deal more than you whipped him; thusyou will excite the two controlling passions of his nature, love andfear; he will love and fear you, too; and, as soon as he learns what yourequire, will obey quickly. 

HOW TO HALTER AND LEAD A COLT. 

As soon as you have gentled the colt a little, take the halter in yourleft hand, and approach him as before, and on the same side that youhave gentled him. If he is very timid about your approaching closely tohim, you can get up to him quicker by making the whip a part of yourarm, and reaching out very gently with the butt end of it, rubbing himlightly on the neck, all the time getting a little closer, shorteningthe whip by taking it up in your hand, until you finally get closeenough to put your hands on him. If he is inclined to hold his head fromyou, put the end of the halter-strap around his neck, drop your whip, and draw very gently; he will let his neck give, and you can pull hishead to you. Then take hold of that part of the halter which bucklesover the top of his head, and pass the long side, or that part whichgoes into the buckle, under his neck, grasping it on the opposite sidewith your right hand, letting the first strap loose--the latter will besufficient to hold his head to you. Lower the halter a little, justenough to get his nose into that part which goes around it; then raiseit somewhat, and fasten the top buckle, and you will have it all right. The first time you halter a colt you should stand on the left side, pretty well back to his shoulder, only taking hold of that part of thehalter that goes around his neck; then with your two hands about hisneck you can hold his head to you, and raise the halter on it withoutmaking him dodge by putting your hands about his nose. You should have along rope or strap ready, and as soon as you have the halter on, attachthis to it, so that you can let him walk the length of the stablewithout letting go of the strap, or without making him pull on thehalter, for if you only let him feel the weight of your hand on thehalter, and give him rope when he runs from you, he will never rear, pull, or throw himself, yet you will be holding him all the time, anddoing more towards gentling him than if you had the power to snub himright up, and hold him to one spot; because he does not know anythingabout his strength, and if you don't do anything to make him pull, hewill never know that he can. In a few minutes you can begin to controlhim with the halter, then shorten the distance between yourself and thehorse by taking up the strap in your hand. 

As soon as he will allow you to hold him by a tolerably short strap, andto step up to him without flying back, you can begin to give him someidea about leading. But to do this, do not go before and attempt to pullhim after you, but commence by pulling him very quietly to one side. Hehas nothing to brace either side of his neck, and will soon yield to asteady, gradual pull of the halter; and as soon as you have pulled him astep or two to one side, step up to him and caress him, and then pullhim again, repeating this operation until you can pull him around inevery direction, and walk about the stable with him, which you can do ina few minutes, for he will soon think when you have made him step to theright or left a few times, that he is compelled to follow the pull ofthe halter, not knowing that he has the power to resist your pulling;besides, you have handled him so gently that he is not afraid of you, and you always caress him when he comes up to you, and he likes that, and would just as lief follow you as not. And after he has had a fewlessons of that kind, if you turn him out in a field, he will come up toyou every opportunity he gets. 

You should lead him about in the stable some time before you take himout, opening the door, so that he can see out, leading him up to it andback again, and past it. 

See that there is nothing on the outside to make him jump when you takehim out, and as you go out with him, try to make him go very slowly, catching hold of the halter close to the jaw with your left hand, whilethe right is resting on the top of the neck, holding to his mane. Afteryou are out with him a little while, you can lead him about as youplease. 

Don't let any second person come up to you when you first take him out;a stranger taking hold of the halter would frighten him, and make himrun. There should not even be any one standing near him, to attract hisattention or scare him. If you are alone, and manage him rightly, itwill not require any more force to lead or hold him than it would tomanage a broken horse. 

HOW TO LEAD A COLT BY THE SIDE OF A BROKEN HORSE. 

If you should want to lead your colt by the side of another horse, as isoften the case, I would advise you to take your horse into the stable, attach a second strap to the colt's halter, and lead your horse upalongside of him. Then get on the broken horse and take one strap aroundhis breast, under his martingale (if he has any on), holding it in yourleft hand. This will prevent the colt from getting back too far;besides, you will have more power to hold him with the strap pullingagainst the horse's breast. The other strap take up in your right handto prevent him from running ahead; then turn him about a few times inthe stable, and if the door is wide enough, ride out with him in thatposition; if not, take the broken horse out first, and stand his breastup against the door, then lead the colt to the same spot, and take thestraps as before directed, one on each side of his neck, then let someone start the colt out, and as he comes out, turn your horse to theleft, and you will have them all right. This is the best way to lead acolt; you can manage any kind of colt in this way, without any trouble;for if he tries to run ahead, or pull back, the two straps will bringthe horses facing each other, so that you can very easily follow up hismovements without doing much holding, and as soon as he stops runningbackward you are right with him, and all ready to go ahead; and if hegets stubborn and does not want to go, you can remove all hisstubbornness by riding your horse against his neck, thus compelling himto turn to the right; and as soon as you have turned him about a fewtimes, he will be willing to go along. The next thing after you have gotthrough leading him, will be to take him into a stable, and hitch him insuch a way as not to have him pull on the halter; and as they are oftentroublesome to get into a stable the first few times, I will give yousome instructions about getting him in. 

TO LEAD INTO A STABLE. 

You should lead the broken horse into the stable first, and get thecolt, if you can, to follow in after him. If he refuses to go, step untohim, taking a little stick or switch in your right hand; then take holdof the halter close to his head with your left hand, at the same timereaching over his back with your right arm so that you can tap him onthe opposite side with your switch; bring him up facing the door, taphim slightly with your switch, reaching as far back with it as you can. This tapping, by being pretty well back, and on the opposite side, willdrive him ahead, and keep him close to you; then by giving him the rightdirection with your left hand you can walk into the stable with him. Ihave walked colts into the stable this way in less than a minute, aftermen had worked at them half an hour, trying to pull them in. If youcannot walk him in at once in this way, turn him about and walk himaround in every direction, until you can get him up to the door withoutpulling at him. Then let him stand a few minutes, keeping his head inthe right direction with the halter, and he will walk in in less thanten minutes. Never attempt to pull the colt into the stable; that wouldmake him think at once that it was a dangerous place, and if he was notafraid of it before he would be then. Besides, we do not want him toknow anything about pulling on the halter. Colts are often hurt andsometimes killed, by trying to force them into the stable; and those whoattempt to do it in that way go into an up-hill business, when a plainsmooth road is before them. 

If you want to tie up your colt, put him in a tolerably wide stall, which should not be too long, and should be connected by a bar orsomething of that kind to the partition behind it; so that, after thecolt is in he cannot go far enough back to take a straight, backwardpull on the halter; then by tying him in the centre of the stall, itwould be impossible for him to pull on the halter, the partition behindpreventing him from going back, and the halter in the centre checkinghim every time he turns to the right or left. In a stall of this kindyou can break any horse to stand tied with a light strap, anywhere, without his ever knowing anything about pulling. For if you have brokenyour horse to lead, and have taught him the use of the halter (which youshould always do before you hitch him to anything), you can hitch him inany kind of a stall, and if you give him something to eat to keep him upto his place for a few minutes at first, there is not one colt in fiftythat will pull on his halter. 

EDITORS REMARKS. 

Mr. Rarey says nothing about "longeing, " which is the first step ofEuropean and Eastern training. Perhaps he considers his plan of pullingup the leg to be sufficient; but be that as it may, we think it well togive the common sense of a much-abused practice. 

Ignorant horse-breakers will tell you that they _longe_ a colt to supplehim. That is ridiculous nonsense. A colt unbroken will bend himself withmost extraordinary flexibility. Look at a lot of two-years beforestarting for a run; observe the agility of their antics: or watch a coltscratching his head with his hind foot, and you will never believe thatsuch animals can require suppling. But it is an easy way of teaching ahorse simple acts of obedience--of getting him to go and stop at yourorders: but in brutal hands more horses are spoiled and lamed by thelonge than any other horse-breaking operation. A stupid fellow drags ahorse's head and shoulders into the circle with the cord, while hishind-quarters are driven out by the whip. 

"_A colt should be longed at a walk only, until he circles withoutforce. _

"He should never be compelled to canter in the longe, though he may bepermitted to do it of himself. 

"He must not be stopped by pulling the cord, which would pull himacross, but by meeting him, so that he stops himself straight. A skilfulperson will, single-handed, longe, and, by heading him with the whip, change him without stopping, and longe him in the figure of 8. No man isfit to be trusted with such powerful implements as the longe-cord andwhip who cannot do this. 

"The snaffle may be added when he goes freely in the head-stall. "

A colt should never be buckled to the pillar reins by his bit, but bythe head-stall; for if tightly buckled to the bit, he will bearheavily--even go to sleep: raw lip, which, when cured, becomes callous, is the result. Yet nothing is more common than to see colts standing forhours on the bit, with reins tightly buckled to the demi-jockey, underthe ignorant notion of giving him a mouth, or setting up his head in theright place. The latter, if not done by nature, can only be done, ifever, by delicate, skilful hands. 

A colt's bit should be large and smooth snaffle, with players to keephis mouth moist. 

Dick Christian liked a bit for young horses as thick as his thumb--wedon't know how thick that was--and four and a half inches between thecheeks; and there was no better judge than Dick. 

The Germans use a wooden bit to make a horse's mouth, and good judgesthink they are right, as it may not be so unpleasant as metal to beginwith; but wood or iron, the bridle should be properly put on, a pointoften neglected, and a fertile source of restiveness. There is as muchneed to fit a bridle to the length of a horse's head, as to buckle thegirths of the saddle. 

For conquering a vicious, biting horse, there is nothing equal to thelarge wooden gag-bit, which Mr. Rarey first exhibited in public on thezebra. A muzzle only prevents a horse from biting; a gag, properly used, cures; for when he finds he cannot bite, and that you caress him and rubhis ears kindly with perfect confidence, he by degrees abandons thismost dangerous vice. Stafford was driven in a wooden gag the firsttime. Colts inclined to crib-bite, should be dressed with one on. 

[Illustration: WOODEN GAG BIT. ]

Our woodcut is taken from the improved model produced by Mr. Stokey; nodoubt Mr. Rarey took the idea of his gag-bit from the wooden gag, whichhas been in use among country farriers from time immemorial, to keep ahorse's mouth while they are performing the cruel and useless operationof firing for lampas. 

[Illustration: Leg strapped up. ]

FOOTNOTES:

[51-*] Is there such a work? I cannot find it in any Englishcatalogue. --EDITOR. 

CHAPTER VI. 

 Taming a colt or horse. --Rarey's directions for strapping up and laying down detailed. --Explanations by Editor. --To approach a vicious horse with half door. --Cartwheel. --No. 1 strap applied. --No. 2 strap applied. --Woodcuts of. --How to hop about. --Knot up bridle. --Struggle described. --Lord B. 's improved No. 2 strap. --Not much danger. --How to steer a horse. --Laid down, how to gentle. --To mount, tied up. --Place and preparations for training described. 

In this chapter I change the arrangement of the original work, and unitetwo sections which Mr. Rarey has divided, either because when he wrotethem he was not aware of the importance of what is really the cardinalpoint, the mainstay, the foundation of his system, or because he wishedto conceal it from the uninitiated. The Rarey system substitutes forsevere longeing, for whipping and spurring, blinkers, physic, starving, the twitch, tying the tail down, sewing the ears together, putting shotin the ears, and all the cruelties hitherto resorted to for subduinghigh-spirited and vicious animals (and very often the high-spiritedbecome, from injudicious treatment, the most vicious), a method oflaying a horse down, tying up his limbs, and gagging, if necessary, hismouth, which makes him soon feel that man is his superior, and yetneither excites his terror or his hatred. 

These two sections are to be found at pp. 48 and 51 and at pp. 59 and60, _orig. Edit. _, under the titles of "How to drive a Horse that isvery wild, and has any vicious Habits, " and "How to make a Horse liedown. " It is essential to unite these sections, because, if you put awell-bred horse in harness with his leg up, without first putting himdown, it is ten to one but that he throws himself down violently, breaksthe shafts of the vehicle, and his own knees. 

The following are the sections verbatim, of which I shall afterwardsgive a paraphrase, with illustrative woodcuts:--

"Take up one fore-foot and bend his knee till his hoof is bottomupwards, and nearly touching his body; then slip a loop over his knee, and up until it comes above the pastern-joint, to keep it up, beingcareful to draw the loop together between the hoof and pastern-jointwith a second strap of some kind to prevent the loop from slipping downand coming off. This will leave the horse standing on three legs; youcan now handle him as you wish, for it is utterly impossible for him tokick in this position. There is something in this operation of taking upone foot, that conquers a horse quicker and better than anything elseyou can do to him. There is no process in the world equal to it to breaka kicking horse, for several reasons. First, there is a principle ofthis kind in the nature of the horse; that by conquering one member, youconquer, to a great extent, the whole horse. 

"You have perhaps seen men operate upon this principle, by sewing ahorse's ears together to prevent him from kicking. I once saw a plangiven in a newspaper to make a bad horse stand to be shod, which was tofasten down one ear. There were no reasons given why you should do so;but I tried it several times, and thought that it had a goodeffect--though I would not recommend its use, especially stitching hisears together. The only benefit arising from this process is, that bydisarranging his ears we draw his attention to them, and he is not soapt to resist the shoeing. By tying up one foot we operate on the sameprinciple to a much better effect. When you first fasten up a horse'sfoot, he will sometimes get very mad, and strike with his knee, and tryevery possible way to get it down; but he cannot do that, and will soongive up. 

"This will conquer him better than anything you could do, and withoutany possible danger of hurting himself or you either, for you can tie uphis foot and sit down and look at him until he gives up. When you findthat he is conquered, go to him, let down his foot, rub his leg withyour hand, caress him, and let him rest a little; then put it up again. Repeat this a few times, always putting up the same foot, and he willsoon learn to travel on three legs, so that you can drive him somedistance. As soon as he gets a little used to this way of travelling, put on your harness, and hitch him to a sulky. If he is the worstkicking horse that ever raised a foot, you need not be fearful of hisdoing any damage while he has one foot up, for he cannot kick, neithercan he run fast enough to do any harm. And if he is the wildest horsethat ever had harness on, and has run away every time he has beenhitched, you can now hitch him in a sulky, and drive him as you please. If he wants to run, you can let him have the lines, and the whip too, with perfect safety, for he can go but a slow gait on three legs, andwill soon be tired, and willing to stop; only hold him enough to guidehim in the right direction, and he will soon be tired and willing tostop at the word. Thus you will effectually cure him at once of anyfurther notion of running off. Kicking horses have always been the dreadof everybody; you always hear men say, when they speak about a badhorse, 'I don't care what he does, so he don't kick. ' This new method isan effectual cure for this worst of all habits. There are plenty of waysby which you can hitch a kicking horse, and force him to go, though hekicks all the time; but this doesn't have any good effect towardsbreaking him, for we know that horses kick because they are afraid ofwhat is behind them, and when they kick against it and it hurts them, they will only kick the harder; and this will hurt them still more andmake them remember the scrape much longer, and make it still moredifficult to persuade them to have any confidence in anything draggingbehind them ever after. 

"But by this new method you can harness them to a rattling sulky, plough, waggon, or anything else in its worst shape. They may befrightened at first, but cannot kick or do anything to hurt themselves, and will soon find that you do not intend to hurt them, and then theywill not care anything more about it. You can then let down the leg anddrive along gently without any further trouble. By this new process abad kicking horse can be learned to go gentle in harness in a few hours'time. "[70-*]

"HOW TO MAKE A HORSE LIE DOWN. 

"Everything that we want to teach the horse must be commenced in such away as to give him an idea of what you want him to do, and then berepeated till he learns it perfectly. To make a horse lie down, bendhis left fore-leg and slip a loop over it, so that he cannot get itdown. Then put a surcingle around his body, and fasten one end of a longstrap around the other fore-leg, just above the hoof. Place the otherend under the before-described surcingle, so as to keep the strap in theright direction; take a short hold of it with your right hand; stand onthe left side of the horse, grasp the bit in your left hand, pullsteadily on the strap with your right; bear against his shoulder tillyou cause him to move. As soon as he lifts his weight, your pulling willraise the other foot, and he will have to come on his knees. Keep thestrap tight in your hand, so that he cannot straighten his leg if herises up. Hold him in this position, and turn his head towards you; bearagainst his side with your shoulder, not hard, but with a steady, equalpressure, and in about ten minutes he will lie down. As soon as he liesdown, he will be completely conquered, and you can handle him as youplease. Take off the straps, and straighten out his legs; rub himlightly about the face and neck with your hand the way the hair lies;handle all his legs, and after he has lain ten or twenty minutes, lethim get up again. After resting him a short time, make him lie down asbefore. Repeat the operation three or four times, which will besufficient for one lesson. Give him two lessons a day, and when you havegiven him four lessons, he will lie down by taking hold of one foot. Assoon as he is well broken to lie down in this way, tap him on theopposite leg with a stick when you take hold of his foot, and in a fewdays he will lie down from the mere motion of the stick. "

EDITORS DETAILED EXPLANATIONS. 

Although, as I before observed, the tying up of the fore-leg is not anew expedient, or even the putting a horse down single-handed, the twooperations, as taught and performed by Mr. Rarey, not only subdue andrender docile the most violent horses, but, most strange of all, inspirethem with a positive confidence and affection after two or three lessonsfrom the horse-tamer. "How this is or why this is, " Mr. Langworthy, theveterinary surgeon to Her Majesty's stables, observed, "I cannot say orexplain, but I am convinced, by repeated observation on many horses, that it is a fact. "

If, however, a man, however clever with horses, were to attempt toperform the operations without other instruction than that contained inthe American pamphlet, he would infallibly break his horse's knees, andprobably get his toes trodden on, his eyes blacked, and his armdislocated--for all these accidents have happened within my ownknowledge to rash experimentalists; while under proper instructions, notonly have stout and gouty noblemen succeeded perfectly, but theslight-built, professional horsewoman, Miss Gilbert, has conqueredthorough-bred colts and fighting Arabs, and a young and beautifulpeeress has taken off her bonnet before going to a morning _féte_, andin ten minutes laid a full-sized horse prostrate and helpless as a sheepin the hands of the shearer. 

Having, then, in your mind Mr. Rarey's maxim that a horseman should knowneither fear nor anger, and having laid in a good stock of patience, youmust make your approach to the colt or stallion in the mode prescribedin the preceding chapters. In dealing with a colt, except upon anemergency, he should be first accustomed to be handled and taught tolead; this, first-rate horse-tamers will accomplish with the wildestcolt in three hours, but it is better to give at least one day up tothese first important steps in education. It will also be as well tohave a colt cleaned and his hoof trimmed by the blacksmith. If thiscannot be done the operation will be found very dirty and disagreeable. 

In approaching a spiteful stallion you had better make your firstadvances with a half-door between you and him, as Mr. Rarey did in hisfirst interview with Cruiser: gradually make his acquaintance, and teachhim that you do not care for his open mouth; but a regular biter must begagged in the manner which will presently be described. 

Of course there is no difficulty in handling the leg of a quiet horse orcolt, and by constantly working from the neck down to the fetlock youmay do what you please. But many horses and even colts have a mostdangerous trick of striking out with their fore-legs. There is no betterprotection against this than a cart-wheel. The wheel may either be usedloose, or the animal may be led up to a cart loaded with hay, when thehorse-tamer can work under the cart through one of the wheels, while thecolt is nibbling the load. 

Having, then, so far soothed a colt that he will permit you to take uphis legs without resistance, take the strap No. 1[73-*]--pass the tonguethrough the loop under the buckle so as to form a noose, slip it overthe near fore-leg and draw it close up to the pastern-joint, then takeup the leg as if you were going to shoe him, and passing the strap overthe fore-arm, put it through the buckle, and buckle the lower limb asclose as you can to the arm without hurting the animal. 

[Illustration: STRAP NO. 1. ]

Take care that your buckle is of the very best quality, and the leathersound. It is a good plan to stretch it before using it. The tongues ofbuckles used for this purpose, if not of the very best quality, are verylikely to come out, when all your labour will have to be gone overagain. Sometimes you may find it better to lay the loop open on theground, and let the horse step into it. It is better the buckle shouldbe inside the leg if you mean the horse to fall toward you, because thenit is easier to unbuckle when he is on the ground. 

In those instances in which you have had no opportunity of previouslytaming and soothing a colt, it will frequently take you an hour ofquiet, patient, silent perseverance before he will allow you to buckleup his leg--if he resists you have nothing for it but _patience_. Youmust stroke him, you must fondle him, until he lets you enthral him. Mr. Rarey always works alone, and disdains assistance, and so do some of hisbest pupils, Lord B. , the Marquis of S. , and Captain S. In travelling inforeign countries you may have occasion to tame a colt or wild horsealone, but there is no reason why you should not have assistance if youcan get it, and in that case the process is of course much easier. Butit must never be forgotten that to tame a horse properly no unnecessaryforce must be employed; it is better that he should put down his footsix times that he may yield it willingly at last, and under nocircumstances must the trainer lose patience, or give way to temper. 

The near fore-leg being securely strapped, and the horse, if soinclined, secured from biting by a wooden bit, the next step is to makehim hop about on three legs. This is comparatively easy if the animalhas been taught to lead, but it is difficult with one which has not. Thetrainer must take care to keep behind his horse's shoulder and walk in acircle, or he will be likely to be struck by the horse's head orstrapped-up leg. 

Mr. Rarey is so skilful that he seldom considers it necessary to makehis horses hop about; but there is no doubt that it saves muchafter-trouble by fatiguing the animal; and that it is a usefulpreparation before putting a colt or kicking horse into harness. Likeevery other operation it must be done very gently, and accompanied bysoothing words--"Come along"--"Come along, old fellow, " &c. 

A horse can hop on three legs, if not severely pressed, for two or threemiles; and no plan is more successful for curing a kicker or jibber. 

When the horse has hopped for as long as you think necessary to tirehim, buckle a common single strap roller or surcingle on his bodytolerably tight. A single strap surcingle is the best. 

It is as well, if possible, to teach colts from a very early age to beara surcingle. At any rate it will require a little management the firsttime. 

You have now advanced your colt so far that he is not afraid of a man, he likes being patted and caressed, he will lead when you take hold ofthe bridle, and you have buckled up his leg so that he cannot hop fasterthan you can run. 

[Illustration: NO. 2 STRAP, FOR OFF FORE-LEG. ]

Shorten the bridle (the bit should be a thick plain snaffle) so that thereins, when laid loose on his withers, come nearly straight. This isbest done by twisting the reins twice round two fore-fingers and passingthe ends through in a loop, because this knot can be easily untied. Nexttake strap No. 2, and, making a loop, put it round the off fore-leg. With a very quiet horse this can easily be done; with a wild or vicioushorse you may have to make him step into it; at any rate, when once theoff fore-leg is caught in the noose it must be drawn tight round thepastern-joint. Then put a stout glove or mitten on your right hand, having taken care that your nails have been cut short, pass the strapthrough the belly part of the surcingle, take a firm short hold of itwith your gloved right hand, standing close to the horse behind hisshoulders, and with your left hand take hold of the near rein; bypulling the horse gently to the near side he will be almost sure to hop;if he will not he must be led, but Mr. Rarey always makes him hopalone. The moment he lifts up his off fore-foot you must draw up strapNo. 2 tightly and steadily. The motion will draw up the off leg into thesame position as the near leg, and the horse will go down on his knees. Your object is to hold the strap so firmly that he will not be able tostretch his foot out again. Those who are very confident in their skillare content to hold the strap only with a twist round their hand, butothers take the opportunity of the horse's first surprise to give thestrap a double turn round the surcingle. 

[Illustration: Horse with Straps Nos. 1 and 2. ]

Another way of performing this operation is to use with difficultviolent horses the strap invented by Lord B----h, which consists firstof the loop for the off fore-leg shown in our cut. A surcingle strap, atleast seven feet long, with a buckle, is thrown across the horse's back;the buckle end is passed through the ring; the tongue is passed throughthe buckle, and the moment the horse moves the Tamer draws the straptight round the body of the horse, and in buckling it makes the leg sosafe that he has no need to use any force in holding it up. 

[Illustration: LORD B. 'S IMPROVED STRAP NO. 2. ]

As soon as a horse recovers from his astonishment at being brought tohis knees, he begins to resist; that is, he rears up on his hind-legs, and springs about in a manner that is truly alarming for the spectatorsto behold, and which in the case of a well-bred horse in good conditionrequires a certain degree of activity in the Trainer. (See page of HorseStruggling. )

[Illustration: SURCINGLE FOR LORD B. 'S STRAP NO. 2. ]

You must remember that your business is not to set your strength againstthe horse's strength, but merely to follow him about, holding the strapjust tight enough to prevent him from putting out his off fore-leg. Aslong as you keep _close to him_ and _behind his shoulders_ you are invery little danger. The bridle in the left hand must be used likesteering lines: by pulling to the right or left as occasion requires, the horse, turning on his hind-legs, maybe guided just as a boat issteered by the rudder lines; or pulling straight, the horse may befatigued by being forced to walk backwards. The strap passing throughthe surcingle keeps, or ought to keep, the Trainer in his rightplace--he is not to pull or in any way fatigue himself more than he canhelp, but, standing upright, simply follow the horse about, guidinghim with the bridle away from the walls of the training school whenneedful. It must be admitted that to do this well requires considerablenerve, coolness, patience, and at times agility; for although agrass-fed colt will soon give in, a corn-fed colt, and, above all, ahigh-couraged hunter in condition, will make a very stout fight; and Ihave known one instance in which a horse with both fore-legs fast hasjumped sideways. 

[Illustration: The Horse struggling. ]

The proof that the danger is more apparent than real lies in the factthat no serious accidents have as yet happened; and that, as I beforeobserved, many noblemen, and some noble ladies, and some boys, havesucceeded perfectly. But it would be untrue to assert that there is nodanger. When held and guided properly, few horses resist more than tenminutes; and it is believed that a quarter of an hour is the utmost timethat any horse has ever fought before sinking exhausted to the earth. But the time seems extremely long to an inexperienced performer; and itis a great comfort to get your assistant to be tune-keeper, if there isno clock in a conspicuous situation, and tell you how you are gettingon. Usually at the end of eight minutes' violent struggles, the animalsinks forward on his knees, sweating profusely, with heaving flanks andshaking tail, as if at the end of a thirty minutes' burst withfox-hounds over a stiff country. 

Then is the time to get him into a comfortable position for lying down;if he is still stout, he may be forced by the bit to walk backwards. Then, too, by pushing gently at his shoulder, or by pulling steadily theoff-rein, you can get him to fall, in the one case on the near side, onthe other on the off side; but this assistance should be so slight thatthe horse must not be able to resist it. The horse will often make afinal spring when you think he is quite beaten; but, at any rate, atlength he slides over, and lies down, panting and exhausted, on hisside. If he is full of corn and well bred, take advantage of the momentto tie up the off fore-leg to the surcingle, as securely as the other, in a slip loop knot. 

Now let your horse recover his wind, and then encourage him to make asecond fight. It will often be more stubborn and more fierce than thefirst. The object of this tying-up operation is, that he shallthoroughly exhaust without hurting himself, and that he shall come tothe conclusion that it is you who, by your superior strength, haveconquered him, and that you are always able to conquer him. 

Under the old rough-riding system, the most vicious horses wereoccasionally conquered by daring men with firm seats and strong arms, who rode and flogged them into subjection; but these conquests weretemporary, and usually _personal_; with every stranger, the animal wouldbegin his game again. 

One advantage of this Rarey system is, that the horse is allowed toexhaust himself under circumstances that render it impossible for him tostruggle long enough to do himself any harm. It has been suggested thata blood-vessel would be likely to be broken, or apoplexy produced by theexertion of leaping from the hind legs; but, up to the present time, noaccident of any kind has been reported. 

When the horse lies down for the second or third time thoroughly beaten, the time has arrived for teaching him a few more of the practical partsof horse-training. 

[Illustration: The Horse exhausted. ]

When you have done all you desire to the horse tied up, --smoothed hisears, if fidgety about the ears--the hind-legs, if a kicker--shownhim a saddle, and allowed him to smell it, and then placed it on hisback--mounted him yourself, and pulled him all over--take off all thestraps. In moving round him for the purpose of gentling him, walk slowlyalways from the head round the tail, and again to the head: scrape thesweat off him with a scraper; rub him down with a wisp; smooth the hairof his legs, and draw the fore one straight out. If he has fought hard, he will lie like a dead horse, and scarcely stir. You must now again goover him as conscientiously as if you were a mesmeric doctor orshampooer: every limb must be "_gentled_, " to use Mr. Rarey's expressivephrase; and with that operation you have completed your _first_ and_most_ important lesson. 

You may now mount on the back of an unbroken colt, and teach him thatyou do not hurt him in that attitude: if he were standing upright hemight resist, and throw you from fright; but as he is exhausted andpowerless, he has time to find out that you mean him no harm. You canlay a saddle or harness on him, if he has previously shown aversion tothem, or any part of them: his head and his tail and his legs are allsafe for your friendly caresses; don't spare them, and speak to him allthe time. 

If he has hitherto resisted shoeing, now is the time for handling hisfore and hind legs; kindly, yet, if he attempts to resist, with a voiceof authority. If he is a violent, savage, confirmed kicker, likeCruiser, or Mr. Gurney's gray colt, or the zebra, as soon as he is downput a pair of hobbles on his hind-legs, like those used for mares duringcovering. (Frontispiece of Zebra. ) These must be held by an assistant onwhom you can depend; and passed through the rings of the surcingle. Withhis fore-legs tied, you may usefully spend an hour, in handling hislegs, tapping the hoofs with your hand or hammer--all this to be done ina firm, measured, soothing manner; only now and then, if he resist, crying, as you paralyze him with the ropes, "_Wo ho!_" in a determinedmanner. It is by this continual soothing and handling that you establishconfidence between the horse and yourself. After patting him as much asyou deem needful, say for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, you mayencourage him to rise. Some horses will require a good deal of helping, and their fore-legs drawing out before them. 

It may be as well to remark, that the handling the limbs, of coltsparticularly, requires caution. A cart colt, tormented by flies, willkick forward nearly up to the fore-legs. 

If a horse, unstrapped, attempts to rise, you may easily stop him bytaking hold of a fore-leg and doubling it back to the strapped position. If by chance he should be too quick, don't resist; it is an essentialprinciple in the Rarey system, never to enter into a contest with ahorse unless you are certain to be victorious. 

In all these operations, you must be calm, and not in a hurry. 

Thus, under the Rarey system, all indications are so direct, that thehorse must understand them. You place him in a position, and under suchrestraint, that he cannot resist anything that you chose to do to him;and then you proceed to caress him when he assents, to reprove him whenhe _thinks_ of resisting--resist, with all his legs tied, hecannot--repeated lessons end by persuading the most vicious horse thatit is useless to try to resist, and that acquiescence will be followedby the caresses that horses evidently like. 

[Illustration: The Horse tamed. ]

The last instance of Mr. Rarey's power was a beautiful gray mare, whichhad been fourteen years in the band of one of the Life Guards regiments, and consequently at least seventeen years old; during all that time shewould never submit quietly to have her hind-legs shod; the farriers hadto put a twitch on her nose and ears, and tie her tail down: even thenshe resisted violently. In three days Mr. Rarey was able to shoe herwith her head loose. And this was not done by a trick, but by proving toher that she could not resist even to the extent of an inch, and that noharm was meant her; her lessons were repeated many times a day for threedays. Such continual impressive perseverance is an essential part of thesystem. 

When you have to deal with a horse as savage a kicker as Cruiser, or thezebra, a horse that can kick from one leg as fiercely as others can fromtwo, in that case, to subdue and compel him to lie down, have a leathersurcingle with a ring sewed on the belly part, and when the hobbles arebuckled on the hind-legs, pass the ropes through the rings, and when thehorse rises again, by buckling up one fore-leg, and pulling steadily, when needful, at the hind-legs, or tying the hobble-ropes to a collar, you reduce him to perfect helplessness; he finds that he cannot rear, for you pull his hind-legs--or kick, for you can pull at all three legs, and after a few lessons he gives in in despair. 

These were the methods by which Cruiser and the zebra were subdued. Theyseem, and are, very simple; properly carried out they are effective forsubduing the most spirited colt, and curing the most vicious horse. Butstill in difficult and exceptional cases it cannot be too often repeatedthat a MAN is required, as well as a method. Without nerve nothing canbe attempted; without patience and perseverance mere nerve will be oflittle use; all the quackery and nonsense that has been talked andwritten under the inspiration of the Barnum who has had an interest inthe success of the silent, reserved, practical Rarey, must be dismissed. Horse-training is not a conjuror's trick. The principles may certainlybe learned by once reading this book; a few persons specially organised, accustomed to horses all their lives, may succeed in their firstattempts with even difficult horses. The success of Lord Burghersh, after one lesson from Rarey, with a very difficult mare; of Lord Elvers, Lord Vivian, the Hon. Frederick Villiers, and the Marquess of Stafford, with colts, is well known in the sporting world. Mr. Thomas Rice, ofMotcombe Street, who has studied everything connected with the horse, onthe Continent as well as in England, and who is thoroughly acquaintedwith the Spanish school, as well as the English cross-country style ofhorsemanship, succeeded, as I have already mentioned, the very firsttime he took the straps in hand in subduing Mr. Gurney's gray colt--themost vicious animal, next to Cruiser, that Mr. Rarey tackled in England. This brute tore off the flaps of the saddle with his teeth. 

But it is sheer humbug to pretend that a person who knows no more ofhorses than is to be learned by riding a perfectly-trained animal nowand then for an hour or two, can acquire the whole art of horse-taming, or can even safely tackle a violent horse, without a previouspreparation and practice. 

As you must not be nervous or angry, so you must not be in a hurry. 

Many ladies have attended Mr. Rarey's lessons, and studied his art, butvery few have tried, and still fewer have succeeded. It is just one ofthose things that all ladies fond of horses should know, as well asthose who are likely to visit India, or the Colonies, although it is notexactly a feminine occupation; crinoline would be sadly in the way--

 "Those little hands were never made To hold a leather strap. "

But it may be useful as an emergency, as it will enable any lady toinstruct a friend, or groom, or sailor, or peasant, how to do what sheis not able to do herself, and to argue effectively that straps will domore than whips and spurs. 

At the Practice Club of noblemen and gentlemen held at Miss Gilbert'sstables, it has been observed that every week some horse more determinedthan the average has been too much for the wind, or the patience, ofmost of the subscribers. One only has never been beaten, the Marquess ofS----, but then he was always in condition; a dab hand at every athleticsport, extremely active, and gifted with a "calmness, " as well as anerve, which few men of his position enjoy. 

In a word, the average horse may be subdued by the average horseman, andcolts usually come within the average; but a fierce, determined, vicioushorse requires a man above the average in temper, courage, and activity;activity and skill in _steering_ being of more importance than strength. It is seldom necessary to lay a colt down more than twice. 

Perhaps the best way is to begin practising the strap movements with adonkey, or a quiet horse full of grass or water, and so go on from dayto day with as much perseverance as if you were practising skating orwalking on a tight rope; until you can approach, halter, lead, strapup, and lay down a colt with as much calmness as a huntsman takes hisfences with his eye on his hounds, you are not perfect. 

Remember you must not hurry, and you must _not chatter_. When you feelimpatient you had better leave off, and begin again another day. And thesame with your horse: you must not tire him with one lesson, but youmust give him at least one lesson every day, and two or three to anervous customer; we have a striking example of patience andperseverance in Mr. Rarey's first evening with Cruiser. He had gonethrough the labour of securing him, and bringing him up forty milesbehind a dog-cart, yet he did not lose a moment, but set to work thesame night to tame him limb by limb, and inch by inch, and from that dayuntil he produced him in public, he never missed a day without spendingtwice a day from two to three hours with him, first rendering himhelpless by gag-bit, straps and hobbles, then caressing him, thenforcing him to lie down, then caressing him again, stroking every limb, talking to him in soothing tones, and now and then, if he turnedvicious, taking up his helpless head, giving it a good shake, whilescolding him as you would a naughty boy. And then again taking off thegag and rewarding submission with a lock of sweet hay and a drink ofwater, most grateful after a tempest of passion, then making him rise, and riding him--making him stop at a word. 

I mention these facts, because an idea has gone abroad that any man withMr. Rarey's straps can manage any horse. It would be just as sensible toassert that any boy could learn to steer a yacht by taking the tillerfor an hour under the care of an "old salt. "

The most curious and important fact of all in connection with thisstrapping up and laying down process, is, that the moment the horserises _he seems to have contracted a personal friendship for theoperator_, and with a very little encouragement will generally followhim round the box or circus; this feeling may as well be encouraged by alittle bit of carrot or bread and sugar. 

PLACE AND PREPARATIONS FOR TRAINING A COLT. 

It is almost impossible to train or tame a horse quickly in an openspace. As his falls are violent, the floor must be very soft. The bestplace is a space boarded off with partitions six or seven feet high, andon the floor a deep layer of tan or sand or saw-dust, on which, a thicklayer of straw has been spread; but the floor must not be too soft; ifit is, the horse will sink on his knees without fighting, and withoutthe lesson of exhaustion, which is so important. To throw a horse for asurgical operation, the floor cannot be too soft: the enclosure shouldbe about thirty feet from side to side, of a square or octagonal shape;but not round if possible, because it is of great advantage to have acorner into which a colt may turn when you are teaching him the firsthaltering lesson. A barn may be converted into a training-school, if thefloor be made soft enough with straw. But in every case, it is extremelydangerous to have pillars, posts, or any projections against which thehorse in rearing might strike; as when the legs are tied, a horse is aptto miscalculate his distance. And if the space is too narrow, thetrainer, in dealing with a violent horse, may get crushed or kicked. Itis of great advantage that the training-school should be roofed, and ifpossible, every living thing, that might distract the horse's attentionby sight or sound, should be removed. Other horses, cattle, pigs, andeven dogs or fowls moving about or making a noise, will spoil theeffect of a good lesson. 

In an emergency, the first lesson may be given in an open straw-yard. Lord Burghersh trained his first pupil on a small space in the middle ofa thick wood; Cruiser was laid down the first time in a bullock-yard. But if you have many colts to train, it is well worth while to dig out apit two feet deep, fill it with tan and straw, and build round it a shedof rough poles, filled in with gorse plastered with clay, on the sameplan as a bullock feeding-box. The floor should not be too deep or soft, because if it is, the colt will sink at once without fighting, and agood lesson in obedience is lost. 

This may be done for from 30_s. _ to 2_l. _ on a farm. In a riding-schoolit is very easy to have lofty temporary partitions. It is probable thatin future every riding-school will have a Rarey box for training hacks, as well as to enable pupils to practise the art. 

It is quite out of the question to attempt to do anything with adifficult horse while other horses can be seen or heard, or while aparty of lookers-on are chattering and laughing. 

As to the costume of the trainer, I recommend a close cap, a stout pairof boots, short trousers or breeches of stout tweed or corduroy, a shortjacket with pockets outside, one to hold the straps and gloves, theother a few pieces of carrot to reward the pupil. A pocket-handkerchiefshould be handy to wipe your perspiring brow. A trainer should not bewithout a knife and a piece of string, for emergencies. Spare straps, bridles, a surcingle, a long whalebone whip, and a saddle, should behung up outside the training inclosure, where they can be handed, whenrequired, to the operator as quickly and with as little delay and fussas possible. A sort of dumb-waiter, with hooks instead of trays, couldbe contrived for a man who worked alone. 

If a lady determines to become a horse-trainer, she had better adopt aBloomer costume, without any stiff petticoats, as long robes would besure to bring her to grief. To hold the long strap No. 2, it isnecessary to wear a stout glove, which will be all the more useful ifthe tips of the fingers are cut off at the first joint, so as to make ita sort of mitten. 

FOOTNOTES:

[70-*] I should not recommend this plan with a well-bred horse withoutfirst laying him down, as he would be likely to throw himselfdown. --EDITOR. 

[73-*] All these straps may be obtained from Mr. Stokey, saddler, NorthStreet, Little Moorfields, who supplied Mr. Rarey, and has patterns ofthe improvements by Lord B---- and Colonel R----. 

CHAPTER VII. 

 The Drum. --The Umbrella. --Riding-habit. --How to bit a colt. --How to saddle. --To mount. --To ride. --To break. --To harness. --To make a horse follow and stand without holding. --Baucher's plan. --Nolan's plan. 

It is an excellent practice to accustom all horses to strange sounds andsights, and of very great importance to young horses which are to beridden or driven in large towns, or used as chargers. Although somehorses are very much more timid and nervous than others, the very worstcan be very much improved by acting on the first principles laid down inthe introduction to this book--that is, by proving that the strangesights and sounds will do them no harm. 

When a railway is first opened, the sheep, the cattle, and especiallythe horses, grazing in the neighbouring fields, are terribly alarmed atthe sight of the swift, dark, moving trains, and the terrible snortingand hissing of the steam-engines. They start away--they gallop incircles--and when they stop, gaze with head and tail erect, until themonsters have disappeared. But from day to day the live stock becomemore accustomed to the sight and sound of the steam horse, and after awhile they do not even cease grazing when the train passes. They havelearned that it will do them no harm. The same result may be observedwith respect to young horses when first they are brought to a largetown, and have to meet great loads of hay, omnibuses crowded withpassengers, and other strange or noisy objects--if judiciously treated, not flogged and ill-used, they lose their fears without losing theirhigh courage. Nothing is more astonishing in London than the steadinessof the high-bred and highly-fed horses in the streets and in Hyde Park. 

But until Mr. Rarey went to first principles, and taught "the reasonwhy" there were horses that could not be brought to bear the beating ofa drum, the rustling of an umbrella, or the flapping of a riding-habitagainst their legs--and all attempts to compel them by force to submitto these objects of their terror failed and made them furious. Mr. Rarey, in his lectures, often told a story of a horse which shied atbuffalo-robes--the owner tied him up fast and laid a robe on him--thepoor animal died instantly with fright. And yet nothing can be moresimple. 

_To accustom a horse to a drum. _--Place it near him on the ground, and, without forcing him, induce him to smell it again and again until he isthoroughly accustomed to it. Then lift it up, and slowly place it on theside of his neck, where he can see it, and tap it gently with a stick oryour finger. If he starts, pause, and let him carefully examine it. Thenre-commence, gradually moving it backwards until it rests upon hiswithers, by degrees playing louder and louder, pausing always when heseems alarmed, to let him look at it and smell, if needful. In a veryfew minutes you may play with all your force, without his taking anynotice. When this practice has been repeated a few times, your horse, however spirited, will rest his nose unmoved on the big drum while themost thundering piece is played. 

_To teach a horse to bear an umbrella_, go through the same cautiousforms, let him see it, and smell it, open it by degrees--gain yourpoint inch by inch, passing it always from his eyes to his neck, andfrom his neck to his back and tail; and so with a riding-habit, in halfan hour any horse may be taught that it will not hurt him, and then thedifficulty is over. 

_To fire off a horse's back. _--Begin with caps, and, by degrees, as withthe drum, instead of lengthening the reins, stretch the bridle hand tothe front, and raise it for the carbine to rest on, with the muzzleclear of the horse's head, a little to one side. Lean the body forwardwithout rising in the stirrups. _Avoid interfering with the horse'smouth, or exciting his fears by suddenly closing your legs either beforeor after firing--be quiet yourself and your horse will be quiet. _ Thecolt can learn, as I have already observed, to bear a rider on his bareback during his first lessons, when prostrate and powerless, fast boundby straps. The surcingle has accustomed him to girths--he leads well, and has learned that when the right rein is pulled he must go to theright, and when the left rein to the left. You may now teach him to bearthe BIT and the SADDLE--if you have not placed it upon his back while onthe ground, and for this operation I cannot do better than return, andquote literally from Mr. Rarey. 

"HOW TO ACCUSTOM A HORSE TO A BIT. 

"You should use a large, smooth, snaffle bit, so as not to hurt hismouth, with a bar to each side, to prevent the bit from pulling througheither way. This you should attach to the head-stall of your bridle, andput it on your colt without any reins to it, and let him run loose in alarge stable or shed some time, until he becomes a little used to thebit, and will bear it without trying to get it out of his mouth. Itwould be well, if convenient, to repeat this several times, before youdo anything more with the colt; as soon as he will bear the bit, attacha single rein to it. You should also have a halter on your colt, or abridle made after the fashion of a halter, with a strap to it, so thatyou can hold or lead him about without pulling on the bit much. (SeeWoodcut, p. 39. ) He is now ready for the saddle. 

"THE PROPER WAY TO BIT A COLT. 

"Farmers often put bitting harness on a colt the first thing they do tohim, buckling up the bitting as tight as they can draw it, to make himcarry his head high, and then turn him out in a field to run a half-dayat a time. This is one of the worst of punishments that they couldinflict on the colt, and very injurious to a young horse that has beenused to running in pasture with his head down. I have seen colts soinjured in this way that they never got over it. 

"A horse should be well accustomed to the bit before you put on thebitting harness, and when you first bit him you should only rein hishead up to that point where he naturally holds it, let that be high orlow; he will soon learn that he cannot lower his head, and that raisingit a little will loosen the bit in his mouth. This will give him theidea of raising his head to loosen the bit, and then you can draw thebitting a little tighter every time you put it on, and he will stillraise his head to loosen it; by this means you will gradually get hishead and neck in the position you want him to carry it, and give him anice and graceful carriage without hurting him, making him mad, orcausing his mouth to get sore. 

"If you put the bitting on very tight the first time, he cannot raisehis head enough to loosen it, but will bear on it all the time, and paw, sweat, and throw himself. Many horses have been killed by fallingbackward with the bitting on; their heads being drawn up strike theground with the whole weight of the body. Horses that have their headsdrawn up tightly should not have the bitting on more than fifteen ortwenty minutes at a time. 

"HOW TO SADDLE A COLT. 

"The first thing will be to tie each stirrup-strap into a loose knot tomake them short, and prevent the stirrups from flying about and hittinghim. Then double up the skirts and take the saddle under your right arm, so as not to frighten him with it as you approach. When you get to himrub him gently a few times with your hand, and then raise the saddlevery slowly, until he can see it, and smell and feel it with his nose. Then let the skirt loose, and rub it very gently against his neck theway the hair lies, letting him hear the rattle of the skirts as he feelsthem against him; each time getting a little farther backward, andfinally slipping it over his shoulders on his back. Shake it a littlewith your hand, and in less than five minutes you can rattle it aboutover his back as much as you please, and pull it off and throw it onagain, without his paying much attention to it. 

"As soon as you have accustomed him to the saddle, fasten the girth. Becareful how you do this. It often frightens the colt when he feels thegirth binding him, and making the saddle fit tight on his back. Youshould bring up the girth very gently, and not draw it too tight atfirst, just enough to hold the saddle on. Move him a little, and thengirth it as tight as you choose, and he will not mind it. 

"You should see that the pad of your saddle is all right before you putit on, and that there is nothing to make it hurt him, or feel unpleasantto his back. It should not have any loose straps on the back part of it, to flap about and scare him. After you have saddled him in this way, take a switch in your right hand to tap him up with, and walk about inthe stable a few times with your right arm over your saddle, taking holdof the reins on each side of his neck with your right and left hands, thus marching him about in the stable until you teach him the use of thebridle and can turn him about in any direction, and stop him by a gentlepull of the rein. Always caress him, and loose the reins a little everytime you stop him. 

"You should always be alone, and have your colt in some light stable orshed, the first time you ride him; the loft should be high, so that youcan sit on his back without endangering your head. You can teach himmore in two hours' time in a stable of this kind, than you could in twoweeks in the common way of breaking colts, out in an open place. If youfollow my course of treatment, you need not run any risk, or have anytrouble in riding the worst kind of horse. You take him a step at atime, until you get up a mutual confidence and trust between yourselfand horse. First teach him to lead and stand hitched; next acquaint himwith the saddle, and the use of the bit; and then all that remains is toget on him without scaring him, and you can ride him as well as anyhorse. 

"HOW TO MOUNT THE COLT. 

"First gentle him well on both sides, about the saddle, and all overuntil he will stand still without holding, and is not afraid to see youanywhere about him. 

"As soon as you have him thus gentled, get a small block, about one footor eighteen inches in height, and set it down by the side of him, aboutwhere you want to stand to mount him; step up on this, raising yourselfvery gently: horses notice every change of position very closely, and, if you were to step up suddenly on the block, it would be very apt toscare him; but, by raising yourself gradually on it, he will see you, without being frightened, in a position very nearly the same as when youare on his back. 

"As soon as he will bear this without alarm, untie the stirrup-strapnext to you, and put your left foot into the stirrup, and stand squareover it, holding your knee against the horse, and your toe out, so asnot to touch him under the shoulder with the toe of your boot. Placeyour right hand on the front of the saddle, and on the opposite side ofyou, taking hold of a portion of the mane and the reins, as they hangloosely over his neck, with your left hand; then gradually bear yourweight on the stirrup, and on your right hand, until the horse feelsyour whole weight on the saddle: repeat this several times, each timeraising yourself a little higher from the block, until he will allow youto raise your leg over his croup and place yourself in the saddle. 

"There are three great advantages in having a block to mount from. First, a sudden change of position is very apt to frighten a young horsewho has never been handled: he will allow you to walk up to him, andstand by his side without scaring at you, because you have gentled himto that position; but if you get down on your hands and knees and crawltowards him, he will be very much frightened; and upon the sameprinciple, he would be frightened at your new position if you had thepower to hold yourself over his back without touching him. Then thefirst great advantage of the block is to gradually gentle him to thatnew position in which he will see you when you ride him. 

"Secondly, by the process of leaning your weight in the stirrups, and onyour hand, you can gradually accustom him to your weight, so as not tofrighten him by having him feel it all at once. And, in the third place, the block elevates you so that you will not have to make a spring inorder to get on the horse's back, but from it you can gradually raiseyourself into the saddle. When you take these precautions, there is nohorse so wild but what you can mount him without making him jump. I havetried it on the worst horses that could be found, and have never failedin any case. When mounting, your horse should always stand without beingheld. _A horse is never well broken when he has to be held with a tightrein when mounting_; and a colt is never so safe to mount as when yousee that assurance of confidence, and absence of fear, which cause himto stand without holding. " [Mr. Rarey's improved plan is to press thepalm of the right hand on the off-side of the Saddle, and as you riselean your weight on it; by this means you can mount with the girthsloose, or without any girths at all. --EDITOR. ]

"HOW TO RIDE THE COLT. 

"When you want him to start do not touch him on the side with your heel, or do anything to frighten him and make him jump. But speak to himkindly, and if he does not start pull him a little to the left until hestarts, and then let him walk off slowly with the reins loose. Walk himaround in the stable a few times until he gets used to the bit, and youcan turn him about in every direction and stop him as you please. Itwould be well to get on and off a good many times until he getsperfectly used to it before you take him out of the stable. 

"After you have trained him in this way, which should not take you morethan one or two hours, you can ride him anywhere you choose without everhaving him jump or make any effort to throw you. 

"When you first take him out of the stable be very gentle with him, ashe will feel a little more at liberty to jump or run, and be a littleeasier frightened than he was while in the stable. But after handlinghim so much in the stable he will be pretty well broken, and you will beable to manage him without trouble or danger. 

"When you first mount him take a little the shortest hold on the leftrein, so that if anything frightens him you can prevent him from jumpingby pulling his head round to you. This operation of pulling a horse'shead round against his side will prevent any horse from jumping ahead, rearing up, or running away. If he is stubborn and will not go, you canmake him move by pulling his head round to one side, when whipping wouldhave no effect. And turning him round a few times will make him dizzy, and then by letting him have his head straight, and giving him a littletouch with the whip, he will go along without any trouble. 

"Never use martingales on a colt when you first ride him; every movementof the hand should go right to the bit in the direction in which it isapplied to the reins, without a martingale to change the direction ofthe force applied. You can guide the colt much better without it, andteach him the use of the bit in much less time. Besides, martingaleswould prevent you from pulling his head round if he should try to jump. 

"After your colt has been ridden until he is gentle and well accustomedto the bit, you may find it an advantage, if he carries his head toohigh or his nose too far out, to put martingales on him. 

"_You should be careful not to ride your colt so far at first as toheat, worry, or tire him. _ Get off as soon as you see he is a littlefatigued; gentle him and let him rest; this will make him kind to you, and prevent him from getting stubborn or mad. 

"TO BREAK A HORSE TO HARNESS. 

"Take him in a light stable, as you did to ride him; take the harnessand go through the same process that you did with the saddle, until youget him familiar with it, so that you can put it on him, and rattle itabout without his caring for it. As soon as he will bear this, put onthe lines, caress him as you draw them over him, and drive him about inthe stable till he will bear them over his hips. The _lines_ are a greataggravation to some colts, and often frighten them as much as if youwere to raise a whip over them. As soon as he is familiar with theharness and lines, take him out and put him by the side of a gentlehorse, and go through the same process that you did with the balkinghorse. _Always use a bridle without blinkers when you are breaking ahorse to harness. _

"Lead him to and around a light gig or phaeton; let him look at it, touch it with his nose, and stand by it till he does not care for it;then pull the shafts a little to the left, and stand your horse in frontof the off-wheel. Let some one stand on the right side of the horse, andhold him by the bit, while you stand on the left side, facing the sulky. This will keep him straight. Run your left hand back, and let it rest onhis hip, and lay hold of the shafts with your right, bringing them upvery gently to the left hand, which still remains stationary. Do not letanything but your arm touch his back, and as soon as you have the shaftssquare over him, let the person on the opposite side take hold of one ofthem, and lower them very gently to the shaft-bearers. Be very slow anddeliberate about hitching; the longer time you take the better, as ageneral thing. When you have the shafts placed, shake them slightly, sothat he will feel them against each side. As soon as he will bear themwithout scaring, fasten your braces, &c. , and start him along veryslowly. Let one man lead the horse, to keep him gentle, while the othergradually works back with the lines till he can get behind and drivehim. After you have driven him in this way a short distance, you can getinto the sulky, and all will go right. It is very important to have yourhorse go gently when you first hitch him. After you have walked himawhile, there is not half so much danger of his scaring. Men do verywrong to jump up behind a horse to drive him as soon as they have himhitched. There are too many things for him to comprehend all at once. The shifts, the lines, the harness, and the rattling of the sulky, alltend to scare him, and he must be made familiar with them by degrees. Ifyour horse is very wild, I would advise you to put up one foot the firsttime you drive him. "

[Illustration: Second Lesson in Harness. ]

With the leg strapped up, the lighter the break or gig the better, andfour wheels are better than two. 

TO MAKE A HORSE FOLLOW YOU. 

The directions make simple what have hitherto been among the mysteriesof the circus. I can assert from personal observation that by the meansdescribed by Mr. Rarey a very nervous thorough-bred mare, the propertyof the Earl of Derby, was taught to stand, answer to her name, andfollow one of his pupils in less than a week. 

No hack, and certainly no lady's horse, is perfect until he has beentaught to stand still, and no hunter is complete until he has learned tofollow his master. Huntsmen may spend a few hours in the summer veryusefully in teaching their old favourites to wait outside cover untilwanted. 

Turn him into a large stable or shed, where there is no chance to getout, with a halter or bridal on. Go to him and gentle him a little, takehold of his halter, and turn him towards you, at the same time touchinghim lightly over the hips with a long whip. Lead him the length of thestable, rubbing him on the neck, saying in a steady tone of voice as youlead him, "Come along, boy!" or use his name instead of "boy, " if youchoose. Every time you turn, touch him slightly with the whip, to makehim step up close to you, and then caress him with your hand. He willsoon learn to hurry up to escape the whip and be caressed, and you canmake him follow you around without taking hold of the halter. If heshould stop and turn from you, give him a few sharp cuts about the hindlegs, and he will soon turn his head towards you, when you must alwayscaress him. A few lessons of this kind will make him run after you, whenhe sees the motion of the whip--in twenty or thirty minutes he willfollow you about the stable. After you have given him two or threelessons in the stable, take him out into a small field and train him;and from thence you can take him into the road and make him follow youanywhere, and run after you. 

To make a horse stand without holding, after you have him well broken tofollow you, place him in the centre of the stable--begin at his head tocaress him, gradually working backwards. If he move, give him a cut withthe whip, and put him back to the same spot from which he started. If hestands, caress him as before, and continue gentling him in this wayuntil you can get round him without making him move. Keep walking aroundhim, increasing your pace, and only touch him occasionally. Enlarge yourcircle as you walk around, and if he then moves, give him another cutwith the whip, and put him back to his place. If he stands, go to himfrequently and caress him, and then walk around him again. Do not keephim in one position too long at a time, but make him come to youoccasionally, and follow you around the stable. Then make him stand inanother place, and proceed as before. You should not train your horsemore than half an hour at a time. 

The following is Baucher's method of making a horse stand to be mounted, which, he says, may be taught in two lessons, of half an hour each. Ido not know any one who has tried, but it is worth trying. 

"Go up to him, pat him on the neck (_i. E. _ gentle him), and speak tohim; then taking the curb reins a few inches from the rings with theleft hand, place yourself so as to offer as much resistance as possibleto him when he tries to break away. Take the whip in the right hand withthe point down, raise it quietly and tap the horse on the chest; he willrein back to avoid punishment; resist and follow him, continuing thetapping of the whip, but without anger or haste. The horse, soon tiredof running back, will endeavour to avoid the infliction by rushingforward; then stop and make much of him. This repeated once or twicewill teach the horse that, to stand still, is to avoid punishment, andwill move up to you on a slight motion of the whip. "

I doubt whether high-spirited horses would stand this treatment. 

_To teach a horse to stand in the field. _--Nolan's plan was, to draw thereins over the horse's head and fasten them to the ground with a peg, walk away, return in a few minutes and reward him with bread, salt, orcarrot; in a short time the horse will fancy himself fast whenever thereins are drawn over his head. It may be doubted whether, in theexcitement of the hunting-field, either Rarey's or Nolan's plan wouldavail to make a huntsman's horse stand while hounds were running. Scrutator gives another method which is not within everyone's means toexecute. 

"In my father's time we had a large field, enclosed by a high wall, round which the lads used to exercise their horses, with a thick rugonly, doubled, to sit upon. A single snaffle and a sharp curb-bit wereplaced in the horse's mouth; the former to ride and guide by. To thecurb was attached a long single rein, which was placed in the boy'shand, or attached to his wrist. When the horse was in motion, eitherwalking, trotting, or cantering, the lad would throw himself off, holding only the long rein attached to the curb, the sudden pull uponwhich, when the lad was on the ground, would cause the horse's head tobe turned round, and stop him in his career. The boy would thengradually shorten the rein, until the horse was brought up to him, thenpatting and caressing him, he would again mount. After a very fewlessons of this kind, the horse would always stop the instant the boyfell, and remain stationary beside him. The lads, as well as the horses, were rewarded by my father for their proper performance of this rathersingular manoeuvre, but I never saw or knew any accident occur. Thehorses thus trained proved excellent hunters, and would never run awayfrom their riders when thrown, always standing by them until re-mounted. From the lads constantly rubbing and pulling their legs about, we had nokickers. When a boy of only fifteen, I was allowed to ride a fine marewhich has been thus broken in, in company with the hounds. Being nearlysixteen hands high, I had some difficulty in clambering up and down; butwhen dislodged from my seat, she would stand quietly by untilre-mounted, and appeared as anxious for me to get up again as I wasmyself. 

"It may be said that all this was time and trouble thrown away, and thatthe present plan of riding a young four-year-old, straight acrosscountry at once, will answer the same purpose. My reply is, that a goodeducation, either upon man, horse, or dog, will never be thrown away;and, notwithstanding the number of horses now brought into thehunting-field, there are still few well-trained hunters to be met with. The horse, the most beautiful and useful of animals to man, is seldomsufficiently instructed or familiarised, although certainly capable ofthe greatest attachment to his master when well used, and deserving tobe treated more as a friend than a slave. It is a general remark howquiet some high-spirited horses will become when ridden by ladies. Thecause of this is, that they are more quietly handled, patted, andcaressed by them, and become soon sensible of this difference oftreatment, from the rough whip-and-spur system, too generally adopted bymen. "

ON BAULKING OR JIBBING HORSES. 

Horses are taught the dangerous vice of baulking, or jibbing, as it iscalled in England, by improper management. When a horse jibs in harness, it is generally from some mismanagement, excitement, confusion, or fromnot knowing how to pull, but seldom from any unwillingness to performall that he understands. High-spirited free-going horses are the mostsubject to baulking, and only so because drivers do not properlyunderstand how to manage this kind. A free horse in a team may be soanxious to go, that when he hears the word he will start with a jump, which will not move the load, but give him such a severe jerk on theshoulders that he will fly back and stop the other horse. The teamsterwill continue his driving without any cessation, and by the time he hasthe slow horse started again, he will find that the free horse has madeanother jump, and again flown back. And now he has them both badlybaulked, and so confused that neither of them knows what is the matter, or how to start the load. Next will come the slashing and cracking ofthe whip, and hallooing of the driver, till something is broken, or heis through with his course of treatment. But what a mistake the drivercommits by whipping his horse for this act! Reason and common senseshould teach him that the horse was willing and anxious to go, but didnot know how to start the load. And should he whip him for that? If so, he should whip him again for not knowing how to talk. A man that wantsto act with reason should not fly into a passion, but should alwaysthink before he strikes. It takes a steady pressure against the collarto move a load, and you cannot expect him to act with a steady, determined purpose while you are whipping him. There is hardly onebaulking horse in five hundred that will pull truly from whipping: it isonly adding fuel to fire, and will make him more liable to baulk anothertime. You always see horses that have been baulked a few times turntheir heads and look back as soon as they are a little frustrated. Thisis because they have been whipped, and are afraid of what is behindthem. This is an invariable rule with baulked horses, just as much as itis for them to look around at their sides when they have thebots. [106-*] In either case they are deserving of the same sympathy andthe same kind, rational treatment. 

When your horse baulks, or is a little excited, if he wants to startquickly, or looks around and doesn't want to go, there is somethingwrong, and he needs kind treatment immediately. Caress him kindly, andif he doesn't understand at once what you want him to do, he will not beso much excited as to jump and break things, and do everything wrongthrough fear. As long as you are calm, and keep down the excitement ofthe horse, there are ten chances that you will make him understand you, where there would not be one under harsh treatment; and then the little_flare up_ will not carry with it any unfavourable recollections, and hewill soon forget all about it, and learn to pull truly. Almost everywrong act the horse commits is from mismanagement, fear, or excitement:one harsh word will so excite a nervous horse as to increase his pulseten beats in a minute. 

When we remember that we are dealing with dumb brutes, and reflect howdifficult it must be for them to understand our motions, signs, andlanguage, we should never get out of patience with them because theydon't understand us, or wonder at their doing things wrong. With all ourintellect, if we were placed in the horse's situation, it would bedifficult for us to understand the driving of some foreigner, of foreignways and foreign language. We should always recollect that our ways andlanguage are just as foreign and unknown to the horse as any language inthe world is to us, and should try to practise what we could understandwere we the horse, endeavouring by some simple means to work on hisunderstanding rather than on the different parts of his body. Allbaulked horses can be started true and steady in a few minutes' time:they are all willing to pull as soon as they know how, and I never yetfound a baulked horse that I could not teach to start his load infifteen, and often less than three, minutes' time. 

Almost any team, when first baulked, will start kindly if you let themstand five or ten minutes as though there was nothing wrong, and thenspeak to them with a steady voice, and turn them a little to the rightor left, so as to get them both in motion before they feel the pinch ofthe load. But if you want to start a team that you are not drivingyourself, that has been baulked, fooled, and whipped for some time, goto them and hang the lines on their hames, or fasten them to the waggon, so that they will be perfectly loose; make the driver and spectators (ifthere are any) stand off some distance to one side, so as not to attractthe attention of the horses; unloose their check-reins, so that they canget their heads down if they choose; let them stand a few minutes inthis condition until you can see that they are a little composed. Whilethey are standing, you should be about their heads, gentling them: itwill make them a little more kind, and the spectators will think thatyou are doing something that they do not understand, and will not learnthe secret. When you have them ready to start, stand before them, and, as you seldom have but one baulky horse in a team, get as near in frontof him as you can, and, if he is too fast for the other horse, let hisnose come against your breast: this will keep him steady, for he will goslow rather than run on you. Turn them gently to the right, withoutletting them pull on the traces as far as the tongue will let them go:stop them with a kind word, gentle them a little, and then turn themback to the left, by the same process. You will then have them underyour control by this time; and as you turn them again to the right, steady them in the collar, and you can take them where you please. 

There is a quicker process that will generally start a baulky horse, butnot so sure. Stand him a little ahead, so that his shoulders will beagainst the collar; and then take up one of his fore feet in your hand, and let the driver start them, and when the weight comes against hisshoulders he will try to step: then let him have his foot, and he willgo right along. If you want to break a horse from baulking that has longbeen in that habit, you ought to set apart a half-day for that purpose. Put him by the side of some steady horse; have driving reins on them;tie up all the traces and straps, so that there will be nothing toexcite them; do not rein them up, but let them have their heads loose. Walk them about together for some time as slowly and lazily as possible;stop often, and go up to your baulky horse and gentle him. Do not takeany whip about him, or do anything to excite him, but keep him just asquiet as you can. He will soon learn to start off at the word, and stopwhenever you tell him. 

As soon as he performs rightly, hitch him in an empty waggon; have itstanding in a favourable position for starting. It would be well toshorten the trace-chain behind the steady horse, so that, if it isnecessary, he can take the weight of the waggon the first time you startthem. Do not drive more than a few rods at first; watch your jibbinghorse closely, and if you see that he is getting excited, stop himbefore he stops of his own accord, caress him a little, and start again. As soon as they go well, drive them over a small hill a few times, andthen over a larger one, occasionally adding a little load. This processwill make any horse true to pull. 

The following anecdote from Scrutator's "Horses and Hounds, " illustratesthe soundness of Mr. Rarey's system:--"A gentleman in our neighbourhoodhaving purchased a very fine carriage horse, at a high price, was not alittle annoyed, upon trial, to find that he would not pull an ounce, andwhen the whip was applied he began plunging and kicking. After one ortwo trials the coachman declared he could do nothing with him, and ourneighbour, meeting my father, expressed his grievances at being thustaken in, and asked what he had better do. The reply was 'Send the horseto me tomorrow morning, and I will return him a good puller within aweek. ' The horse being brought, was put into the shafts of a wagon, in afield, with the hind wheels tied, and being reined up so that he couldnot get his head between his legs, was there left, with a man to watchhim for five or six hours, and, of course, without any food. When myfather thought he had enough of standing still, he went up to him with ahandful of sweet hay, let down the bearing rein, and had the wheels ofthe wagon released. After patting the horse on the neck, when he hadtaken a mouthful or two of hay, he took hold of the bridle and led himaway--the wagon followed--thus proving stratagem to be better thanforce. Another lesson was scarcely required, but, to make sure, it wasrepeated, and, after that, the horse was sent back to the owner. Therewas no complaint ever made of his jibbing again. The wagon to which hewas attached was both light and empty, and the ground inclined rathertowards the stable. "

FOOTNOTES:

[106-*] A much more severe disease in America than in England. --EDIT. 

[Illustration: LADY'S SEAT, WITH HUNTING-HORN POMMEL. ]

CHAPTER VIII. 

 Value of good horsemanship to both sexes. --On teaching children. --Anecdote. --Havelock's opinion. --Rarey's plan to train ponies. --The use of books. --Necessity of regular teaching for girls, boys can be self-taught. --Commence without a bridle. --Ride with one pair of reins and two hands. --Advantage of hunting-horn on side-saddle. --On the best plan for mounting. --Rarey's plan. --On a man's seat. --Nolan's opinion. --Military style. --Hunting style. --Two examples in Lord Cardigan. --The Prussian style. --Anecdote by Mr. Gould, Blucher, and the Prince Regent. --Hints for men learning to ride. --How to use the reins. --Pull right for right, and left for left. --How to collect your horse. 

You cannot learn to ride from a book, but you may learn how to do somethings and how to avoid many things of importance. Those who know allabout horses and horsemanship, or fancy they do, will not read thischapter. But as there are riding-schools in the City of London, where anexcellent business is done in teaching well-grown men how to ride forhealth or fashion, and as papas who know their own bump-bump style verywell often desire to teach their daughters, I have collected thefollowing instructions from my own experience, now extending over fullthirty years, on horses of all kinds, including the worst, and from thebest books on the subject, some of the best being anonymouscontributions by distinguished horsemen, printed for privatecirculation. Every man and woman, girl and boy, who has the opportunity, should learn to ride on horseback. It is almost an additional sense--itis one of the healthiest exercises--it affords amusement when otheramusements fail--relaxation from the most severe toil, and often, incolonies or wild countries, the only means of travelling or trading. 

A man feels twice a man on horseback. The student and the farmer meet, when mounted, the Cabinet Minister and the landlord on even terms--goodhorsemanship is a passport to acquaintances in all ranks of life, and tomake acquaintances is one of the arts of civilised life; to ripen theminto use or friendship is another art. On horseback you can call withless ceremony, and meet or leave a superior with less form than onfoot. Rotten Row is the ride of idleness and pleasure, but there is agreat deal of business done in sober walks and slow canters, commercial, political, and matrimonial. 

For a young lady not to be able to ride with a lover is a great loss;not to be able to ride with a young husband a serious privation. 

The first element for enjoying horse exercise is good horsemanship. Colonel Greenwood says very truly:--"_Good_ riding is worth acquiring bythose whose pleasure or business it is to ride, because it is soon andeasily acquired, and, when acquired, it becomes habitual; and it is aseasy, nay, much more easy, and infinitely more safe, than bad riding. ""Good riding will last through age, sickness, and decrepitude, but badriding will last only as long as youth, health, and strength supplycourage; _for good riding is an affair of skill, but bad riding is anaffair of courage_. "

A bold bad rider must not be merely brave; he must be fool-hardy; for heis perpetually in as much danger as a blind man among precipices. 

In riding, as in most other things, danger is for the timid and theunskilful. The skilful rider, when apparently courting danger in thefield, deserves no more credit for courage than for sitting in anarm-chair, and the unskilful no more the imputation of timidity forbackwardness than if without practice he declined to perform on thetight-rope. Depend upon it, the bold bad rider is the hero. 

There is nothing heroic in good riding, when dissected. The whole thingis a matter of detail--a collection of trifles--and its principles areso simple in theory and so easy in practice that they are despised. 

It is an accomplishment that may, to a certain extent, be acquired latein life. I know instances in both sexes of a fair firm seat having beenacquired under the pressure of necessity after forty years of age (Icould name lawyers, sculptors, architects, and sailors), but it may beacquired with ease and perfection in youth, and it is most importantthat no awkward habits should be acquired. 

Children who have courage may be taught to ride almost as soon as theycan walk. On the Pampas of South America you may see a boy seven yearsold on horseback, driving a herd of horses, and carrying a baby in hisarms!

I began my own lessons at four, when I sat upon an old mare in the stallwhile the groom polished harness or blacked his boots. Mr. NathanielGould, who, at upwards of seventy years, and sixteen stone weight, canstill ride hunting for seven or eight hours at a stretch, mentions, inhis observations on horses and hunting, [114-*] that a nephew of hisfollowed the Cheshire fox-hounds at seven years of age. "His manner ofgathering up his reins was most singular, and his power of keeping hisseat, with his little legs stretched horizontally along the saddle, quite surprising. " The hero Havelock, writing to his little boy, says, "You are now seven years old, and ought to learn to ride. I hope to hearsoon that you have made progress in that important part of youreducation. Your uncle William (a boy-hero in the Peninsula) rode wellbefore he was seven years old. " The proper commencement for a boy is apony in which he can interest himself, and on which he may learn to sitas a horseman should. 

I particularly warn parents against those broad-backed animals which, however suitable for carrying heavy old gentlemen, or sacks to market, are certainly very uncomfortable for the short legs of little boys, andlikely to induce rupture. On a narrow, well-bred pony, of 11 or 12 handshigh, a boy of six can sit like a little man. It is cruel to makechildren ride with bare legs. 

Before Rarey introduced his system, there was no satisfactory mode oftraining those ponies that were too small for a man to mount, unless theowner happened to live near some racing stable, where he could obtainthe services of a "feather-weight doll, " and then the pony often learnedtricks more comic than satisfactory. 

By patiently applying the practices explained in the preceding chapters, the smallest and most highly-bred pony may be reduced to perfectdocility without impairing its spirit, and taught a number of amusingtricks. 

Young ladies may learn on full-sized horses quite as well as on ponies, if they are provided with suitable side-saddles. 

A man, or rather a boy, may learn to ride by practice and imitation, andgo on tumbling about until he has acquired a firm and even elegant seat, but no lady can ever learn to ride as a lady should ride, without a gooddeal of instruction; because her seat on horseback is so thoroughlyartificial, that without some competent person to tell her of herfaults, she is sure to fall into a number of awkward ungraceful tricks. Besides, a riding-school, with its enclosed walls and trained horses, affords an opportunity of going through the preliminary lessons withoutany of those accidents which on the road, or in a field, are very likelyto occur with a raw pupil on a fresh horse. For a young lad to fall onthe grass, is not a serious affair, but a lady should never be allowedto run the chance of a fall, because it is likely to destroy the nerve, without which no lessons can be taught successfully. All who havenoticed the performances of Amazones in London, or at Brighton, musthave in remembrance the many examples of ladies who, with great courage, sit in a manner that is at once fearful and ridiculous to behold;entirely dependent on the good behaviour of horses, which they, inreality, have no power of turning, and scarcely of stopping. 

Little girls who learn their first lessons by riding with papa, who iseither absorbed in other business, or himself a novice in the art ofhorsemanship, get into poky habits, which it is extremely difficult toeradicate when they reach the age when every real woman wishes to beadmired. 

Therefore, let everyone interested in the horsemanship of a young ladycommence by placing her, as early as possible, under the tuition of acompetent professional riding-master, unless he knows enough to teachher himself. There are many riding-schools where a fair seat is acquiredby the lady pupils, but in London, at any rate, only two or three wherethey learn to use the reins, so as to control an unruly horse. 

Both sexes are apt to acquire the habit of holding on by the bridle. Toavoid this grave error, the first lessons in walking and canteringshould be given to the pupil on a led horse, without taking hold of thebridle; and this should be repeated in learning to leap. Thehorsemanship of a lady is not complete until she has learned to leap, whether she intends to ride farming or hunting, or to confine herself toRotten Row canters; for horses will leap and bound at times withoutpermission. 

I have high authority for recommending lessons without holding thebridle. Lady Mildred H----, one of the most accomplished horsewomen ofthe day, taught her daughter to walk, trot, canter, gallop, and leap, without the steadying assistance of the reins. 

A second point is, that every pupil in horsemanship should begin byholding the rein or reins (one is enough to begin with) in both hands, pulling to the right when they want to go to the right, and to the leftwhen they wish to go to the left, that is the proper way of riding everystrange horse, every colt, and every hunter, that does not perfectlyknow his business, for it is the only way in which you have any realcommand over your horse. But almost all our riding-school rules aremilitary. Soldiers are obliged to carry a sword in one hand, and torely, to a great extent, on the training of their horses for turningright or left. Ladies and gentlemen have no swords to carry, and neitherpossess, nor can desire to possess, such machines as troop-horses. Besides other more important advantages which will presently bedescribed by commencing with two-handed riding, a lady is more likely tocontinue to sit squarely, than when holding the reins with one hand, andpretending to guide a horse who really guides himself. A man has thepower of turning a horse, to a certain extent, with his legs and spurs;a woman must depend on her reins, whip, and left leg. As only one reinand the whip can be well held in one hand, double reins, except forhunting, are to a lady merely a perplexing puzzle. The best way for alady is to knot up the snaffle, and hang it over the pommel, and ridewith a light hand on the curb. 

In order to give those ladies who may not have instruction at hand anidea of a safe, firm, and elegant seat, I have placed at the head ofthis chapter a woodcut, which shows how the legs should be placed. Thethird or hunting-horn pommel must be fitted to the rider, as itssituation in the saddle will differ, to some extent, according to thelength of the lady's legs. I hope my plain speaking will not offendAmerican friends. 

The first step is to sit well down on the saddle, then pass the rightleg over the upstanding pommel, and let it hang straight down, --a littleback, if leaping; if the foot pokes out, the lady has no firm hold. Thestirrup must then be shortened, so as to bring the bent thigh next tothe knee of the left leg firmly against the under side of thehunting-horn pommel. If, when this is done, an imaginary line were drawnfrom the rider's backbone, which would go through the centre of thesaddle, close to the cantle, she is in her proper place, and leaningrather back than forward, firm and close from the hips downwards, flexible from her hips upwards, with her hands holding the reins apart, a little above the level of her knee, she is in a position at oncepowerful and graceful. This is a very imperfect description of a veryelegant picture. The originals, few and far between, are to be found fornine months of the year daily in Rotten Row. A lady in mounting, shouldhold the reins in her left hand, and place it on the pommel, the righthand as far over the cantle as she can comfortably reach. If there is noskilful man present to take her foot, make any man kneel down and putout his right knee as a step, and let down the stirrup to be shortenedafterwards. Practise on a high chest of drawers!

After all the rules of horsemanship have been perfectly learned, nothingbut practice can give the instinct which prepares a rider for the mostsudden starts, leaps, and "kickings up behind and before. "

The style of a man's seat must, to a certain extent, be settled by hisheight and shape. A man with short round legs and thighs cannot sit downon his horse like tall thin men, such as Jim Mason, or Tom Oliver, butmen of the most unlikely shapes, by dint of practice and pluck, go wellin the hunting-field, and don't look ridiculous on the road. 

There are certain rules laid down as to the length of a man'sstirrup-leathers, but the only good rule is that they should be shortenough to give the rider full confidence in his seat, and full powerover a pulling horse. For hunting it is generally well to take them upone hole shorter than on the road. 

The military directions for mounting are absurd for civilians; in thefirst place, there ought to be no right side or wrong side in mounting;in both the street and hunting-field it is often most convenient tomount on what is called the wrong side. In the next place horses trainedon the Rarey plan (and very soon all horses will be), will stand withoutthinking of moving when placed by the rider, so that the militarydirection to stand before the stirrup becomes unnecessary. 

The following is Mr. Rarey's plan of mounting for men, which isexcellent, but is not described in his book, and indeed is difficult todescribe at all. 

_To mount with the girths slack without bearing on the stirrup. _--Takeup the reins and a lock of the mane, stand behind the withers looking atyour horse's head, put your foot in the stirrup, and while holding thereins in one hand on the neck, place the other open and flat on theother side of the saddle as far down as the edge of the little flap, turn your toe out, so as not to touch the horse's belly, and rise byleaning on your flat hand, thus pressing hard on the side of the saddleopposite to that on which you are mounting. The pressure of your handswill counterbalance your weight, and you will be able to mount withoutstraining the girths, or even without any girths at all. If you are nottall enough to put your foot fairly in the stirrup, use a horse-block, or, better still, a piece of solid wood about eighteen inches high, thatcan be moved about anywhere. 

Young men should learn to leap into the saddle by placing both hands onthe cantle, as the horse moves. I have seen Daly, the steeplechaser, whowas a little man, do this often in the hunting-field, before he brokehis thigh. 

With respect to the best model for a seat, I recommend the very largeclass who form the best customers of riding-school masters in the greattowns of England, I mean the gentlemen from eighteen toeight-and-twenty, who begin to ride as soon as they have the means andthe opportunity, to study the style of the first-class steeplechasejockeys and gentlemen riders in the hunting-field whenever they have theopportunity. Almost all riding-masters are old dragoons, and what theyteach is good as far as it goes, as to general appearance and carriageof the body, but generally the military notions about the use of arider's arms and legs are utterly wrong. 

On this point we cannot have a better authority then that of the lateCaptain Nolan, who served in the Austrian, Hungarian, and in the Englishcavalry in India, and who studied horsemanship in Russia, and all otherEuropean countries celebrated for their cavalry. He says--

"The difference between a school (viz. An ordinary military horseman)and a real horseman is this, the first depends upon guiding and managinghis horse for maintaining his seat; the second depends upon his seat forcontrolling and guiding his horse. At a _trot_ the school rider, insteadof lightly rising to the action of the horse, bumps up and down, falling heavily on the horse's loins, and hanging on the reins toprevent the animal slipping from under him, whilst he is thrown up inhis seat. "

It is a curious circumstance that the English alone have two styles ofhorsemanship. The one, natural and useful, formed in the hunting-field;the other, artificial and military, imported from the Continent. If yougo into Rotten Row in the season you may see General the Earl ofCardigan riding a trained charger in the most approved militarystyle--the toes in the stirrups, long stirrup-leathers, heels down, legsfrom the knee carefully clear of the horse's sides--in fact, the balanceseat, handed down by tradition from the time when knights wore completearmour and could ride in no other way, for the weight of the armourrendered a fall certain if once the balance was lost; a very grand andgraceful style it is when performed by a master of the art of the lengthof limb of the Earl, or his more brilliant predecessor, the lateMarquess of Anglesea. But if you go into Northamptonshire in the huntingseason, you may see the same Earl of Cardigan in his scarlet coat, looking twice as thick in the waist, sailing away in the first flight, sitting down on the part intended by nature for a seat, with his kneeswell bent, and his calves employed in distributing his weight over thehorse's back and sides. In the one case the Earl is a real, in the othera show, horseman. 

Therefore, when a riding-master tells you that you must ride by balance, "with your body upright, knee drawn back, and the feet in aperpendicular line with the shoulder, and your legs from the kneedownward brought away to prevent what is called _clinging_, " listen tohim, learn all you can--do not argue, that would be useless--and thentake the first opportunity of studying those who are noted for combiningan easy, natural seat with grace--that is, if you are built forgracefulness--some people are not. In Nolan's words, "Let a man have aroomy saddle, and sit close to the horse's back; let the leg besupported by the stirrup in a natural position, without being so shortas to throw back the thigh, and the nearer the whole leg is brought tothe horse the better, so long as the foot is not bent below theankle-joint. "

Soon after the battle of Waterloo, by influence of the Prince Regent, who fancied he knew something about cavalry, a Prussian was introducedto teach our cavalry a new style of equitation, which consisted inentirely abandoning the use of that part of the person in which hisRoyal Highness was so highly gifted, and riding on the fork like a pairof compasses on a rolling pin, with perfectly straight legs. For aconsiderable period this ridiculous drill, which deprived the soldiersof all power over their horses, was carried on in the fields whereBelgrave Square now stands, and was not abandoned until the number ofmen who suffered by it was the cause of a serious remonstrance fromcommanding officers. It is a pity that the reverse system has never beentried, and a regiment of cavalry taught riding on English fox-huntingprinciples, using the snaffle on the road, and rising in the trot. Butit must be admitted that since the war there has been a greatimprovement in this respect, and there will probably be more as themartinets of the old school die off. 

It was not for want of examples of a better style that the continentalmilitary style was forced upon our cavalry. Mr. Nathaniel Gould relatesin his little book as an instance of what determined hunting-men cando, that--

"When, in the year 1815, Blucher arrived in London and drove at once toCarlton House, I was one of a few out of an immense concourse ofhorsemen who accompanied his carriage from Shooter's Hill, riding oneach side; spite of all obstacles we forced ourselves through the HorseGuards gate and the troop of guardsmen, in like manner through the LightCavalry and gate at Carlton House, as well as the posse of constables inthe court-yard, and drove our horses up the flight of stone steps intothe salon, though the guards, beefeaters, and constables arrayedthemselves against this irruption of Cossacks, and actually came to thecharge. The Prince, however, in the noblest manner waved his hand, andwe were allowed to form a circle round the Regent while Blucher had theblue ribbon placed on his shoulders, and was assisted to rise by thePrince in the most dignified manner. His Royal Highness then slightlyacknowledged our presence, we backed to the door, and got down the stepsagain with only one accident, that arising from a horse, which, on beingurged forward, took a leap down the whole flight of stairs. "

But to return to the subject of a man's seat on horseback. Nolan, quoting Baucher, says, "When first put on horseback, devote a fewlessons to making his limbs supple, in the same way that you begin drillon foot with extension motions. Show him how to close up the thigh andleg to the saddle, and then work the leg backwards and forwards, up anddown, _without stirrups_; _make him swing a weight round in a circlefrom the shoulder as centre_; the other hand placed on the thigh, thenceto the rear, change the weight to the opposite hand, and same. "

"_Placing one hand on the horse's mane_, make him lean down to each sidein succession, till he reaches to within a short distance of theground. " "These exercises give a man a firm hold with his legs, on ahorse, and teach him to move his limbs without quitting his seat. Thentake him in the circle in the longe, and, by walking and trottingalternately, teach him the necessity of leaning with the body to theside the horse is turning to. This is the necessary balance. Then puthim with others, and give him plenty of trotting, to shake him into hisseat. By degrees teach him how to use the reins, then the leg. "

These directions for training a full-grown trooper may be of use tocivilians. 

HANDS AND REINS. 

Presuming that you are in a fair way to obtain a secure seat, the nextpoint is the use of the reins and the employment of your legs, for it isby these that a horseman holds, urges, and turns his horse. To handle ahorse in perfection, you must have, besides instruction, "good hands. "Good or light hands, like the touch of a first-rate violinist, are agift, not always to be acquired even by thought and practice. Theperfection of riding is to make your horse understand and obey yourdirections, as conveyed through the reins--to halt, or go fast or slow;to walk, trot, canter, or gallop; to lead off with right or left leg, tochange leg, to turn either way, and to rise in leaping at the exactpoint you select. No one but a perfect horseman, with naturally finehands, can do this perfectly, but every young horseman should try. 

The golden rule of horsemanship is laid down by Colonel Greenwood, in asentence that noodles will despise for its "trite simplicity:"--"Whenyou wish to turn to the right, pull the right rein stronger than theleft. " This is common sense. No horse becomes restive in thecolt-breaker's hands. The reason is, that they ride with one bridle andtwo hands, instead of two bridles and one hand. "When they wish to go tothe left, they pull the left rein stronger than the right. When theywish to go to the right, they pull the right rein stronger than theleft. If the colt does not obey these indications, at least heunderstands them, even the first time he is mounted, and the mostobstinate will not long resist them. Acting on these plain principles, Isaw, in August last, a three-year-old colt which, placed absolutely rawand unbridled in Mr. Rarey's hands, within seven days answered everyindication of the reins like an old horse--turned right or left, broughthis nose to the rider's knee, and backed like an old trooper. 

"But it takes a long time to make a colt understand that he is to turnto the right when the left rein is pulled;" and if any horse resists, the rider has no power one-handed, as the reins are usually held, tocompel him. 

The practice of one-handed riding originated in military schools; for asoldier has to carry a sword or lance, and depends chiefly on hiswell-trained horse and the pressure of his legs. No one ever attempts toturn a horse in harness with one hand, although there the driver has theassistance of the terrets, and it is equally absurd to attempt it with acolt or horse with a delicate mouth. Of course, with an old-trained hackeven the reins are a mere form; any hint is enough. 

The advantage of double-handed riding is, that, in a few hours, anycolt and any pupil in horsemanship may learn it. 

To make the most of a horse, the reins must be held with a smooth, evenbearing, not hauling at a horse's mouth, as if it were made of Indianrubber, nor yet leaving the reins slack, but so feeling him that you caninstantaneously direct his course in any direction, "as if, " to use oldChifney's phrase, "your rein was a worsted thread. " Your legs are to beused to force your horse forward up to the bit, and also to guide him. That is, when you turn to the right pull the right rein sharpest andpress with the left leg; when to the left, _vice versâ_. Unless a horserides up to the bit you have no control over him. 

A good horseman chooses his horse's ground and his pace for him. "Toavoid a falling leaf a horse will put his foot over a precipice. When ahorse has made a stumble, or is in difficulties at a fence, you cannotleave him too much at liberty, or be too quiet with him. " Don't believethe nonsense people talk about holding a horse up _after_ he hasstumbled. 

The pupil horseman should remember to drop his hands as low as he can oneach side the withers, without stooping, when a horse becomes restive, plunging or attempting to run away. The instinct of a novice is to doexactly what he ought not to do--raise his hands. 

By a skilful use of the reins and your own legs, with or without spurs, you collect, or, as Colonel Greenwood well expresses it, you condenseyour horse, at a stand, that is, you make him stand square, yet ready tomove in any direction at any pace that you require; this is one use ofthe curb bit. It is on the same principle that fashionable coachmen "hitand hold" their high-bred horses while they thread the crowded streetsof the West end in season, or that you see a hard rider, when startingwith three hundred companions at the joyful sound of Tally-ho, prickingand holding his horse, to have him ready for a great effort the momenthe is clear of the crowd. 

By a judicious use of the curb rein, you collect a tired horse; tiredhorses are inclined to sprawl about. You draw his hind-legs under him, throw him upon his haunches, and render him less liable to fall even onhis weary or weak fore-legs. But a pull at the reins when a horse isfalling may make him hold up his head, but cannot make him hold up hislegs. 

"When a horse is in movement there should be a constant touch or feelingor play between his mouth and the rider's hands. " Not the hold by whichriders of the foreign school retain their horses at an artificial paradepace, which is inconceivably fatiguing to the animal, and quite contraryto our English notions of natural riding; but a gradual, delicate firmfeeling of the mouth and steady indications of the legs, which keep afiery well-broken horse always, to use a school phrase, "between yourhands and legs. "

You cannot take too much pains to acquire this art, for although it isnot exercised on an old hack, that you ride with reins held any how, andyour legs dangling anywhere, it is called into action and givesadditional enjoyment to be striding the finest class of high-courageddelicate-mouthed horses--beautiful creatures that seem to enjoy beingridden by a real horseman or light-handed Amazone, but which becomefrantic in ignorant or brutal hands. 

"A horse should never be turned without being made to collect himself, without being retained by the hands and urged by the legs, as well asguided by both; that is, in turning to the right both hands shouldretain him, and the right hand guide him, by being used the strongest;in turning to the left, both legs should urge him, and the left guidehim by being pressed the strongest. Don't turn into the contraryextreme, slackening the left rein, and hauling the horse's head round tothe right. "

The same rules should be observed for making a horse canter with theright leg, but the right rein should be only drawn enough to develop hisright nostril. 

_Reining Back. _--You must collect a horse with your legs before you reinhim back, because if you press him back first with the reins he maythrow all his weight on his hind legs under him, stick out his nose, hughis tail, and then he cannot stir--you must recover him to his balance, and give him power to step back. This rule is often neglected by cartersin trying to make the shaft-horse back. 

_Rearing. _--Knot the snaffle rein--loose it when the horse rears--putyour right arm round the horse's neck, with the hand well up and closeunder the horse's gullet; press your left shoulder forward so as tobring your chest to the horse's near side, for, if the horse falls, youwill fall clear; the moment he is descending, press him forward, take upthe rein, which, being knotted, is short to your hands, and ply thespurs. But a horse, after being laid down and made walk, tied up likethe zebra a few times, will seldom persist, because the moment heattempts to rise you pull his off hind leg under him and he ispowerless. 

_Leaping. _--The riding-school is a bad place to teach a horse to leap. The bar, with its posts, is very apt to frighten him; if a colt has notbeen trained to leap as it should be by following its dam before it ismounted, take it into the fields and let it follow well-trained horsesover easy low fences and little ditches, slowly without fuss, and, aspart of the ride, not backwards and forwards--always leap on thesnaffle. Our cavalry officers learn to leap, not in the school, but"across country. " Nolan tells a story that, during some manoeuvres inItaly, an Austrian general, with his staff, got amongst some enclosuresand sent some of his aide-de-camps to find an outlet. They peered overthe stone walls, rode about, but could find no gap. The general turnedto one of his staff, a Yorkshireman, and said, "See if you can find away out of this place. " Mr. W----k, mounted on a good English horse, went straight at the wall, cleared it, and, while doing so, turned inhis saddle and touched his cap and said, "This way, general;" but hisway did not suit the rest of the party. 

There is a good deal taught in the best military schools, well worthtime and study, which, with practice in horse-taming, would fill up theidle time of that numerous class who never read, and find time heavy ontheir hands, when out of town life. 

"But a military riding-school, " says Colonel Greenwood, "is too apt toteach you to sit on your horse as stiff as a statue, to let your righthand hang down as useless as if God had never gifted you with one, tostick your left hand out, with a stiff straight wrist like a boltsprit, and to turn your horse invariably on the wrong rein. " I should notventure to say so much on my own authority, but Captain Nolan saysfurther, speaking of the effect of the foreign school (not Baucher's), on horses and men, "The result of this long monotonous course of studyis, that on the uninitiated the school rider makes a pleasingimpression, his horse turns, prances, and caracoles without any visibleaid, or without any motion in the horseman's upright, imposingattitude. But I have lived and served with them. I have myself been ariding-master, and know, from experience, the disadvantages of thisforeign seat and system. "

There is nothing that requires more patience and firmness than a shyinghorse. Shying arises from three causes--defective eyesight, skittishness, and fear. If a horse always shies from the same side youmay be sure the eye on that side is defective. 

You may know that a horse shies from skittishness if he flies one daysnorting from what he meets the next with indifference; dark stablesalso produce this irregular shying. 

Nervousness, which is often increased by brutality, as the horse is notonly afraid of the object, but of the whipping and spurring he has beenaccustomed to receive, can be alleviated, to some extent, by thetreatment already described in the horse-training chapter. But horsesfirst brought from the country to a large town are likely to be alarmedat a number of objects. You must take time to make them acquainted witheach. For instance, I brought a mare from the country that everythingmoving seemed to frighten. I am convinced she had been ill-used, or hadhad an accident in harness. The first time a railway train passed in hersight over a bridge spanning the road she was travelling, she would turnround and would have run away had I not been able to restrain her; Icould feel her heart beat between my legs. Acting on the principles ofXenophon and Mr. Rarey, I allowed her to turn, but compelled her tostand, twenty yards off, while the train passed. She looked back with afearful eye all the time--it was a very slow luggage train--while Isoothed her. After once or twice she consented to face the train, watching it with crested neck and ears erect; by degrees she walkedslowly forwards, and in the course of a few days passed under the bridgein the midst of the thunder of a train with perfect indifference. 

If you can distinctly ascertain that a horse shies and turns round frommere skittishness, correct him when he turns, not as long as he facesthe object: he will soon learn that it is for turning that he is visitedwith whip and spurs. A few days' practice and patience essentially alterthe character of the most nervous horses. 

Books contain very elaborate descriptions of what a hack or a huntershould be in form, &c. To most persons these descriptions convey nopractical ideas. The better plan is to take lessons on the proportionsand anatomy of a horse from some intelligent judge or veterinarysurgeon. You must study, and buy, and lose your money on many horsesbefore you can safely, if ever, depend on your own judgment in choosinga horse. And, after all, a natural talent for comparison and eye forproportion are only the gift of a few. Some men have horses all theirlives, and yet scarcely know a good animal from a bad one, although theymay know what they like to drive, or ride or hunt. The safe plan is todistrust your own judgment until you feel you have had experience enoughto choose for yourself. 

Hacks for long distances are seldom required in England in these railwaydays. A town hack should be good-looking, sure-footed, not too tall, andactive, for you are always in sight, you have to ride over slipperypavement, to turn sharp corners, and to mount and dismount often. Rarey's system of making the horse obey the voice, stand until called, and follow the rider, may easily be taught, and is of great practicalvalue thus applied. A cover or country hack must be fast, but need notbe so showy in action or handsome as a town hack--his merit is to getover the ground. 

Teach your hack to walk well with the reins loose--no pace is moregentlemanly and useful than a good steady walk. Any well-bred screw cangallop; it is the slow paces that show a gentleman's hack. 

If on a long journey, walk a quarter of a mile for every four you trotor canter, choosing the softest bits of road or turf. 

Do not permit the saddle to be removed for at least half an hour afterarriving with your horse hot. A neglect of this precaution will give asore back. 

A lady's horse, beside other well-known qualifications of beauty andpace, should be up to the lady's weight. It is one of the fictions ofsociety that all ladies eat little and weigh little. Now, a saddle andhabit weigh nearly three stone, a very slim lady will weigh nine, sothere you reach twelve stone, which, considering how fond young girlsare of riding fast and long over hard roads, is no mean weight. The bestplan is to put the dear creatures into the scales with their saddles, register the result, and choose a horse calculated to be a good stoneover the gross weight. How few ladies remember, as for hours they canterup and down Rotten Row, that that famous promenade is a mile and aquarter in length, so ten turns make twelve miles and a half. 

The qualifications of a hunter need not be described, because all thosewho need these hints will, if they have common sense, only take hunterslike servants, with established characters of at least one season. 

Remember that a horse for driving requires "courage, " for he is alwaysgoing fast--he never walks. People who only keep one or two horsesoften make the same mistake, as if they engaged Lord Gourmet's cook fora servant of all work. They see a fiery caprioling animal, sleek as amole, gentle, but full of fire, come out of a nobleman's stud, where hewas nursed like a child, and only ridden or driven in his turn, withhalf-a-dozen others. Seduced by his lively appearance, they purchasehim, and place him under the care of a gardener-groom, or at livery, work him every day, early and late, and are surprised to find his fleshmelt, his coat lose its bloom, and his lively pace exchanged for a dullshamble. This is a common case. The wise course is to select for a horseof all work an animal that has been always accustomed to work hard; hewill then improve with care and regular exercise. 

Horses under six years' old are seldom equal to very hard work: they arenot, full-grown, of much use, where only one or two are kept. 

Make a point of caressing your horse, and giving him a carrot or applewhenever he is brought to you, at the same time carefully examine himall over, see to his legs, his shoes, and feet; notice if he is wellgroomed; see to the condition of his furniture, and see always that heis properly bitted. Grooms are often careless and ignorant. 

As to _Shoeing_. In large towns there are always veterinary surgeons'forges, where the art is well understood, and so, too, in huntingdistricts; but where you have to rely on ignorant blacksmiths you cannotdo better than rely on the rather exaggerated instructions contained in"Miles on the Horse's Foot, " issued at a low price by the RoyalAgricultural Society. Good shoeing prolongs the use of a horse foryears. 

_Stables. _--Most elaborate directions are given for the construction ofstables; but most people are obliged to put up with what they find ontheir premises. Stables should be so ventilated that they never stink, and are never decidedly warm in cold weather, if you wish your horses tobe healthy. Grooms will almost always stop up ventilation if they can. Loose boxes are to be preferred to stalls, because in them a tired horsecan place himself in the position most easy to him. Sloping stalls arechambers of torture. 

Hunters should be placed away from other horses, where, after afatiguing day, they can lie at length, undisturbed by men or otherhorses in use. Stables should be as light as living rooms, but withlouvers to darken them in summer, in order to keep out the flies. Anample supply of cold and hot water without troubling the cook isessential in a well-managed stable. 

Large stables are magnificent, but a mistake. Four or five horses arequite as many as can be comfortably lodged together. I have seen huntersin an old barn in better condition than in the grandest temples offashionable architects. 

It takes an hour to dress a horse well in the morning, and more onreturn hot from work. From this hint you may calculate what time yourservant must devote to his horses if they are to be well dressed. 

If you are in the middle class, with a small stud, never take a swellgroom from a great stable--he will despise you and your horses. Huntingfarmers and hunting country surgeons train the best class of grooms. 

When you find an honest, sober man, who thoroughly knows his business, you cannot treat him too well, for half the goodness of a horse depends, like a French dish, on the treatment. 

FOOTNOTES:

[114-*] "Hints on Horses and Hunting, " by Senex. 

[Illustration: SIDE SADDLE. ]

CHAPTER IX. 

ON HORSEMAN'S AND HORSEWOMAN'S DRESS, AND HORSE FURNITURE. 

 On bits. --The snaffle. --The use of the curb. --The Pelham. --The Hanoverian bit described. --Martingales. --The gentleman's saddle to be large enough. --Spurs. --Not to be too sharp. --The Somerset saddle for the timid and aged. --The Nolan saddle without flaps. --Ladies' saddle described. --Advantages of the hunting-horn crutch. --Ladies' stirrup. --Ladies' dress. --Hints on. --Habit. --Boots. --Whips. --Hunting whips. --Use of the lash. --Gentleman's riding costume. --Hunting dress. --Poole, the great authority. --Advantage of cap over hat in hunting. --Boot-tops and Napoleons. --Quotation from Warburton's ballads. 

If you wish to ride comfortably, you must look as carefully to see thatyour horse's furniture fits and suits him as to your own boots andbreeches. 

[Illustration: CURB-BIT. ]

When a farmer buys a team of oxen, if he knows his business he askstheir names, because oxen answer to their names. On the same principleit is well to inquire what bit a horse has been accustomed to, and ifyou cannot learn, try several until you find out what suits him. Thereare rare horses, "that carry their own heads, " in dealers' phrase, safely and elegantly with a plain snaffle bridle; but except in thehands of a steeple-chase jock, few are to be so trusted. Besides, asreins, as well as snaffles, break, it is not safe to hunt much with onebit and one bridle-rein. The average of horses go best on a doublebridle, that is to say, the common hard and sharp or curb, with asnaffle. The best way is to ride on the snaffle, and use the curb onlywhen it is required to stop your horse suddenly, to moderate his speedwhen he is pulling too hard, or when he is tired or lazy to collect him, by drawing his nose down and his hind-legs more under him, for that isthe first effect of taking hold of the curb-rein. There are many horseswith good mouths, so far that they can be stopped easily with a plainsnaffle, and yet require a curb-bit, to make them carry their heads inthe right place, and this they often seem to do from the mere hint ofthe curb-chain dangling against their chins, without the rider beingobliged to pull at the reins with any perceptible force. 

[Illustration: PLAIN SNAFFLE. ]

The Pelham-bit (see cut), which is a sort of snaffle-bit with cheeks anda curb-chain, is a convenient style for this class of horse. A powerfulvariation of the Pelham, called the Hanoverian, has within the last fewyears come very much into use. It requires the light hands of apractised horseman to use the curb-reins of the Hanoverian on adelicate-mouthed horse; but when properly used no bit makes a horse bendand display himself more handsomely, and in the hunting-field it willhold a horse when nothing else will, for this bit is a very powerfulsnaffle, as well as curb, with rollers or rings, that keep the horse'smouth moist, and prevent it from becoming dead (see cut). For hunting, use the first; if the Hanoverian it should not be too narrow. 

[Illustration: PELHAM-BIT. ]

The Chifney is a curb with, a very powerful leverage, and one of thebest for a pulling horse, or a lady's use. 

A perfect horseman will make shift with any bit. Sir Tatton Sykes andSir Charles Knightley, in their prime, could hold any horse with a plainsnaffle; but a lady, or a weak-wristed horseman, should be provided witha bit that can stop the horse on an emergency; and many horses, perfectly quiet on the road, pull hard in the field at the beginning ofa run. But it should be remembered, that when a horse runs away, it isuseless to rely on the curb, as, when once he has fully resisted it, thelonger he runs the less he cares for it. The better plan is to keep thesnaffle moving and sawing in his mouth, and from time to time take asharp pull at the curb. 

[Illustration: HANOVERIAN-BIT. ]

It is of great importance, especially with a high-spirited horse, thatthe headpiece should fit him, that it is neither too tight nor too lowdown in his mouth. I have known a violently restive horse to becomeperfectly calm and docile when his bridle had been altered so as to fithim comfortably. The curb-bit should be placed so low as only just toclear the tushes in a horse's mouth, and one inch above the corner teethin a mare's. There should be room for at least one finger between thecurb-chain and the chin. If the horse is tender-skinned, the chain maybe covered with leather. 

When you are learning to ride, you should take pains to learn everythingconcerning the horse and his equipments. In this country we are so wellwaited upon, that we often forget that we may at some time or other beobliged to become our own grooms and farriers. 

For the colonies, the best bridle is that described in the chapter ontraining colts, which is a halter, a bridle, and a gag combined. 

Bridle reins should be soft, yet tough; so long, and no longer, so thatby extending your arms you can shorten them to any desired length; then, if your horse pokes out his head, or extends himself in leaping, youcan, if you hold the reins in each hand, as you ought, let them slipthrough your fingers, and shorten them in an instant by extending yourarms. A very good sportsman of my acquaintance has tabs sewn on thecurb-reins, which prevents them from slipping. This is a useful plan forladies who ride or drive; but, as before observed, in hunting thesnaffle-reins should slip through the fingers. 

Some horses require martingales to keep their heads down, and in theright place. But imperfect horsemen are not to be trusted with runningmartingales. Running martingales require tabs on the reins, to preventthe rings getting fixed close to the mouth. 

For hacks and ladies' horses on the road, a standing martingale, buckledto the nose-band of the bridle, is the best. It should be fixed, as Mr. Rarey directs, not so short as to bring the horse's head exactly whereyou want it--your hands must do that--but just short enough to keep hisnose down, and prevent him from flinging his poll into your teeth. Ifhis neck is rightly shaped, he will by degrees lower his head, and getinto the habit of so arching his neck that the martingale may bedispensed with; this is very desirable, because you cannot leap with astanding martingale, and a running one requires the hands of asteeplechase jock. 

The saddle of a gentleman should be large enough. In racing, a fewpounds are of consequence; but in carrying a heavy man on the road orin the field, to have the weight evenly distributed over the horse'sback is of more consequence than three or four pounds. The commongeneral fitting saddle will fit nine horses out of ten. Colonial horsesusually have low shoulders; therefore colonial saddles should be narrow, thickly stuffed, and provided with cruppers, although they have gone outof fashion in this country, because it is presumed that gentlemen willonly ride horses that have a place for carrying a saddle properly. 

On a journey, see to the stuffing of your saddle, and have it put in adraft, or to the fire, to dry, when saturated with sweat; the neglect ofeither precaution may give your horse a sore back, one of the mosttroublesome of horse maladies. 

Before hunting, look to the spring bars of the stirrup-leathers, and seethat they will work: if they are tight, pull them down and leave themopen. Of all accidents, that of being caught, after your horses fall, inthe stirrup, is the most dangerous, and not uncommon. I have seen atleast six instances of it. When raw to the hunting-field, and of courseliable to falls, it is well to use the spring-bar stirrups which open, not at the side, but at the eye holding the stirrup-leather; the samethat I recommend for the use of ladies. 

Spurs are only to be used by those who have the habit of riding, andwill not use them at the wrong time. In most instances, the sharp pointsof the rowels should be filed or rubbed off, for they are seldomrequired for more than to rouse a horse at a fence, or turn him suddenlyaway from a vehicle in the street. Sharp spurs may be left to jockeys. Long-legged men can squeeze their horses so hard, that they can dispensewith spurs; but short-legged men need them at the close of a run, whena horse begins to lumber carelessly over his fences, or with a horseinclined to refuse. Dick Christian broke difficult horses to leapingwithout the spur; and when he did, only used one on the left heel. Having myself had falls with horses at the close of a run, which rushedand pulled at the beginning, for want of spurs, I have found theadvantage of carrying one in my sandwich-bag, and buckling it on, ifneeded, at a check. Of course, first-rate horsemen need none of thesehints; but I write for novices only, of whom, I trust, every prosperousyear of Old England will produce a plentiful crop from the fortunate andthe sons of the fortunate. 

A great many persons in this country learn, or relearn, to ride afterthey have reached manhood, either because they can then for the firsttime afford the dignity and luxury, or because the doctor prescribeshorse exercise as the only remedy for weak digestion, disordered liver, trembling nerves--the result of overwork or over-feeding. Thus thelawyer, overwhelmed with briefs; the artist, maintaining his position asa Royal Academician; the philosopher, deep in laborious historicalresearches; and the young alderman, exhausted by his first year'sapprenticeship to City feeding, come under the hands of theriding-master. 

Now although for the man "to the manner bred, " there is no saddle forhard work and long work, whether in the hunting-field or Indiancampaign, like a broad seated English hunting saddle, there is no doubtthat its smooth slippery surface offers additional difficulties to themiddle-aged, the timid, and those crippled by gout, rheumatism orpounds. There can be very little benefit derived from horse exercise aslong as the patient travels in mortal fear. Foreigners teach riding on abuff leather demi-pique saddle, --a bad plan for the young, as theEnglish saddle becomes a separate difficulty. But to those who merelyaspire to constitutional canters, and who ride only for health, or as amatter of dignity, I strongly recommend the Somerset saddle, inventedfor one of that family of cavaliers who had lost a leg below the knee. This saddle is padded before the knee and behind the thigh to fit theseat of the purchaser, and if provided with a stuffed seat of brownbuckskin will give the quartogenarian pupil the comfort and theconfidence of an arm-chair. They are, it may be encouraging to mention, fashionable among the more aristocratic middle-aged, and the front rollof stuffing is much used among those who ride and break their own colts, as it affords a fulcrum against a puller, and a protection against akicker. Australians use a rolled blanket, strapped over the pommel ofthe saddle, for the same purpose. To bad horsemen who are too conceitedto use a Somerset, I say, in the words of the old proverb, "Pride musthave a fall. "

The late Captain Nolan had a military saddle improved from an Hungarianmodel, made for him by Gibson, of Coventry Street, London, withoutflaps, and with a felt saddle cloth, which had the advantage of beinglight, while affording the rider a close seat and more complete controlover his horse, in consequence of the more direct pressure of the legson the horse's flanks. It would be worth while to try a saddle of thiskind for hunting purposes, and for breaking in colts. Of course it couldonly be worn with boots, to protect the rider's legs from the sweat ofthe horse's flanks. 

With the hunting-horn crutch the seat of a woman is stronger than thatof a man, for she presses her right leg down over the upright pommel, and the left leg up against the hunting-horn, and thus grasps the twopommels between her legs at that angle which gives her the most power. 

Ladies' saddles ought invariably to be made with what is called thehunting-horn, or crutch, at the left side. The right-hand pommel has notyet gone out of fashion, but it is of no use, and is injurious to thesecurity of a lady's seat, by preventing the right hand from being putdown as low as it ought to be with a restive horse, and by encouragingthe bad habit of leaning the right hand on it. A flat projection isquite sufficient. The security of the hunting-horn saddle will be quiteclear to you, if, when sitting in your chair, you put a cylinder threeor four inches in diameter between your legs, press your two kneestogether by crossing them, in the position of a woman on a side-saddle;when a man clasps his horse, however firmly, it has a tendency, to raisethe seat from the saddle. This is not the case with the side-saddleseat: if a man wishes to use a lance and ride at a ring, he will findthat he has a firmer seat with this kind of side-saddle than with hisown. There is no danger in this side-pommel, since you cannot be thrownon it, and it renders it next to impossible that the rider should bethrown upon the other pommel. In case of a horse leaping suddenly intothe air and coming down on all four feet, technically, "_bucking_, "without the leaping-horn there is nothing to prevent a lady from beingthrown up. But the leaping-horn holds down the left knee, and makes it afulcrum to keep the right knee down in its proper place. If the horse inviolent action throws himself suddenly to the left, the upper part ofthe rider's body will tend downwards, to the right, and the lower limbsto the left: nothing can prevent this but the support of theleaping-horn. The fear of over-balancing to the right causes many ladiesto get into the bad habit of leaning over their saddles to the left. This fear disappears when the hunting-horn pommel is used. Theleaping-horn is also of great use with a hard puller, or in riding downa steep place, for it prevents the lady from sliding forward. 

But these advantages render the right-hand pommel quite useless, aslight projection being all sufficient (see woodcut); while thisarrangement gives the habit and figure a much better appearance. Everylady ought to be measured for this part of the saddle, as the distancebetween the two pommels will depend partly on the length of her legs. 

When a timid inexperienced lady has to ride a fiery horse it is not abad plan to attach a strap to the outside girth on the right hand, sothat she may hold it and the right hand rein at the same time withoutdisturbing her seat. This little expedient gives confidence, and isparticularly useful if a fresh horse should begin to kick a little. Ofcourse it is not to be continued, but only used to give a timid ridertemporary assistance. I have also used for the same purpose a broad tapepassed across the knees, and so fastened that in a fall of the horse itwould give way. 

Colonel Greenwood recommends that for fastening a ladies' saddle-flapsan elastic webbing girth, and not a leather girth, should be used, andthis attached, not, as is usually the case, to the small, but to the_large flap_ on the near side. This will leave the near side small flaploose, as in a man's saddle, and allow a spring bar to be used. But Ihave never seen, either in use or in a saddler's shop, although I haveconstantly sought, a lady's saddle so arranged with a spring bar for thestirrup-leather. This mode of attaching a web girth to the large flapwill render the near side perfectly smooth, with the exception of thestirrup-leather, which he recommends to be a single thin strap as broadas a gentleman's, fastened to the stirrup-leg by a loop or slipknot, andfixed over the spring bar of the saddle by a buckle like that on a man'sstirrup-leather. This arrangement, which the Colonel also recommends togentlemen, presumes that the length of the stirrup-leather neverrequires altering more than an inch or two. It is a good plan for shortmen when travelling, and likely to ride strange horses, to carry theirstirrup-leathers with them, as nothing is more annoying than to have toalter them in a hurry with the help of a blunt pen-knife. 

"The stirrup for ladies should be in all respects like a man's, largeand heavy, and open at the side, or the eyelet hole, with a spring. " Thestirrups made small and padded out of compliment to ladies' small feetare very dangerous. If any padding be required to protect the front ofthe ankle-joint, it had better be a fixture on the boot. 

It is a mistake to imagine that people are dragged owing to the stirrupbeing too large, and the foot passing through it; such accidents arisefrom the stirrup being too small, and the foot clasped by the pressureof the upper part on the toe and the lower part on the sole. 

Few ladies know how to dress for horse exercise, although there has beena great improvement, so far as taste is concerned, of late years. As tothe head-dress, it may be whatever is in fashion, provided it so fitsthe head as not to require continual adjustment, often needed when thehands would be better employed with the reins and whip. It should shadefrom the sun, and if used in hunting protect the nape of the neck fromrain. The recent fashions of wearing the plumes or feathers of theostrich, the cock, the capercailzie, the pheasant, the peacock, and thekingfisher, in the riding-hats of young ladies, in my humble opinion, are highly to be commended. 

As to the riding-habit, it may be of any colour and material suitable tothe wearer and the season of year, but the sleeves must fit ratherclosely; nothing can be more out of place, inconvenient, and ridiculous, than the wide, hanging sleeves which look so well in a drawing-room. Forcountry use the skirt of a habit may be short, and bordered at thebottom a foot deep with leather. The fashion of a waistcoat of lightmaterial for summer, revived from the fashion of last century, is adecided improvement, and so is the over-jacket of cloth, or sealskin, for rough weather. There is no reason why pretty young girls should notindulge in picturesque riding costume so long as it is appropriate. 

Many ladies entirely spoil the sit of the skirts by retaining the usual_impedimenta_ of petticoats[147-*]. The best-dressed horsewomen wearnothing more than a flannel chemise with long coloured sleeves, undertheir trousers. 

Ladies' trousers should be of the same material and colour as the habit, and if full flowing like a Turk's, and fastened with an elastic bandround the ankle, they will not be distinguished from the skirt. In thiscostume, which may be made amply warm by the folds of the trousers, plaited like a Highlander's kilt (fastened with an elastic band at thewaist), a lady can sit down in a manner impossible for one encumbered bytwo or three short petticoats. It is the chest and back which requiredouble folds of protection during, and after, strong exercise. 

There is a prejudice against ladies wearing long Wellington boots; butit is quite absurd, for they need never be seen, and are a greatcomfort and protection in riding long distances, when worn with thetrousers tucked inside. They should, for obvious reasons, be largeenough for warm woollen stockings, and easy to get on and off. It wouldnot look well to see a lady struggling out of a pair of wet boots withthe help of a bootjack and a couple of chambermaids. The heels ofriding-boots, whether for ladies or gentlemen, should be low, but_long_, to keep the stirrup in its place. 

The yellow patent leather recently introduced seems a suitable thing forthe "Napoleons" of hunting ladies. And I have often thought that thelong leather gaiters of the Zouave would suit them. 

Whips require consideration. By gentlemen on the road or in the parkthey are rather for ornament than use. A jockey whip is the mostpunishing, but on the Rarey system it is seldom necessary to use thewhip except to a slug, and then spurs are more effective. 

A lady's whip is intended to supply the place of a man's right leg andspur; it should therefore, however ornamental and thin, be stiff andreal. Messrs. Callow, of Park Lane, make some very pretty ones, pink, green and amber, from the skin of the hippopotamus, light but severe. Aloop to hang it from the wrist may be made ornamental in colours andgold, and is useful, for a lady may require all the power of her littlehand to grasp the right rein without the encumbrance of the whip, whichon this plan will still be ready if required at a moment's notice. Hunting-whips must vary according to the country. In some districts theformidable metal hammers are still required to break intractable horses, but such whips and jobs should be left to the servants and hard-ridingfarmers. 

As a general rule the hunting-whip of a man who has nothing to do withthe hounds may be light, but it should have a good crook and be stiffenough to stop a gate. A small steel stud outside the crook prevents thegate from slipping; flat lashes of a brown colour have recently comeinto fashion, but they are mere matters of fashion like the colour oftop boots, points to which only snobs pay any attention--that is, thoseasses who pin their faith in externals, and who, in the days ofpigtails, were ready to die in defence of those absurd excrescences. 

The stock of a whip made by Callow for a hunting nobleman to present toa steeple-chasing and fox-hunting professional, was of oak, a yard long, with a buck-horn crook, and a steel stud; but then the presentee is sixfeet high. 

Every hunting-whip should have a lash, but it need not be long. The lashmay be required to rouse a hound under your horse's feet, or turn thepack; as for whipping off the pack from the fox in the absence of thehuntsman, the whips and the master, that is an event that happens to oneper cent of the field once in a lifetime, although it is a common andfavourite anecdote after dinner. But then Saint Munchausen presides overthe mahogany where fox-hunting feats are discussed. One use of a lash isto lead a horse by putting it through the rings of the snaffle, and toflip him up as you stand on the bank when he gets stuck fast, or deadbeat in a ditch or brook. I once owed the extrication of my horse from abrook with a deep clay bottom entirely to having a long lash to my whip;for when he had plumped in close enough to the opposite bank for me toescape over his head, I was able first to guide him to a shelving spot, and then make him try one effort more by adroit flicks on his rump at amoment when he seemed prepared to give in and be drowned. In leading ahorse, always pass the reins through the ring of the snaffle, so that ifhe pulls he is held by the mouth, not by the top of his head. 

The riding costume of a gentleman should be suitable without beinggroomish. It is a fact that does not seem universally known, that a mandoes not ride any better for dressing like a groom. 

It has lately been the fashion to discard straps. This is all very wellif the horse and the rider can keep the trousers down, which can only bedone by keeping the legs away from the horse's sides; but when thetrousers rise to the top of the boot, and the stocking or bare legappears, the sooner straps or knee-breeches are adopted the better. 

For hunting, nothing will do but boots and breeches, unless youcondescend to gaiters--for trousers wet, draggled and torn, areuncomfortable and expensive wear. Leathers are pleasant, except in wetweather, and economical wear if you have a man who can clean them; butif they have to go weekly to the breeches-maker they become expensive, and are not to be had when wanted; besides, wet leather breeches aretroublesome things to travel with. White cord breeches have one greatconvenience; they wash well, although not so elastic, warm, andcomfortable as woollen cords. It is essential for comfort thathunting-breeches should be built by a tailor who knows that particularbranch of business, _and tried on sitting down_ if not on horseback, forhalf your comfort depends on their fit. Many schneiders who arefirst-rate at ordinary garments, have no idea of riding clothes. Poole, of Saville Row, makes hunting-dress a special study, and supplies morehunting-men and masters of hounds than any tailor in London, but hiscustomers must be prepared to pay for perfection. 

In the coats, since the modern shooting jacket fashion came in, there isgreat scope for variety. The fashion does not much matter so long as itis fit for riding--ample enough to cover the chest and stomach in wetweather, easy enough to allow full play for the arms and shoulders, andnot so long as to catch in hedgerows and brambles. Our forefathers insome counties rode in coats like scarlet dressing-gowns. There is onestill to be seen in Surrey. For appearance, for wear, and as a universalpassport to civility in a strange country, there is nothing likescarlet, provided the horseman can afford to wear it without offendingthe prejudices of valuable patrons, friends or landlords. InLincolnshire, farmers are expected to appear in pink. InNorthamptonshire a yeoman farming his own 400 acres would be thoughtpresumptuous if he followed the Lincolnshire example. Near London youmay see the "pals" of fighting men and hell-keepers in pink and velvet. A scarlet coat should never be assumed until the rider's experience inthe field is such that he is in no danger of becoming at onceconspicuous and ridiculous. 

A cap is to be preferred to a hat because it fits closer, is less in theway when riding through cover, protects the head better from a bough ora fall, and will wear out two or three hats. It should be ventilated bya good hole at the top. 

Top-boots are very pretty wear for men of the right height and rightsort of leg when they fit perfectly--that is difficult on fatcalves--and are cleaned to perfection, which is also difficult unlessyou have a more than ordinarily clever groom. 

For men of moderate means, the patent black leather Napoleon, whichcosts from 3_l. _ 10_s. _ to 4_l. _ 4_s. _, and can be cleaned with a wetsponge in five minutes, is the neatest and most economical boot--one inwhich travelling does not put you under any obligation to your host'sservants. 

I have often found the convenience of patent leather boots when stayingwith a party at the house of a master of hounds, while others, as thehounds were coming out of the kennel, were in an agony for topsentrusted two or three days previously to a not-to-be-found servant. Inthis point of the boots I differ from the author of "A Word ere weStart;" but then, squires of ten thousand a-year are not supposed tounderstand the shifts of those who on a twentieth part of that incomemanage to enjoy a good deal of sport with all sorts of hounds and allsorts of horses. 

There is a certain class of sporting snobs who endeavour to enhancetheir own consequence or indulge their cynical humour by talking withthe utmost contempt of any variation from the kind of hunting-dress inuse, in their own particular district. The best commentary on thesupercilious tailoring criticism of these gents is to be found in thefact that within a century every variety of hunting clothes has been inand out of fashion, and that the dress in fashion with the Quorn hunt inits most palmy days was not only the exact reverse of the presentfashion in that flying country, but, if comfort and convenience are tobe regarded, as ridiculous as brass helmets, tight stocks, andbuttoned-up red jackets for Indian warfare. It consisted, as may be seenin old Alken's and Sir John Dean Paul's hunting sketches, of ahigh-crowned hat, a high tight stock, a tight dress coat, with narrowskirts that could protect neither the chest, stomach, or thighs, longtight white cord breeches, and pale top-boots thrust low down the leg, the tops being supposed to be cleaned with champagne. Leather breeches, caps, and brown top-boots were voted slow in those days. But the menwent well as they do in every dress. 

 "Old wiseheads, complacently smoothing the brim, May jeer at my velvet, and call it a whim; They may think in a cap little wisdom there dwells; They may say he who wears it should wear it with bells; But when Broadbrim lies flat, I will answer him pat, Oh! who but a crackskull would ride in a hat!"

 SQUIRE WARBURTON. 

[Illustration: Rails and Double Ditch. ]

FOOTNOTES:

[147-*] At an inquest on a young lady killed at Totnes in Septemberlast, it appeared that she lost her seat and hung by a _crinolinepetticoat_ from the right hand _pommel_!

CHAPTER X. 

ON HUNTING. 

 "The sailor who rides on the ocean, Delights when the stormy winds blow: Wind and steam, what are they to horse motion? Sea cheers to a land Tally-ho? The canvas, the screw, and the paddle, The stride of the thorough-bred hack, When, fastened like glue to the saddle, We gallop astern of the pack. "

 TARPORLEY HUNT SONG, 1855. 

 Advantage of hunting. --Libels on. --Great men who have hunted. --Popular notion unlike reality. --Dick Christian and the Marquis of Hastings. --Fallacy of "lifting" a horse refuted. --Hints on riding at fences. --Harriers discussed. --Stag-hunting a necessity and use where time an object. --Hints for novices. --Tally-ho! expounded. --To feed a horse after a hard ride. --Expenses of horse keep. --Song by Squire Warburton, "A word ere we start. "

Every man who can ride, and, living within a couple of hours' distanceof a pack of hounds, can spare a day now and then, should hunt. It willimprove his horsemanship, enlarge his circle of acquaintance, as well ashis tastes and sympathies, and make, as Shakspeare hath it--

 "Good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both. "

Not that I mean that every horseman should attempt to follow the houndsin the first flight, or even the second; because age, nerves, weight, orother good reasons may forbid: but every man who keeps a good hack maymeet his friends at cover side, enjoy the morning air, with a littlepleasant chat, and follow the hounds, if not in the front, in the rear, galloping across pastures, trotting through bridle gates, creepingthrough gaps, and cantering along the green rides of a wood, thuscausing a healthy excitement, with no painful reaction: and if, unhappily, soured or overpressed by work and anxious thoughts, drinkingin such draughts of Lethe as can no otherwise be drained. 

Hunting has suffered as much from overpraise as from the traditionarylibels of the fribbles and fops of the time of the first Georges, when afool, a sot, and a fox-hunter were considered synonymous terms. Of lateyears it has pleased a sportsman, with a wonderful talent forpicturesquely describing the events of a fox-hunt, to write two sportingnovels, in which all the leading characters are either fools or rogues. 

"In England all conditions of men, except bishops, from ratcatchers toRoyalty, are to be found in the hunting-field--equalised byhorsemanship, and fraternising under the influence of a genial sport. Among fox-hunters we can trace a long line of statesmen, from William ofOrange to Pitt and Fox. Lord Althorp was a master of hounds; and LordPalmerston we have seen, within the last few years, going--as he goeseverywhere--in the first flight. " This was before the French fall of thelate Premier. Cromwell's Ironsides were hunting men; Pope, the poet, writes in raptures of a gallop with the Wiltshire Harriers; andGladstone, theologian, politician, and editor of Homer, bestrides hiscelebrated white mare in Nottinghamshire, and scurries along by the sideof the ex-War Minister, the Duke of Newcastle. 

"The progress of agriculture is indelibly associated with fox-hunting;for the three great landlords, who did more to turn sand and heath intocorn and wool, and make popular the best breeds of stock and best courseof cultivation--Francis, Duke of Bedford; Coke, Earl of Leicester; andthe first Lord Yarborough--were all masters of hounds. 

"When indecency formed the staple of our plays, and a drunken debauchformed the inevitable sequence of every dinner-party, a fool and afox-hunter were synonymous. Squire Western was the representative of aclass, which, however, was not more ridiculous than the patched, perfumed Sir Plumes, whom Hogarth painted, and Pope satirised. Fox-hunters are not a class now--roads, newspapers, and manufacturingemigration have equalised the condition of the whole kingdom; andfox-hunters are just like any other people, who wear clean shirts, andcan afford to keep one or more horses. 

"It is safe to assert that hunting-men, as a class, are temperate. Noman can ride well across a difficult country who is not. We must, however, admit that the birds who have most fouled their own nest havebeen broken-down sportsmen, chiefly racing men, who have turned writersto turn a penny. These unfortunate people, with the fatal example of'Noctes Ambrosianæ' before them, fill up a page, whenever their memoryor their industry fails them, in describing in detail a breakfast, aluncheon, a dinner, and a supper. And this has been repeated so often, that the uninitiated are led to believe that every fox-hunter must, as amatter of course, keep a French cook, and consume an immense cellar ofport, sherry, madeira, hock, champagne, with gallons of strong ale, andall manner of liqueurs. 

"The popular notion of a fox-hunt is as unlike the reality as a girl'snotion of war--a grand charge and a splendid victory. 

"Pictures always represent exciting scenes--hounds flying away with aburning scent; horses taking at a bound, or tumbling neck and crop over, frightful fences. Such lucky days, such bruising horsemen, such burningscents and flying foxes are the exception. 

"At least two-thirds of those who go out, even in the most fashionablecounties, never attempt brooks or five-barred gates, or anythingdifficult or dangerous; but, by help of open gates and bridle-roads, which are plentiful, parallel lanes, and gaps, which are convenientlymade by the first rush of the straight riders and the dealers withhorses to sell, helped by the curves that hounds generally make, and afair knowledge of the country, manage to be as near the hounds as themost thrusting horseman. Among this crowd of skirters and road-ridersare to be found some very good sportsmen, who, from some cause or other, have lost their nerve; others, who live in the county, like theexcitement and society, but never took a jump in their lives; youngladies with their papas; boys on ponies; farmers educatingfour-year-olds; surgeons and lawyers, who are looking for professionalpractice as well as sport. On cold scenting days, with a ringing fox, this crowd keeps on until nearly dark, and heads many a fox. Many abeginner, in his first season, has been cheated by a succession of theseeasy days over an easy part of the county into the idea that there wasno difficulty in riding to hounds. But a straight fox and a burningscent over a grass country has undeceived him, and left him in the thirdor fourth field with his horse half on a hedge and half in a ditch, orpounded before a 'bulfinch, ' feeling very ridiculous. There are men whocut a very respectable figure in the hunting-field who never saw a packof hounds until they were past thirty. The city of London turns out manysuch; so does every great town where money is made by men of pluck, bred, perhaps, as ploughboys in the country. We could name three--one anM. P. --under these conditions, who would pass muster in Leicestershire, if necessary. But a good seat on horseback, pluck, and a love of thesport, are essential. A few years ago a scientific manufacturer, a verymoderate horseman, was ordered horse exercise as a remedy for mind andbody prostrated by over-anxiety. He found that, riding along the road, his mind was as busy and wretched as ever. A friend prescribed hunting, purchased for him a couple of made hunters, and gave him the needfulelementary instruction. The first result was, that he obtained suchsound, refreshing sleep as he had not enjoyed since boyhood; the next, that in less than two seasons he made himself quite at home with aprovincial pack, and now rides so as to enjoy himself without attractingany more notice than one who had been a fox-hunter from his youthupwards. "

The illustration at the commencement of this chapter gives a very fairidea of the seat of good horsemen going at a fence and broad ditch, where pace is essential. A novice may advantageously study the seats ofthe riders in Herring's "Steeplechase Cracks, " painted by an artist whowas a sportsman in his day. 

A few invaluable hints on riding to hounds are to be found in theDruid's account of Dick Christian. 

The late Marquis of Hastings, father of the present Marquis, was one ofthe best and keenest fox-hunters of his day; he died young, and here isDick's account of his "first fence, " for which all fox-hunters are underdeep obligations to the Druid. 

"The Marquis of Hastings was one of my pupils. I was two months at hisplace before he came of age. He sent for me to Donnington, and I brokeall his horses. I had never seen him before. He had seven rare nicehorses, and very handy I got them. The first meet I went out with himwas Wartnaby Stone Pits. I rode by his side, and I says, 'My lord, we'llsave a bit of distance if we take this fence. ' So he looked at me and helaughed, and says, 'Why, Christian, I was never over a fence in mylife. ' 'God bless me, my lord! you don't say so?' And I seemed quitetook aback at hearing him say it. 'Its true enough, Christian, I reallymean it. ' 'Well, my lord, ' says I, 'you're on a beautiful fencer, he'llwalk up to it and jump it. Now I'll go over the fence first. _Put yourhands well down on his withers and let him come. _' It was a bit of alow-staked hedge and a ditch; he got over as nice as possible, and hegave quite a hurrah like. He says, 'There, I'm over my firstfence--that's a blessing!' Then I got him over a great many littleplaces, and he quite took to it and went on uncommonly well. _He was anice gentleman to teach--he'd just do anything you told him. That's theway to get on!_"

In another place Dick says, "A quick and safe jumper always goes fromhind-legs to fore-legs. I never rode a steeple-chase yet but I steadiedmy horse on to his hind-legs twenty yards from his fence, and I wasalways over and away before the rushers. Lots of the young riders thinkhorses can jump anything if they can only drive them at it fast enough. They force them too much at their fences. If you don't feel yourhorse's mouth, you can tell nothing about him. You hold him, he canmake a second effort; if you drop him, he won't. "

Now, Dick does not mean by this that you are to go slowly at every kindof fence. He tells you that he "sent him with some powder at abullfinch;" but whatever the pace, you so hold your horse in the lastfifty yards up to the taking-off point, that instead of spreadinghimself out all abroad at every stroke, he feels the bit and gets hishind-legs well under him. If you stand to see Jim Mason or Tom Oliver inthe hunting-field going at water, even at what they call "forty miles anhour, " you will find the stride of their horses a measured beat, andwhile they spur and urge them they collect them. This is the art no bookcan teach; _but it can teach that it ought to be learned_. Thousands offalls have been caused by a common and most absurd phrase, which isconstantly repeated in every description of the leaps of a great race orrun. "_He took his horse by the head and lifted him_, " &c. 

No man in the world ever lifted a horse over anything--it is amechanical impossibility--but a horseman of the first order can at acritical moment so rouse a horse, and so accurately place his head andhind-legs in the right position, that he can make an extraordinaryeffort and achieve a miraculous leap. This in metaphorical language iscalled lifting a horse, because, to a bye-stander, it looks like it. Butwhen a novice, or even an average horseman, attempts this sort of _tourde force_, he only worries his horse, and, ten to one, throws him intothe fence. Those who are wise will content themselves with keeping ahorse well in hand until he is about to rise for his effort, and tocollecting him the moment he lands. The right hold brings his hind legsunder him; too hard a pull brings him into the ditch, if there is one. By holding your hands with the reins in each rather wide apart as youcome towards your fence, and closing them and dropping them near hiswithers as he rises, you give him room to extend himself; and if youstretch your arms as he descends, you have him in hand. But the perfecthunter, as long as he is fresh, does his work perfectly, so the less youmeddle with him when he is rising the better. 

Young sportsmen generally err by being too bold and too fast. Instead ofstudying the art in the way the best men out perform, they are hidingtheir nervousness by going full speed at everything, or trying to rivalthe whips in daring. Any hard-headed fool can ride boldly. To go wellwhen hounds are running hard--to save your horse as much as possiblewhile keeping well forward, for the end, the difficult part of a longrun--these are the acts a good sportsman seeks to acquire by observationand experience. 

For this reason young sportsmen should commence their studies withharriers, where the runs are usually circling and a good deal of huntingis done slowly. If a young fellow can ride well in a close, enclosedhedge, bank, and ditch country, with occasional practice at stiles andgates, pluck will carry him through a flying country, if properlymounted. 

Any horse that is formed for jumping, with good loins, hocks, andthighs, can be taught to jump timber; but it is madness to ride at agate or a stile with a doubtful horse. A deer always slacks his pace toa trot to jump a wall or park rails, and it is better to slacken to atrot or canter where there is no ditch on either side to be cleared, unless you expect a fall, and then go fast, that your horse may nottumble on you. 

A rushing horse is generally a dangerous fencer; but it is a trick thatcan only be cured in private lessons, and it is more dangerous to try tomake a rusher go slowly than to let him have his own way. 

The great error of young beginners is to select young horses under theirweight. 

It was the saying of a Judge of the old school, that all kinds of winewere good, but the best wine of all was "two bottles of port!" In thesame style, one may venture to say that all kinds of hunting are good, but that the best of all is fox-hunting, in a grass scent-holdingcountry, divided into large fields, with fences that may be taken in thestride of a thorough-bred, and coverts that comprise good gorse and openwoods--that is, for men of the weight, with the nerve, and with thehorses that can shine in such a country. But it is not given to all tohave or retain the nerve or to afford a stud of the style of horsesrequired for going across the best part of Leicestershire andNorthamptonshire. In this world, the way to be happy is to put up withwhat you can get. The majority of my readers will be obliged to ridewith the hounds that happen to live nearest their dwelling; it is onlygiven to the few to be able to choose their hunting country and changetheir stud whenever the maggot bites them. After hard brain-work andgray hairs have told on the pulse, or when the opening of thenursery-door has almost shut the stable, a couple of hours or so once aweek may be made pleasant and profitable on a thirty-pound hack for thequartogenarian, whom time has not handicapped with weight for age. I cansay, from the experience of many years, that as long as you are undertwelve stone, you may enjoy very good sport with such packs as theBramham Moor in Yorkshire, the Brocklesby in Lincolnshire, theHeythrope in Oxfordshire, the Berkley or the Beaufort inGloucestershire, without any enormous outlay for horses, for the simplereason that the average runs do not present the difficulties of grasscountries, where farmers are obliged to make strong fences and deepditches to keep the bullocks they fatten within bounds. Good-lookinglittle horses, clever jumpers, equal to moderate weights, are to be had, by a man who has not too much money, at moderate prices; but the sixteenhands, well-bred flyer, that can gallop and go straight in suchcountries as the Vale of Aylesbury, is an expensive luxury. Of course Iam speaking of sound horses. There is scarcely ever a remarkable run inwhich some well-ridden screw does not figure in the first flight amongthe two hundred guinea nags. 

When an old sportsman of my acquaintance heard any of thethousand-and-one tales of extraordinary runs with fox-hounds, "afterdinner, " he used to ask--"Were any of the boys or ponies up at thekill?" If the answer was "Yes, " he would say, "Then it was not a severething;" and he was generally right. Men of moderate means had betterchoose a hunting county where the boys can live with the hounds. 

"As to harriers, the people who sneer at them are ludicrously ignorantof the history of modern fox-hunting, which is altogether founded on theexperience and maxims of hare-hunters. The two oldest fox-hound packs inEngland--the Brocklesby and the Cheshire--were originally formed forhare-hunting. The best book ever written on hounds and hunting, atext-book to every master of hounds to this day, is by Beckford, wholearned all he knew as master of a pack of harriers. 

"The great Meynell and Warwickshire Corbett both entered their younghounds to hare, a practice which cannot, however, be approved. The lateParson Froude, in North Devon, than whom a keener sportsman neverholloaed to hounds, and the breeder of one of the best packs for showingsport ever seen, hunted hare, fox, deer, and even polecats, sooner thannot keep his darlings doing something; and, while his hounds wouldpuzzle out the faintest scent, there were among the leaders severalthat, with admirable dash, jumped every gate, disdaining to creep. Someof this stock are still hunting on Exmoor. There are at present severalvery good M. F. H. Who began with hare-hounds. 

"The intense pretentious snobbishness of the age has something to dowith the mysterious manner in which many men, blushing, own that theyhave been out with harriers. In the first place, as a rule, harriers areslow; although there are days when, with a stout, well-fed, straight-running hare, the best men will have enough to do to keep theirplace in the field: over the dinner-table that is always an easy task;but in this fast, competitive age, the man who can contrive to stick ona good horse can show in front without having the least idea of themeaning of hunting. To such, harriers afford no amusement. Then again, harrier packs are of all degrees, from the perfection of the BlackmoorVale, the Brookside, and some Devon or Welsh packs with unpronounceablenames, down to the little scratch packs of six or seven couple keptamong jovial farmers in out-of-the-way places, or for the amusement ofSheffield cutlers running afoot. The same failing that makes aconsiderable class reverently worship an alderman or a city baronetuntil they can get on speaking terms with a peer, leads others to boastof fox-hunting when the Brighton harriers are more than they cancomfortably manage. "

The greater number of what are called harriers now-a-days are dwarffox-hounds, or partake largely of fox-hound blood. 

If Leicestershire is the county for "swells, " Devonshire is the countyof sportsmen; for although there is very little riding to hounds ascompared with the midland counties, there is a great deal of hunting. Every village has its little pack; every man, woman, and child, from thehighest to the humblest, takes an interest in the sport; and the scienceof hunting is better understood than in the hard-riding, horse-dealingcounties. To produce a finished fox-hunter, I would have him commencehis studies in Devonshire, and finish his practice in Northamptonshire. On the whole, I should say that a student of the noble science, whoseearly education has been neglected, cannot do better than go through acourse of fox-hunting near Oxford, in the winter vacation, where plentyof perfect hunters are to be hired, and hounds meet within easy reach ofthe University City, six days in the week, hunting over a country whereyou may usually be with them at the finish without doing anythingdesperate, if content to come in with the ruck, the ponies, and the oldfarmers; or where, if so inclined, you may have more than an averagenumber of fast and furious runs, and study the admirable style of someof the best horsemen in the world among the Oxfordshire and Berkshiresquires. 

Stag-hunting from a cart is a pursuit very generally contemned in print, and very ardently followed by many hundred hard-riding gentlemen everyhunting day in the year. A man who can ride up to stag-hounds on astraight running day must have a perfect hunter, in first-ratecondition, and be, in the strongest sense of the term, "a horseman. " Butit wants the uncertainties which give so great a charm to fox-hunting, where there are any foxes. There is no find, and no finish; and thechecks generally consist in whipping off the too eager hounds. As acompensation, when the deer does not run cunning, or along roads, thepace is tremendous. 

The Surrey stag-hounds, in the season of 1857, had some runs with theKetton Hind equal in every respect to the best fox-hunts on record; forshe repeatedly beat them, was loose in the woods for days, was drawn forlike a wild deer, and then, with a burning scent, ran clear away fromthe hounds, while the hounds ran away from the horsemen. But, accordingto the usual order of the day, the deer begins in a cart, and ends in abarn. 

But stag-hunting may be defended as the very best mode of obtaining aconstitutional gallop for those whose time is too valuable to beexpended in looking for a fox. It is suited to punctual, commercial, military, or political duties. You may read your letters, dictatereplies, breakfast deliberately, order your dinner, and invite a partyto discuss it, and set off to hunt with the Queen's, the Baron's, or anyother stag-hound pack within reach of rail, almost certain of two hours'galloping, and a return by the train you fixed in the morning. 

 * * * * *

There are a few hints to which pupils in the art of hunting may do wellto attend. 

"Don't go into the field until you can sit a horse over any reasonablefence. But practice at real fences, for at the leaping-bar only therudiments of fencing are to be learned by either man or horse. Thehunting-field is not the place for practising the rudiments of the art. Buy a perfect hunter; no matter how blemished or how ugly, so that hehas legs, eyes, and wind to carry him and his rider across the country. It is essential that one of the two should perfectly understand thebusiness in hand. Have nothing to say to a puller, a rusher, or akicker, even if you fancy you are competent; a colt should only beridden by a man who is paid to risk his bones. An amateur endangershimself, his neighbours, and the pack, by attempting rough-riding. Thebest plan for a man of moderate means--those who can afford to spendhundreds on experiments can pick and choose in the best stables--is tohire a hack hunter; and, if he suits, buy him, to teach you how to go. 

"Never take a jump when an open gate or gap is handy, unless the houndsare going fast. Don't attempt to show in front, unless you feel you cankeep there. Beginners, who try to make a display, even if lucky atfirst, are sure to make some horrid blunder. Go slowly at your fences, except water and wide ditches, and don't pull at the curb when yourhorse is rising. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the horse willbe better without your assistance than with it. Don't wear spurs untilyou are quite sure that you won't spur at the wrong time. Never loseyour temper with your horse, and never strike him with the whip whengoing at a fence; it is almost sure to make him swerve. Pick out thefirmest ground; hold your horse together across ploughed land; if youwant a pilot, choose not a scarlet and cap, but some well-mounted oldfarmer, who has not got a horse to sell: if he has, ten to one but heleads you into grief. 

"In going from cover to cover, keep in the same field as the hounds, unless you know the country--then you can't be left behind without astruggle. To keep in the same field as the hounds when they are running, is more than any man can undertake to do. Make your commencement in aneasy country, and defer trying the pasture counties until you are sureof yourself and your horse. 

"If you should have a cold-scenting day, and any first-rate steeplechaserider be in the field, breaking in a young one, watch him; you may learnmore from seeing what he does, than from hours of advice, or pages ofreading. 

"Above all, hold your tongue until you have learnt your lesson; and talkneither of your triumphs nor your failures. Any fool can boast; andthough to ride boldly and with judgment is very pleasant, there isnothing for a gentleman to be specially proud of, considering that twohundred huntsmen, or whips, do it better than most gentlemen everyhunting day in the season. "

When you meet the pack with a strange horse, don't go near it until surethat he will not kick at hounds, as some ill-educated horses will do. 

Before the hounds begin to draw, you may get some useful information asto a strange country from a talkative farmer. 

When hounds are drawing a large cover, and when you cannot see them, keep down wind, so as to hear the huntsman, who, in large woodlands, must keep on cheering his hounds. When a fox breaks cover near you, oryou think he does, don't be in a hurry to give the "Tally-a-e-o!" for, in the first place, if you are not experienced and quick-eyed, it maynot be a fox at all, but a dog, or a hare. The mistake is common topeople who are always in a hurry, and equally annoying to the huntsmanand the blunderer; and, in the next place, if you halloo too soon, tento one the fox heads back into cover. When he is well away through thehedge of a good-sized field, halloo, at the same time raising your cap, "Tally-o aw-ay-o-o!" giving each syllable very slowly, and with yourmouth well open; for this is the way to be heard a long distance. Dothis once or twice, and then be quiet for a short spell, and be ready totell the huntsman, when he comes up, in a few sentences, exactly whichway the fox is gone. If the fox makes a short bolt, and returns, it is"Tally-o _back_!" with the "_back_" loud and clear. If the fox crossesthe side of a wood when the hounds are at check, the cry should be"Tally-o over!"

_Foxes. _--Study the change in the appearance of the fox between thebeginning and the end of a run; a fresh fox slips away with his brushstraight, whisking it with an air of defiance now and then; a beaten foxlooks dark, hangs his brush, and arches his back as he labours along. 

With the hounds well away, it is a great point to get a good start; sowhile they are running in cover, cast your eyes over the boundary-fence, and make up your mind where you will take it: a big jump at starting isbetter than thrusting with a crowd in a gap or gateway--always presumingthat you can depend on your horse. 

Dismiss the moment you start two ideas which are the bane of sport, jealousy of what others are doing, and conceit of what you are doingyourself; keep your eyes on the pack, on your horse's ears, and the nextfence, instead of burning to beat Thompson, or hoping that Brown saw howcleverly you got over that rasper!

Acquire an eye to hounds, that is, learn to detect the moment when theleading hound turns right or left, or, losing the scent, checks, or, catching it breast high, races away mute, "dropping his stem as straightas a tobacco-pipe. "

By thus studying the leading hounds instead of racing against yourneighbours' horses, you see how they turn, save many an angle, and areready to pull up the moment the hounds throw up their heads. 

Never let your anxiety to be forward induce you to press upon the houndswhen they are hunting; nothing makes a huntsman more angry, or spoilssport more. 

Set the example of getting out of the way when the huntsman, allanxious, comes trotting back through a narrow road to make his castafter a check. 

Attention to these hints, which are familiar to every old sportsman, will tend to make a young one successful and popular. 

When you are well up, and hounds come to a check, instead of beginningto relate how wonderfully the bay horse or the gray mare carried you, notice every point that may help the huntsman to make his cast--sheep, cattle, magpies, and the exact point where the scent began to fail. Itis observation that makes a true sportsman. 

As soon as the run has ended, begin to pay attention to the condition ofyour horse, whose spirit may have carried him further than his strengthwarranted; it is to be presumed, that you have eased him at every checkby turning his nose to the wind, and if a heavy man, by dismounting onevery safe opportunity. 

The first thing is to let him have just enough water to wash his mouthout without chilling him. The next to feed him--the horse has a smallstomach, and requires food often. 

At the first roadside inn or cottage get a quart of oatmeal orwheat-flour _boiled_ in half a pail of water--mere soaking the rawoatmeal is not sufficient. I have found the water of boiled linseed usedfor cattle answer well with a tired horse. In cases of serious distressa pint of wine or glass of spirits mixed with water may be administeredadvantageously; to decide on the propriety of bleeding requires someveterinary experience; quite as many horses as men have been killed bybleeding when stimulants would have answered better. 

With respect to the treatment of hunters on their return, I can donothing better than quote the directions of that capital sportsman andhorseman, Scrutator, in "Horses and Hounds. "

"When a horse returns to the stable, either after hunting or a journey, the first thing to be done to him is to take off the bridle, but to letthe saddle _remain on_ for some time at least, merely loosening thegirths. The head and ears are first to be rubbed dry, either with a wispof hay or a cloth, and then by the hand, until the ears are warm andcomfortable; this will occupy only a few minutes, and the horse can thenhave his bit of hay or feed of corn, having previously, if returned fromhunting, or from a long journey, despatched his bucket of thick gruel:the process of washing his legs may now be going on, whilst he isdiscussing his feed of corn in peace; as each leg is washed, it shouldbe wrapped round with a flannel or serge bandage, and by the time thefour legs are done with, the horse will have finished his feed of corn. A little hay may then be given, which will occupy his attention whilethe rubbing his body is proceeded with. I am a great advocate for plentyof dry clean wheat straw for this purpose; and a good groom, with alarge wisp in each hand, will in a very short space of time make aclean sweep of all outward dirt and wet. It cannot, however, be properlydone without a great deal of _elbow grease_ as well, of which thepresent generation are inclined to be very chary. When the body of thehorse is dry, a large loose rug should be thrown over him, and the legsthen attended to, and rubbed thoroughly dry by the hand; I know theusual practice with idle and knowing grooms is to let the bandagesremain on until the legs become dry of themselves, but I also know thatthere cannot be a worse practice; for horses' legs, after hunting, thelarge knee-bucket should be used, with plenty of warm water, which willsooth the sinews after such violent exertion, and allay any irritationproceeding from cuts and thorns. The system of bandaging horses' legs, and letting them remain in this state for hours, must tend to relax thesinews; such practices have never gained favour with me, but I haveheard salt and water and vinegar highly extolled by some, with which thebandages are to be kept constantly wet, as tending to strengthen thesinews and keep them cool; if, however, used too long or allowed tobecome dry, I conceive more injury likely to result from their use thanbenefit. It is generally known that those who have recourse to belts forsupport in riding, cannot do well without them afterwards, and althoughoften advised to try these extra aids, I never availed myself of them;cold water is the best strengthener either to man or horse, and athorough good dry rubbing afterwards. After severe walking exercise, thebenefit of immersing the feet in warm water for a short time must befully appreciated by all who have tried it; but I very much question ifany man would feel himself stronger upon his legs the next morning, byhaving them bandaged with hot flannels during the night. Very much maybe done by the judicious use of hot and cold water--in fact, more thanby half the prescriptions in general use; but the proper time must beattended to as well, for its application. When a horse has had a longand severe day's work, he should not be harassed more than is absolutelynecessary, by grooming and dressing; the chief business should be to gethim dry and comfortable as quickly as possible, and when that has beeneffected, a slight wisping over with a dry cloth will be sufficient forthat night. "

The expenses of horse-keep vary according to the knowledge of the masterand the honesty of his groom; but what the expense ought to be may becalculated from the fact that horses in first-rate condition cannotconsume more than thirteen quarters of oats and two and a half tons ofhay in a year; that is, as to oats, from three to six quarterns a day, according to the work they are doing. But in some stables, horses aresupposed to eat a bushel a day every day in the year: there is no doubtthat the surplus is converted into beer or gin. 

"Upon our return from hunting, every horse had his bucket of thick grueldirectly he came into the stable, and a little hay to eat whilst he wasbeing cleaned. We never gave any corn until just before littering down, the last thing at night. The horse's legs were plunged into a highbucket of warm water, and if dirty, soft soap was used. The first legbeing washed, was sponged as dry as possible, and then bandaged withthick woollen bandages until the others were washed; the bandages werethen _removed entirely_, and the legs rubbed by hand until quite dry. Weused the best old white potato oats, weighing usually 45 lbs. Perbushel, but so _few beans_ that a quarter lasted us _a season_. The oatswere bruised, and a little sweet hay chaff mixed with them. We alsogave our horses a few carrots the day after hunting, to cool theirbodies, or a bran mash or two. They were never coddled up in hoods orhalf a dozen rugs at night, but a single blanket sufficed, which wasnever so tight but that you might thrust your hand easily under it. Thiswas a thing I always looked to myself, when paying a visit to the stablethe last thing at night. A tried horse should have everythingcomfortable about him, but carefully avoid any tight bandage round thebody. In over-reaches or wounds, warm water was our first application, and plenty of it, to clean all dirt or grit from the wound; then Fryer'sbalsam and brandy with a clean linen bandage. Our usual allowance ofcorn to each horse per diem was four quarterns, but more if theyrequired it, and from 14 lbs. To 16 lbs. Of hay, eight of which weregiven at night, at racking-up time, about eight o'clock. Our hours offeeding were about five in the morning, a feed of corn, bruised, with alittle hay chaff; the horse then went to exercise. At eight o'clock, 4lbs. Of hay; twelve o'clock, feed of corn; two o'clock, 2 lbs. Of hay;four o'clock, corn; at six o'clock, another feed of corn, with chaff;and at eight o'clock, 8 lbs. Of hay; water they could always drink whenthey wanted it. "

I cannot conclude these hints on hunting more appropriately than byquoting another of the songs of the Squire of Arley Hall, HonoraryLaureate of the Tarporley Hunt Club:--

 "A WORD ERE WE START. 

 "The order of march and due regulation That guide us in warfare we need in the chase; Huntsman and whips, each his own proper station-- Horse, hound, and fox, each his own proper place. 

 "The fox takes precedence of all from the cover; The horse is the animal purposely bred, _After_ the pack to be ridden, not _over_-- Good hounds are not reared to be knocked on the head. 

 "Buckskin's the only wear fit for the saddle; Hats for Hyde Park, but a cap for the chase; In tops of black leather let fishermen paddle, The calves of a fox-hunter white ones encase. 

 "If your horse be well bred and in blooming condition, Both up to the country and up to your weight, Oh! then give the reins to your youthful ambition, Sit down in the saddle and keep his head straight. 

 "Eager and emulous only, not spiteful, Grudging no friend, though ourselves he may beat; Just enough danger to make sport delightful, Toil just sufficient to make slumbers sweet!"

CHAPTER XI. 

SKETCHES OF HUNTING WITH FOX-HOUNDS AND HARRIERS. 

 The Fitzwilliam. --Brocklesby. --A day on the Wolds. --Brighton harriers. --Prince Albert's harriers. 

The following descriptions of my own sport with fox-hounds and harrierswill give the uninitiated some idea of the average adventures of ahunting-day:--

 A DAY WITH THE LATE EARL FITZWILLIAM'S HOUNDS. [176-*]

 "LOO IN, LITTLE DEARIES. LOO IN. "

 How eagerly forward they rush; In a moment how widely they spread; Have at him there, Hotspur. Hush, hush! 'Tis a find, or I'll forfeit my head. Now fast flies the fox, and still faster The hounds from the cover are freed, The horn to the mouth of the master, The spur to the flank of his steed. With Chorister, Concord, and Chorus, Now Chantress commences her song; Now Bellman goes jingling before us, And Sinbad is sailing along. 

The Fitzwilliam pack was established by the grandfather of the presentEarl between seventy and eighty years ago; they hunt four days a weekover a north-east strip of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire--a wide, wild, thinly-populated district, with some fine woodlands; country thatwas almost all grass, until deep draining turned some cold clay pasturesinto arable. It holds a rare scent, and the woodland country can behunted, when a hot sun does not bake the ground too hard, up to thefirst week in May, when, in most other countries, horns are silenced. The country is wide enough, with foxes enough, to bear hunting six daysa week. "Bless your heart, sir, " said an old farmer, "there be foxes astall as donkeys, as fat as pigs, in these woods, that go and die of oldage. "

The Fitzwilliam are supposed to be the biggest-boned hounds now bred, and exquisitely handsome. If they have a fault, they are, for want ofwork, or excess of numbers, rather too full of flesh; so that at the endof the year, when the days grow warm, they seem to tire and tail in along run. 

Many of the pasture fences are big enough to keep out a bullock; theditches wide and full of water; bulfinches are to be met with, stiffrails, gates not always unlocked; so, although a Pytchley flyer is notindispensable, on a going day, nothing less than a hunter can get along. 

Tom Sebright, as a huntsman and breeder of hounds, has been a celebrityever since he hunted the Quorn, under Squire Osbaldeston, six-and-thirtyyears ago. Sebright looks the huntsman, and the huntsman of anhereditary pack, to perfection; rather under than over the middleheight; stout without being unwieldy; with a fine, full, intelligent, and fresh-complexioned oval countenance; keen gray eyes; and the decidednose of a Cromwellian Ironside. A fringe of white hair below his cap, and a broad bald forehead, when he lifts his cap to cheer his hounds, tell the tale of Time on this accomplished veteran of the chase. 

"The field, " with the Fitzwilliam, is more aristocratic thanfashionable; it includes a few peers and their friends from neighbouringnoble mansions, a good many squires, now and then undergraduates fromCambridge, a very few strangers by rail, and a great many first-classyeoman farmers and graziers. Thus it is equally unlike the fashionable"cut-me-down" multitude to be met at coverside in the "Shires" _parexcellence_, and the scarlet mob who rush, and race, and lark from andback to Leamington and Cheltenham. For seeing a good deal of sport in ashort time, the Fitzwilliam is certainly the best, within a hundredmiles of London. You have a first-rate pack, first-rate huntsman, a goodscenting country, plenty of foxes, fair fences to ride over, and thoughlast not least, very courteous reception, if you know how to ride andwhen to hold your tongue and your horse. 

My fortunate day with the Fitzwilliam was in their open pasture, Huntingdon country. My head-quarters were at the celebrated "Haycock, "which is known, or ought to be known, to every wandering fox-hunter, standing as it does in the middle of the Fitzwilliam Hunt, within reachof some of the best meets of the Pytchley and the Warwickshire, and notout of reach of the Cottesmore and Belvoir. It is much more like aLincolnshire Wolds farmhouse than an inn. The guests are regular_habitués_; you find yourself in a sort of fox-hunting clubhouse, in alarge, snug dining-room; not the least like Albert Smith's favouriteaversion, a coffee-room; you have a first-rate English dinner, undeniable wine, real cream with your tea, in a word, all the comfortsand most of the luxuries of town and country life combined. If needful, Tom Percival will provide you with a flyer for every day in the week, and you will be sure to meet with one or two guests, able and willing, ready to canter with you to cover, explain the chart of the country, and, if you are in the first year of boots and breeches, show you asSquire Warburton sings, how "To sit down in your saddle and put his headstraight. "

The meet, within four miles of the inn, was in a park by the side of asmall firwood plantation. Punctual to a minute, up trotted Sebright on acompact, well-bred chestnut in blooming condition, the whips equallywell mounted on thoroughbreds, all dressed in ample scarlet coats anddark cord breeches--a style of dress in much better taste than thetight, short dandified costume of the fashionable hunt, where thehuntsman can scarcely be distinguished from the "swell. "

Of the Earl's family there were present a son and daughter, and threegrandsons, beautiful boys, in Lincoln green loose jackets, brown cordbreeches, black boots, and caps; of these, the youngest, a fair, rosychild of about eight or nine years old, on a thorough-bred chestnutpony, was all day the admiration of the field; he dashed along full ofgenuine enthusiasm, stopping at nothing practicable. 

Amongst others present was a tall, lithe, white-haired, white-moustached, dignified old gentleman, in scarlet and velvet cap, riding forward on a magnificent gray horse, who realised completely thepoetical idea of a nobleman. This was the Marquess of H----, known wellforty years ago in fashionable circles, when George IV. Was Prince, nowpopular and much esteemed as a country gentleman and improving landlord. There was also Mr. H----, an M. P. , celebrated, before he settled intoplace and "ceased his hum, " as a hunter of bishops--a handsome, darkman, in leathers and patent Napoleons; with his wife on a fine bayhorse, who rode boldly throughout the day. 

In strange countries I usually pick out a leader in some well-knowingfarmer; but this day I made a grand mistake, by selecting for my guide aslim, quiet-looking, young fellow, in a black hat and coat, white cords, and boots, on a young chestnut--never dreaming that my quiet man wasAlec ----, a farmer truly, but also a provincial celebrity as asteeplechaser. 

The day was mild, cloudy, with a gentle wind. We drew several coversblank, and found a fox, about one o'clock, in a small spinney, fromwhich he bolted at the first summons. A beautiful picture it was to seegallant old Sebright get his hounds away, the ladies racing down aconvenient green lane, and the little Fitzwilliam, in Lincoln green, charging a double flight of hurdles. In half-an-hour's strong running Ihad good reason to rejoice that Percival had, with due respect for thefourth estate, put me on an unmistakable hunter. Our line took us overbig undulating fields (almost hills), with, on the flats or valleys, alarge share of willow-bordered ditches (they would call them brooks insome counties), with thick undeniable hedges between the pollards. Atthe beginning of the run, my black-coated friend led me--much as a dogin a string leads a blind man--at a great pace, into a farm-yard, thusartfully cutting off a great angle, over a most respectable stone wallinto a home paddock, over a stile into a deep lane, and then up a bankas steep as a gothic roof, and almost as long; into a fifty-acrepasture, where, racing at best pace, we got close to the hounds justbefore they checked, between a broad unjumpable drain and a willowbed--two fine resources for a cunning fox. There I thought it well, having so far escaped grief, to look out for a leader who was less of abruiser, while I took breath. In the meantime Sebright, well up, hit ourfriend off with a short cast forward, and after five minutes' slowhunting, we began to race again over a flat country of grass, with a fewbig ploughed fields, fences easier, ladies and ponies well up again. After brushing through two small coverts without hanging, we came out ona series of very large level grass fields, where I could see the grayhorse of the marquis, and the black hat of my first leader sailing infront; a couple of stiff hedges and ditches were got over comfortably;the third was a regular bulfinch, six or seven feet high, with a gate sofar away to the right that to make for it was to lose too much time, asthe hounds were running breast high. Ten yards ahead of me was Mr. FrankG----, on a Stormer colt, evidently with no notion of turning; so Ihardened my heart, felt my bay nag full of going, and kept my eye on Mr. Frank, who made for the only practicable place beside an oak-tree withlow branches, and, stooping his head, popped through a place where thehedge showed daylight, with his hand over his eyes, in the neatestpossible style. Without hesitating a moment I followed, rather too fastand too much afraid of the tree, and pulled too much into the hedge. Inan instant I found myself torn out of the saddle, balanced on ablackthorn bough (fortunately I wore leathers), and deposited on theright side of the hedge on my back; whence I rose just in time to seeBay Middleton disappear over the next fence. So there I was alone in abig grass field, with strong notions that I should have to walk anunknown number of miles home. Judge of my delight as I paced slowlyalong--running was of no use--at seeing Frank G---- returning with mytruant in hand. Such an action in the middle of a run deserves a HumaneSociety's medal. To struggle breathless into my seat; to go off atscore, to find a lucky string of open gates, to come upon the hounds ata check, was my good fortune. But our fox was doomed--in another quarterof an hour at a hand gallop we hunted him into a shrubbery, across ahome field into an ornamental clump of laurels, back again to theplantation, where a couple and a half of leading hounds pulled him down, and he was brought out by the first whip dead and almost stiff, withouta mark--regularly run down by an hour and twenty minutes with two veryshort checks. Had the latter part of the run been as fast as the first, there would have been very few of us there to see the finish. 

ON THE LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS. 

I started to meet Lord Yarborough's hounds, from the house of a friend, on a capital Wold pony for cover hack. It used to be said, beforenon-riding masters of hounds had broadcasted bridle-gates over the Quorncountry, that a Leicestershire hack was a pretty good hunter for othercounties. We may say the same of a Lincolnshire Wolds pony--his master, farming not less than three hundred and more likely fifteen hundredacres, has no time to lose in crawling about on a punchy half-bredcart-horse, like a smock-frocked tenant--the farm must be visited beforehunting, and the market-towns lie too far off for five miles an hourjog-trot to suit. It is the Wold fashion to ride farming at a prettygood pace, and take the fences in a fly where the gate stands at thewrong corner of the field. Broad strips of turf fringe the road, offering every excuse for a gallop, and our guide continually turnedthrough a gate or over a hurdle, and through half a dozen fields, tosave two sides of an angle. These fields contrast strangely with theancient counties--large, and square, and clean, with little ground lostin hedgerows. The great cop banks of Essex, Devon, and Cheshire arealmost unknown--villages you scarcely see, farmhouses rarely from theroadside, for they mostly stand well back in the midst of their acres. Gradually creeping up the Wold--passing through, here vastturnip-fields, fed over by armies of long-woolled Lincoln sheep; there, stubble yielding before from a dozen to a score of pair-horse ploughs, silent witnesses of the scale of Lincolnshire farming--at length we seedescending and winding along a bridle-road before us, the pied pack andthe gleam of the huntsman's scarlet. Around, from every point of thecompass the "field" come ambling, trotting, cantering, galloping, onhacks, on hunters, through gates or over fences, practising theirYorkshire four-year-olds. There are squires of every degree, Lincolnshire M. P. 's, parsons in black, in number beyond average;tenant-farmers, in quantity and quality such as no other county we haveever seen can boast, velvet-capped and scarlet-coated, many with theBrocklesby hunt button, mounted on first-class hunters, whom it was apleasure to see them handle; and these were not young bloods, outrunningthe constable, astonishing their landlords and alarming their fathers;but amongst the ruck were respectable grandfathers who had begun huntingon ponies when Stubbs was painting great-grandfather Smith, and who hadas a matter of course brought up their sons to follow the line in whichthey had been cheered on by Arthur Young's Lord Yarborough. There theywere, of all ages, from the white-haired veteran who could tell you whenevery field had been inclosed, to the little petticoated orphan boy on apony, "whose father's farm had been put in trust for him by the goodEarl. "

Of the ordinary mob that crowd fox-hound meets from great cities andfashionable watering-places, there were none. The swell who comes out toshow his clothes and his horse; the nondescript, who may be a fastLife-Guardsman or a fishmonger; the lot of horse-dealers; and, aboveall, those _blasé_ gentlemen who, bored with everything, openly expresstheir preference for a carted deer or red-herring drag, if a straightrunning fox is not found in a quarter of an hour after the hounds arethrown into cover. The men who ride on the Lincolnshire Wolds are allsportsmen, who know the whole country as well as their own gardens, andare not unfrequently personally acquainted with the peculiar appearanceand habits of each fox on foot. Altogether they are as formidablecritics as any professional huntsman would care to encounter. 

There is another pleasant thing. In consequence, perhaps, of the rarity, strangers are not snubbed as in some counties; and you have nodifficulty in getting information to any extent on subjects agriculturaland fox-hunting (even without that excellent passport which I enjoyed ofa hunter from the stables of the noble Master of the Hounds), and may bepretty sure of more than one hospitable and really-meant invitation inthe course of the return ride when the sport is ended. 

But time is up, and away we trot--leaving the woods of Limber for thepresent--to one of the regular Wolds, artificial coverts, a square ofgorse of several acres, surrounded by a turf bank and ditch, and outsideagain by fields of the ancient turf of the moorlands. In go the houndsat a word, without a straggler; and while they make the gorse alive withtheir lashing sterns, there is no fear of our being left behind for wantof seeing which way they go, for there is neither plantation nor hedge, nor hill of any account to screen us. And there is no fear either of thefox being stupidly headed, for the field all know their business, andare fully agreed, as old friends should be, on the probable line. 

A very faint Tally-away, and cap held up, by a fresh complexioned, iron-gray, bullet-headed old gentleman, of sixteen stone, mounted on afour-year-old, brought the pack out in a minute from the far end of thecovert, and we were soon going, holding hard, over a newly-ploughedfield, looking out sharp for the next open gate; but it is at the wrongcorner, and by the time we have reached the middle of fifty acres, ayoung farmer in scarlet, sitting upright as a dart, showed the way overa new rail in the middle of a six-foot quickset. Our nag, "Leicestershire, " needs no spurring, but takes it pleasantly, with ahop, skip, and jump; and by the time we had settled into the pace on theother side, the senior on the four-year-old was alongside, crying, "Pushalong, sir; push along, or they'll run clean away from you. The fencesare all fair on the line we're going. " And so they were--hedges thick, but jumpable enough, yet needing a hunter nevertheless, especially asthe big fields warmed up the pace amazingly; and, as the majority of thefarmers out were riding young ones destined for finished hunters in thepasture counties, there was above an average of resolution in the styleof going at the fences. The ground almost all plough, naturally drainedby chalk sub-subsoil, fortunately rode light; but presently we passedthe edge of the Wolds, held on through some thin plantations over thedemesne grass of a squire's house, then on a bit of unreclaimed heath, where a flock of sheep brought us to a few minutes' check. With the helpof a veteran of the hunt, who had been riding well up, a cast forwardset us agoing again, and brought us, still running hard, away from theWolds to low ground of new inclosures, all grass, fenced in by ditch andnew double undeniable rails. As we had a good view of the style ofcountry from a distance, we thought it wisest, as a stranger, on astrange horse, with personally a special distaste to double fences, topull gently, and let half-a-dozen young fellows on half-made, heavy-weight four or five years old, go first. The results of thisprudent and unplucky step were most satisfactory; while two or three, with a skill we admired, without venturing to imitate, went the "in andout" clever, the rest, some down and some blundering well over, smashedat least one rail out of every two, and let the "stranger" throughcomfortably at a fair flying jump. After three or four of thesetremendous fields, each about the size of Mr. Mechi's farm, a shepherdriding after his flock on a pony opened a gate just as the hounds, afterthrowing up their heads for a minute, turned to the right, and began torun back to the Wolds at a slower rate than we started, for the fox wasno doubt blown by the pace; and so up what are called hills there (theywould scarcely be felt in Devonshire or Surrey), we followed at a handgallop right up to the plantations of Brocklesby Park, and for a goodhour the hounds worked him round and round the woods, while we kept asnear them as we could, racing along green rides as magnificent in theirbroad spread verdures and overhanging evergreen walls of holly andlaurel as any Watteau ever painted. The Lincolnshire gentry andyeomanry, scarlet coated and velvet capped, on their great blood horsessweeping down one of the grand evergreen avenues of Brocklesby Park, saytoward the Pelham Pillar, is a capital untried subject, in colour, contrast, and living interest, for an artist who can paint men as wellas horses. 

At length when every dodge had been tried, Master Reynard made a bolt indespair. We raced him down a line of fields of very pretty fencing to asmall lake, where wild ducks squatted up, and there ran into him, aftera fair although not a very fast day's sport: a more honest hunting, yetcourageous dashing pack we never rode to. The scarcity of villages, thegeneral sparseness of the population, the few roads, and those almostall turf-bordered, and on a level with the fields, the great size of theenclosures, the prevalence of light arable land, the nuisance of flocksof sheep, and yet a good scenting country, are the special features ofthe Wolds. When you leave them and descend, there is a country of water, drains, and deep ditches, that require a real water-jumper. Two pointsspecially strike a stranger--the complete hereditary air of the pack, and the attendants, so different from the piebald, new-varnishedappearance of fashionable subscription packs. Smith, the huntsman, isfourth in descent of a line of Brocklesby huntsmen; Robinson, the headgroom, had just completed his half century of service at Brocklesby; andBarnetby, who rode Lord Yarborough's second horse, was many years in thesame capacity with the first Earl. But, after all, the Brocklesbytenants--the Nainbys, the Brookes, the Skipwiths, and other Woldsmen, names "whom to mention would take up too much room, " as the "EtonGrammar" says--tenants who, from generation to generation, have lived, and flourished, and hunted under the Pelham family--a spirited, intelligent, hospitable race of men--these alone are worth travellingfrom Land's End to see, to hear, to dine with; to learn from theirsayings and doings what a wise, liberal, resident landlord--a lover offield sports, a promoter of improved agriculture--can do in the courseof generations toward "breeding" a first-class tenantry, and feedingthousands of townsfolk from acres that a hundred years ago only fedrabbits. We should recommend those M. P. 's who think fox-hunting folly, to leave their books and debates for a day's hunting on the Wolds. Wethink it will be hard to obtain such happy results from the merepen-and-ink regulations of chamber legislators and haters of fieldsports. Three generations of the Pelhams turned thousands of acres ofwaste in heaths and Wolds into rich farm-land; the fourth did his partby giving the same district railways and seaport communication. When wefind learned mole-eyed pedants sneering at fox-hunters, we may call theBrocklesby kennels and the Pelham Pillar as witnesses on the side of thecommon sense of English field sports. It was hunting that settled thePelhams in a remote country and led them to colonise a waste. 

There is one excellent custom at the hunting-dinners at Brocklesby Parkwhich we may mention, without being guilty of intrusion on privatehospitality. At a certain hour the stud-groom enters and says, "My Lord, the horses are bedded up;" then the whole party rise, make a processionthrough the stables, and return to coffee in the drawing-room. Thiscustom was introduced by the first Lord Yarborough some half-centuryago, in order to break through the habit of late sitting over wine thatthen was too prevalent. 

HARRIERS--ON THE BRIGHTON DOWNS. 

Long before hunting sounds are to be heard, except the early morningcub-hunters routing woodlands, and the autumn stag-hunters of Exmoor, harrier packs are hard at work racing down and up the steep hillside andalong the chalky valleys of Brighton Downs, preparing old sportsmen forthe more earnest work of November--training young ones into the meaningof pace, the habit of riding fast down, and the art of climbing quickly, yet not too quickly, up hill--giving constitutional gallops to wheezyaldermen, or enterprizing adults fresh from the riding-school--affordingfun for fast young ladies and pleasant sights for a crowd of foot-folksand fly-loads, halting on the brows of the steep combs, content with theliving panorama. 

The Downs and the sea are the redeeming features of Brighton, consideredas a place of change and recreation for the over-worked of London. Without these advantages one might quite as well migrate from the Cityto Regent Street, varying the exercise by a stroll along the Serpentine. To a man who needs rest there is something at first sight trulyfrightful in the townish gregariousness of Brighton proper, with itspretentious common-place architecture, and its ceaseless bustle androlling of wheels. But then comes into view first the sea, stretchingaway into infinite silence and solitude, dotted over on sunny days withpleasure-boats; and next, perpetually dashing along the league ofsea-borded highway, group after group of gay riding-parties of all agesand both sexes--Spanish hats, feathers, and riding-habits--_amazones_, according to the French classic title, in the majority. First comes PapaBriggs, with all his progeny, down to the little bare-legged imitationHighlander on a shaggy Shetland pony; then a riding-master inmustachios, boots, and breeches, with a dozen pupils in divers stages oftimidity and full-blown temerity; and then again loving pairs in theprocess of courtship or the ecstasies of the honeymoon, pacing or racingalong, indifferent to the interest and admiration that such pairs alwaysexcite. Besides the groups there are single figures, military and civil, on prancing thorough-bred hacks and solid weight-carrying cobs, contrasted with a great army of hard-worked animals, at half-a-crown anhour which compose the bulk of the Brighton cavalry, for horse-hiringat Brighton is the rule, private possession the exception; nowhere else, except, perhaps, at Oxford, is the custom so universal, and nowhere dosuch odd, strange people venture to exhibit themselves "a-horseback. " AsDublin is said to be the car-drivingest, so is Brighton thehorse-ridingest city in creation; and it is this most healthy, mentaland physical exercise, with the summer-sea yacht excursions, whichconstitute the difference and establishes the superiority of this marineoffshoot of London over any foreign bathing-place. Under French auspiceswe should have had something infinitely more magnificent, gay, gilded, and luxurious in architecture, in shops, in restaurants, cafés, theatres, and ball-rooms; but pleasure-boat sails would have beenutterly unknown, and the horse-exercise confined to a few daringcavaliers and theatrical ladies. 

It is doubtless the open Downs that originally gave the visitors ofBrighton (when it was Brighthelmstone, the little village patronised bythe Prince, by "the Burney, " and Mrs. Thrale) the habit ofconstitutional canters to a degree unknown in other pleasure towns; andthe traditional custom has been preserved in the face of miles of brickand stucco. With horses in legions, and Downs at hand, a pack of houndsfollows naturally; hares of a rare stout breed are plentiful; and thetradesmen have been acute enough to discover that a plentiful and variedsupply of hunting facilities is one of the most safe, certain, andprofitable attractions they can provide. Cheltenham and Bath has eachits stag-hounds; Brighton does better, less expensively, and pleasesmore people, with two packs of harriers, hunting four days (and, byrecent arrangements, a pack of fox-hounds filling up the other two days)of the week; so that now it may be considered about the best place inthe country for making sure of a daily constitutional gallop fromOctober to March at short notice, and with no particular attention tocostume and a very moderate stud, or no stud at all. 

With these and a few other floating notions of air, exercise, and changeof scene in my head--having decided that, however tempting to thecaricaturist, the amusement of hundreds was not to be despised--I tookmy place at eight o'clock, at London-bridge station, in a railwaycarriage--the best of hacks for a long distance--on a bright Octobermorning, with no other change from ordinary road-riding costume than oneof Callow's long-lashed, instead of a straight-cutting, whips, so savingall the impediments of baggage. By ten o'clock I was wondering what the"sad sea waves" were saying to the strange costumes in which it pleasesthe fair denizens of Brighton to deck themselves. My horse, a little, wiry, well-bred chestnut, had been secured beforehand at a dealer's, well known in the Surrey country. 

The meet was the race-course, a good three miles from the Parade. TheBrighton meets are stereotyped. The Race-course, Telscombe Tye, theDevil's Dyke, and Thunders Barrow are repeated weekly. But of the wayalong the green-topped chalk cliffs, beside the far-spreading sea, or upand down the moorland hills and valleys, who can ever weary? Who canweary of hill and dale and the eternal sea?

To those accustomed to an inclosed country there is something extremelycurious in mile after mile of open undulating downs lost in the distanthorizon. My day was bright. About eleven o'clock the horsemen and_amazones_ arrived in rapidly-succeeding parties, and gathered on thehigh ground. Pleasure visitors, out for the first time--distinguishedby their correct costume and unmistakably hired animals--caps and whitebreeches, spotless tops and shining Napoleons--were mounted on hacksbattered about the legs, and rather rough in the coat, though hard andfull of go; but trousers were the prevailing order of the day. Medicalmen were evident, in correct white ties, on neat ponies and superiorcobs; military in mufti, on pulling steeplechasers; some farmers inleggings on good young nags for sale, and good old ones for use. Londonlawyers in heather mixture shooting-suits and Park hacks; lots of littleboys and girls on ponies--white or cream-coloured being the favourites;at least one master of far distant fox-hounds pack, on a blood-colt, master and horse alike new to the country and to the sport. Riding-masters, with their lady pupils tittupping about on the liverocking-horses that form the essential stock of every riding-master'sestablishment, with one or two papas of the pupils--"worthy" aldermen, or authorities of the Stock Exchange, expensively mounted, gravelylooking on, with an expression of doubt as to whether they ought to havebeen there or not; and then a crowd of the nondescripts, bankers andbrewers trying to look like squires, neat and grim, among the well andill dressed, well and ill mounted, who form the staple of everywatering-place, --with this satisfactory feature pervading the wholegathering, that with the exception of a few whose first appearance itwas in saddle on any turf, and the before-mentioned grim brewers, allseemed decidedly jolly and determined to enjoy themselves. 

The hounds drew up; to criticise them elaborately would be as unfair, under the circumstances, as to criticise a pot-luck dinner of beans andbacon put before a hungry man. They are not particularlyhandsome--white patches being the prevailing colour; and they certainlydo not keep very close; but they are fast enough, persevering, and, killing a fair share of hares, show very good sport to both lookers-onand hard riders. The huntsman Willard, who has no "whip" to help him, and often more assistance than he requires, is a heavy man, butcontrives, in spite of his weight, to get his hounds in the fastestruns. 

The country, it may be as well to say for the benefit of the thousandswho have never been on these famous mutton-producing "South Downs, " iscomposed of a series of table-lands divided by basin-like valleys, forthe most part covered with short turf, with large patches of gorse andheather, in which the hares, when beaten, take refuge. Of late years, high prices and Brighton demand, with the new system of artificialagriculture, have pushed root crops and corn crops into shelteredvalleys and far over the hills, much to the disgust of the ancient raceof shepherds. 

It is scarcely necessary to observe, that on Brighton Downs there are noblank days, but the drawing is a real operation performed seriouslyuntil such a time as the company having all assembled, say at half-pastseven o'clock, when, if the unaided faculties of the pack have notbrought them up to a form, a shepherd appears as the _Deus ex machinâ_. In spite of all manner of precautions, the hounds will generally rush upto the point without hunting; loud rises the joyful cry; and, if it islevel ground, the whole meet--hacks, hobbie-horses, and hunters--look asif their riders meant to go off in a whirlwind of trampling feet. Thereis usually a circle or two with the stoutest hare before making a longstretch; but, on lucky days like that of our first and last visit, thepace mends the hounds settle, the riding-masters check their moredashing pupils, the crowd gets dispersed, and rides round, or halts onthe edges, or crawls slowly down the steep-sided valleys; while the hardriders catch their nags by the head, in with the spurs, and go downstraight and furious, as if they were away for ever and a day; but thepedestrians and constitutional cob-owners are comforted by assurancesthat the hare is sure to run a ring back. But, on our day, Pussy, havinglain _perdu_ during a few minutes' check, started up suddenly amid afull cry, and rather too much hallooing. A gentleman in large mustachiosand a velvet cap rode at her as if he meant to catch her himself. Awaywe all dashed, losing sight of the dignity of fox-hunters--all mad ashatters (though why hatters should be madder than cappers it would bedifficult to say). The pace becomes tremendous; the pack tails by twosand threes; the valleys grow steeper; the field lingers and halts moreand more at each steeper comb; the lads who have hurried straight up thehillsides, instead of creeping up by degrees blow their horses and cometo a full stop; while old hands at Devonshire combs and Surrey steepstake their nags by the head, rush down like thunder, and slily zigzag upthe opposite face at a trot; and so, for ten minutes, so straight, thata stranger, one of three in front, cried, "By Jove, it must be a fox!"But at that moment the leading hounds turned sharp to the right and thento the left--a shrill squeak, a cry of hounds, and all was over. The sunshone out bright and clear; looking up from the valley on the hills, nine-tenths of the field were to be seen a mile in the distance, galloping, trotting, walking, or standing still, scattered like a pulkof pursuing Cossacks. The sight reminded me that, putting aside thedelicious excitement of a mad rush down hill at full-speed, thelookers-on, the young ladies on ponies, and old gentlemen on cobs, seethe most of the sport in such a country as the Brighton Downs; while ina flat inclosed, or wooded country, those who do not ride are left alonequite deserted, five minutes after the hounds get well away. 

We killed two more hares before retiring for the day, but as they ranrings in the approved style, continually coming back to the slow, prudent, and constitutional riders, there was nothing to distinguishthem from all other hare-hunts. After killing the last hare there wasample time to get back to Brighton, take a warm bath, dress, and strollon the Esplanade for an hour in the midst of as gay and brilliant crowd, vehicular, equestrian, and pedestrian, as can be found in Europe, beforesitting down to a quiet dinner, in which the delicious Southdown haunchwas not forgotten. So ended a day of glorious weather and pleasantsport, jolly--if not in the highest degree genteel. 

Tempted to stay another day, I went the next morning six miles throughRottingdean to Telscombe Tye, to meet the Brookside; and, after seeingthem, have no hesitation in saying that every one who cares to look at afirst-rate pack of harriers would find it worth his while to travel ahundred miles to meet the Brookside, for the whole turnout isperfection. Royalty cannot excel it. 

A delicious ride over turf all the way, after passing Rottingdean, undera blue sky and a June-like sun, in sight of the sea, calm as a lake, brought us to the top of a hill of rich close turf, enveloped in a cloudof mist, which rendered horses and horsemen alike invisible at thedistance of a few yards; and when we came upon three tall shepherds, leaning on their iron-_hooked_ crooks, in the midst of a gorse covert, it was almost impossible to believe that we were not in some remoteHighland district instead of within half an hour of a town of 70, 000inhabitants. 

The costumes of the field, more exact than the previous day, showed thatthe master was considered worthy of the compliment; and when, the mistclearing, the beautiful black-and-tan pack, all of a size, and as likeas peas, came clustering up with Mr. Saxby, a white-haired, healthy, fresh-coloured, neat-figured, upright squire, riding in the midst on arare black horse, it was a picture that, taking in the wild heathlandscenery, the deep valleys below, bright in sun, the dark hills beyondit, was indeed a bright page in the poetry of field sports. 

The Brookside are as good and honest as they are handsome; hunting, alltogether, almost entirely without assistance. If they have a fault theyare a little too fast for hare-hounds. After killing the second hare, wewere able to leave Brighton by the 3. 30 P. M. Train. Thus, under modernadvantages, a man troubled with indigestion has only to order a horse bypost the previous day, leave town at eight in the morning, have a day'sgallop, with excitement more valuable than gallons of physic, and beback in town by half-past five o'clock. Can eight hours be passed morepleasantly or profitably?

PRINCE ALBERT'S HARRIERS. 

The South-Western Rail made a very good hack up to the Castle station. 

That Prince Albert should never have taken to the Royal stag-hounds isnot at all surprising. It requires to be "to the manner born" to endurethe vast jostling, shouting, thrusting mob of gentlemen and horsedealers, "legs" and horse-breakers, that whirl away after the uncarteddeer. Without the revival of the old Court etiquette, which forbade anyone to ride before royalty, his Royal Highness might have been riddendown by some ambitious butcher or experimental cockney horseman on arunaway. If the etiquette of the time of George III had been revived, then only Leech could have done justice to the appearance of the field, following impatiently at a respectful distance--not the stag, as they donow very often, or the hounds, as they ought to do--but the Prince'shorse's tail. 

Prince Albert's harriers are in the strictest sense of the term aprivate pack, kept by his Royal Highness for his own amusement, underthe management of Colonel Hood. The meets are not advertised. The fieldsconsist, in addition to the Royal and official party from the Castle, ofa few neighbouring gentlemen and farmers, the hunting establishment of ahuntsman and one whip, both splendidly mounted, and a boy on foot. Thecostume of the hunt is a very dark green cloth double-breasted coat, with the Prince's gilt button, brown cords, and velvet cap. 

The hounds were about fifteen couple, of medium size, with considerablevariety of true colours, inclining to the fox-hound stamp, yet veryhonest hunters. In each run the lead was taken by a hound of peculiarand uncommon marking--black and tan, but the tan so far spreading thatthe black was reduced to merely a saddle. 

The day was rather too bright, perhaps, for the scent to lie well; butthere was the better opportunity for seeing the hounds work, which theydid most admirably, without any assistance. It is one of the advantagesof a pack like this that no one presumes to interfere and do thebusiness of either the huntsman or hounds. The first hare was found onland apparently recently inclosed near Eton; but, after two hours'perseverance, it was impossible to make anything of the scent overploughed land. 

We then crossed the railway into some fields, partly in grass, dividedby broad ditches full of water, with plenty of willow stumps on thebanks, and partly arable on higher, sloping ground, divided by fairgrowing fences into large square inclosures. Here we soon found a stouthare that gave us an opportunity of seeing and admiring the qualities ofthe pack. After the first short burst there was a quarter of an hour ofslow hunting, when the hounds, left entirely to themselves, did theirwork beautifully. At length, as the sun went behind clouds, the scentimproved; the hounds got on good terms with puss, and rattled away at apace, and over a line of big fields and undeniable fences, that soonfound out the slows and the nags that dared not face shining water. Short checks of a few minutes gave puss a short respite; then followed afull cry, and soon a view. Over a score of big fields the pack racedwithin a dozen yards of pussy's scent, without gaining a yard, theblack-tanned leading hound almost coursing his game; but this was toofast to last, and, just as we were squaring our shoulders and settlingdown to take a very uncompromising hedge with evident signs of a broadditch of running water on the other side, the hounds threw up theirheads; poor puss had shuffled through the fence into the brook, and sunklike a stone. 

There is something painful about the helpless finish with a hare. A foxdies snarling and fighting. 

FOOTNOTES:

[176-*] This sketch was written in 1857. 

CHAPTER XII. 

HUNTING TERMS. 

Hunting terms are difficult to write, because they are often rather sungthan said. I shall take as my authority one of the best sportsmen of hisday, Mr. Thomas Smith, author of the "Diary of a Huntsman, " a book whichhas only one fault, it is too short; and give some explanations of myown. 

HUNTSMAN'S LANGUAGE. 

 On throwing off. --_Cover hoick!_ i. E. _Hark into cover!_

 Also--_Eloo in!_

 Over the fence. --_Yoi over!_

 To make hounds draw. --_Edawick!_

 Also--_Yoi, wind him! Yoi, rouse him, my boys!_

 And to a particular hound--_Hoick, Rector! Hoick, Bonny Lass!_

 The variety of Tally-ho's I have given in another place. 

 To call the rest when some hounds have gone away. --_Elope forward, aw-ay-woy!_

 If they have hit off the scent. --_Forrid, hoick!_

 When hounds have overrun the scent, or he wants them to come back to him. --_Yo-geote!_

 When the hounds are near their fox. --_Eloo, at him!_

HUNTING TERMS

 _Billet. _--The excrement of a fox. 

 _Burst. _--The first part of a run. 

 _Burning scent. _--When hounds go so fast, from the goodness of the scent, they have no breath to spare, and run almost mute. 

 _Breast high. _--When hounds do not stoop their heads, but go a racing pace. 

 _Capping. _--To wave your cap to bring on the hounds. Also to subscribe for the huntsman, by dropping into a cap after a good run with fox-hounds. At watering places, before a run with harriers. 

 _Carry a good head. _--When hounds run well together, owing to the scent being good, and spreading so wide that the whole pack can feel it. But it usually happens that the scent is good only on the line for one hound to get it, so that the rest follow him; hence the necessity of keeping your eyes on the leading hounds, if you wish to be forward. 

 _Challenge. _--When drawing a fox, the first hound that gives tongue, "challenges. "

 _Changed. _--When the pack changed from the hunted fox to a fresh one. 

 _Check. _--When hounds stop for want of scent in running, or over-run it. 

 _Chopped a fox. _--When a fox is killed in cover without running. 

 _Crash. _--When in cover, every hound seems giving tongue at the same moment: that is a crash of hounds. 

 _Cub. _--Until November, a young fox is a cub. 

 _Drawing. _--The act of hunting to find a fox in a cover, or covert, as some term it. 

 _Drag. _--The scent left by the footsteps of the fox on his way from his rural rambles to his earth, or kennel. Our forefathers rose early; and instead of drawing, hunted the fox by "dragging" up to him. 

 _Dwelling. _--When hounds do not come up to the huntsman's halloo till moved by the whipper-in, they are said to dwell. 

 _Drafted. _--Hounds drawn from the pack to be disposed of, or _hung_, are drafted. 

 "_Earths are drawn. _"--When a vixen fox has drawn out fresh earth, it is a proof she intends to lay up her cubs there. 

 _Eye to hounds. _--A man has a good eye to hounds who turns his horse's head with the leading hounds. 

 _Flighty. _--A hound that is not a steady hunter. 

 _Feeling a scent. _--You say, if scent is bad, "The hounds could scarcely feel the scent. "

 _Foil. _--When a fox runs the ground over which he has been before, he is running his foil. 

 _Headed. _--When a fox is going away, and is met and driven back to cover. Jealous riders, anxious for a start, are very apt to head the fox. It is one of the greatest crimes in the hunting-field. 

 _Heel. _--When hounds get on the scent of a fox, and run it back the way he came, they are said to be running heel. 

 _Hold hard. _--A cry that speaks for itself, which every one who wishes for sport will at once attend to when uttered by the huntsman. 

 _Holding scent. _--When the scent is just good enough for hounds to hunt a fox a fair pace, but not enough to press him. 

 _Kennel. _--Where a fox lays all day in cover. 

 _Line holders. _--Hounds which will not go a yard beyond the scent. 

 _Left-handed. _--A hunting pun on hounds that are not always _right_. 

 _Lifting. _--When a huntsman carries the pack forward from an indifferent, or no scent, to a place the fox is hoped to have more recently passed, or to a view halloo. It is an expedient found needful where the field is large, and unruly, and impatient, oftener than good sportsmen approve. [202-*]

 _Laid up. _--When a vixen fox has had cubs she is said to have laid up. 

 _Metal. _--When hounds fly for a short distance on a wrong scent, or without one, it is said to be "all metal. "

 _Moving scent. _--When hounds get on a scent that is fresher than a drag, it is called a moving scent; that is, the scent of a fox which has been disturbed by travelling. 

 _Mobbing a fox. _--Is when foot passengers, or foolish jealous horsemen so surround a cover, that the fox is driven into the teeth of the hounds, instead of being allowed to break away and show sport. 

 _Mute. _--When the pace is great hounds are mute, they have no breath to spare; but a hound that is always mute is as useless as a rich epicure who has capital dinners and eats them alone. Hounds that do not help each other are worthless. 

 _Noisy. _--To throw the tongue without scent is an opposite and equal fault to muteness. 

 _Open. _--When a hound throws his tongue, or gives tongue, he is said to open. 

 _Owning a scent. _--When hounds throw their tongues on the scent. 

 _Pad. _--The foot of a fox. 

 _Riot. _--When the hounds hunt anything beside fox, the word is "Ware Riot. "

 _Skirter. _--A hound which is wide of the pack, or a man riding wide of the hounds, is called a skirter. 

 _Stroke of a fox. _--Is when hounds are drawing. It is evident, from their manner, that they feel the scent of a fox, slashing their stern significantly, although they do not speak to it. 

 _Sinking. _--A fox nearly beaten is said to be sinking. 

 _Sinking the wind. _--Is going down wind, usually done by knowing sportsmen to catch the cry of the hounds. 

 _Stained. _--When the scent is lost by cattle or sheep having passed over the line. 

 _Stooping. _--Hounds stoop to the scent. 

 _Slack. _--Indifferent. A succession of bad days, or a slack huntsman, will make hounds slack. 

 _Streaming. _--An expressive word applied to hounds in full cry, or breast high and mute, "streaming away. "

 _Speaks. _--When a hound throws his tongue he is said to speak; and one word from a sure hound makes the presence of a fox certain. 

 _Throw up. _--When hounds lose the scent they "throw up their heads. " A good sportsman always takes note of the exact spot and cause, if he can, to tell the huntsman. 

 _Tailing. _--The reverse of streaming. The result of bad scent, tired hounds, or an uneven pack. 

 _Throw off. _--After reaching the "meet, " at the master's word the pack is "thrown into cover, " hence "throw off. "

There are many other terms in common use too plain to need explanation, and there are a good many slang phrases to be found in newspaperdescriptions of runs, which are both vulgar and unnecessary. One of thefinest descriptions of a fox-hunt ever written is to be found in theaccount of Jorrocks' day with the "Old Customer, " disfigured, unfortunately, by an overload of impossible cockneyisms, put in themouth of the impossible grocer. Another capitally-told story of afox-hunt is to be found in Whyte Melville's "Kate Coventry. " But theRev. Charles Kingsley has, in his opening chapter of "Yeast, " and hispapers in Fraser on North Devon, shown that if he chose he could throwall writers on hunting into the shade. Would that he would give us somehunting-songs, for he is a true poet, as well as a true sportsman!

Another clergyman, under the pseudonym of "Uncle Scribble, " contributedto the pages of the _Sporting Magazine_ an admirable series ofphotographs--to adopt a modern word--of hunting and hunting men, asremarkable for dry wit and common sense, as a thorough knowledge ofsport. But "Uncle Scribble, " as the head of a most successful BoardingSchool, writes no more. 

I may perhaps be pardoned for concluding my hints on hunting, byre-quoting from _Household Words_ an "Apology for Fox-hunting, " which, at the time I wrote it, received the approbation, by quotation, ofalmost every sporting journal in the country. It will be seen that itcontains a sentence very similar to one to be found in Mr. Rarey's"Horse Training"--"A bad-tempered man cannot be a good horseman. "

"TALLY-HO!

"Fox-hunting, I maintain, is entitled to be considered one of the finearts, standing somewhere between music and dancing. For 'Tally-ho!' likethe favourite evening gun of colonising orators, has been 'carried roundthe world. ' The plump mole-fed foxes of the neutral ground of Gibraltarhave fled from the jolly cry; it has been echoed back from the rockyhills of our island possessions in the Mediterranean; it has startledthe jackal on the mountains of the Cape, and his red brother on theburning plains of Bengal; the wolf of the pine forests of Canada hasheard it, cheering on fox-hounds to an unequal contest; and even thewretched dingoe and the bounding kangaroo of 'Australia have learned todread the sound. 

"In our native land 'Tally-ho!' is shouted and welcomed in due season byall conditions of men; by the ploughman, holding hard his startled colt;by the woodman, leaning on his axe before the half-felled oak; bybird-boys from the tops of leafless trees; even Dolly Dumpling, as shesees the white-tipped brush flash before her market-cart in adeep-banked lane, stops, points her whip and in shrill treble screams'Tally-ho!'

"And when at full speed the pink, green, brown, and black-coatedfollowers of any of the ninety packs which our England maintains, sweepthrough a village, with what intense delight the whole population turnout! Young mothers stand at the doors, holding up their crowing babies;the shopkeeper, with his customers, adjourns to the street; the windowsof the school are covered with flattened noses; the parson, if of theright sort, smiles blandly, and waves his hand from the porch of thevicarage to half-a-dozen friends; while the surgeon pushes on hisgalloway and joins for half-an-hour; all the little boys holla inchorus, and run on to open gates without expecting sixpence. As for thefarmers, those who do not join the hunt criticise the horseflesh, speculate on the probable price of oats, and tell 'Missis' to set outthe big round of beef, the bread, the cheese, and get ready to draw somestrong ale, --'in case of a check, some of the gentlemen might like a bitas they come back. 

"It is true, among the five thousand who follow the hounds daily in thehunting season, there are to be found, as among most medleys of fivethousand, a certain number of fools and brutes--mere animals, deaf tothe music, blind to the living poetry of nature. To such men hunting isa piece of fashion or vulgar excitement, but bring hunting in comparisonwith other amusements, and it will stand a severe test. Are you anadmirer of scenery, an amateur or artist? Have you traversed Greece andItaly, Switzerland and Norway, in search of the picturesque? You do notknow the beauties of your own country, until, having hunted fromNorthumberland to Cornwall, you have viewed the various counties underthe three aspects of a fox-hunter's day--the 'morning ride, ' 'the run, 'and 'the return home. '

"The morning ride, slowly pacing, full of expectation, your horse aspleased as yourself; sharp and clear in the gray atmosphere the leaflesstrees and white farmhouses stand out, backed by a curtain of misthanging on the hills in the horizon. With eager eyes you take all in;nothing escapes you; you have cast off care for the day. How pleasantand cheerful everything and everyone looks! Even the cocks and hens, scratching by the road-side, have a friendly air. The turnpike-manrelaxes, in favour of your 'pink, ' his usual grimness. A tramping woman, with one child at her back and two running beside her, asks charity; yoususpect she is an impostor, but she looks cold and pitiful; you give hera shilling, and the next day you don't regret your foolish benevolence. To your mind the well-cultivated land looks beautiful. In the monotonyof ten acres of turnips, you see a hundred pictures of English farminglife, well-fed cattle, good wheat crops, and a little barley for beer. Not less beautiful is the wild gorse-covered moor--never to bereclaimed, I hope--where the wiry, white-headed, bright-eyed huntsmansits motionless on his old white horse, surrounded by the pied pack--astudy for Landseer. 

"But if the morning ride creates unexecuted cabinet pictures andunwritten sonnets, how delightful 'the find, ' 'the run' alongbrook-intersected vales, up steep hills, through woodlands, parks, andvillages, showing you in byways little gothic churches, ivy-coveredcottages, and nooks of beauty you never dreamed of, alive with startledcattle and hilarious rustics. 

"Talk of epic poems, read in bowers or at firesides, what poet'sdescription of a battle could make the blood boil in deliriousexcitement, like a seat on a long-striding hunter, clearing everyobstacle with firm elastic bounds, holding in sight without gaining ayard on the flying pack, while the tip of Reynard's tail disappearsover the wall at the top of the hill!

"And, lastly, --tired, successful, hungry, happy, --the return home, whenthe shades of evening, closing round, give a fantastic, curious, mysterious aspect to familiar road-side objects! Loosely lounging onyour saddle, with half-closed eyes, you almost dream--the gnarled treesgrow into giants, cottages into castles, ponds into lakes. The maid ofthe inn is a lovely princess, and the bread and cheese she brings(while, without dismounting, you let your thirsty horse drink hisgruel), tastes more delicious than the finest supper of champagne, witha _pâté_ of tortured goose's liver, that ever tempted the appetite of ahumane, anti-fox hunting, poet-critic, exhausted by a long night ofopera, ballet, and Roman punch. 

"Are you fond of agriculture?--You may survey all the progress andignorance of an agricultural district in rides across country; you maysound the depth of the average agricultural mind while trotting fromcover to cover. Are you of a social disposition?--What a fund ofinformation is to be gathered from the acquaintances made, returninghome after a famous day, 'thirty-five minutes without a check. ' In aword, fox-hunting affords exercise and healthy excitement withoutheadaches, or heartaches, without late hours, without the 'terrible nextmorning' that follows so many town amusements. Fox-hunting draws menfrom towns, promotes a love of country life, fosters skill, courage, temper; for a bad-tempered man can never be a good horseman. 

"To the right-minded, as many feelings of thankfulness and praise to theGiver of all good will arise, sitting on a fiery horse, subdued tocourageous obedience for the use of man, while surveying a pack ofhounds ranging an autumnal thicket with fierce intelligence, or lookingdown on a late moorland, broken up to fertility by man's skill andindustry, as in a solitary walk by the sea-shore or over a Highlandhill. "

 Oh, give me the man to whom nought comes amiss, One horse or another--that country or this; Through falls and bad starts who undauntedly still Bides up to this motto, "Be with them I will!" And give me the man who can ride through a run, Nor engross to himself all the glory when done; Who calls not each horse that o'ertakes him a screw; Who loves a run best when a friend sees it too. 

 WARBURTON of Arley Hall. 

FOOTNOTES:

[202-*] The late Sir Richard Sutton, Master of the Quorn, used to saythat he liked "to stick to the band and keep hold of the bridle, " thatis to say, make his pack hold to the line of the fox as long as theycould; but there were times when he could not resist the temptation of asure "holloa, " and off he would start at a tremendous pace, for he wasalways a bruising rider, with a blast or two upon his "littlemerry-toned horn" which he had the art of blowing better than otherpeople. To his intimate friends he used to excuse himself for theseoccasional outbreaks by quoting a saying of his old huntsman Goosey(late the Duke of Rutland's)--for whose opinion on hunting matters hehad a great respect--"I take leave to say, sir, a fox is a very quickanimal, and you must make haste after him during some part of the day, or you will not catch him. "--_Letter from Captain Percy Williams, Masterof the Rufford Hounds, to the Editor. _

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE ORIGIN OF FOX-HUNTING. 

The origin of modern fox-hunting is involved in a degree of obscuritywhich can only be attributed to the illiterate character of theoriginators, the Squire Westerns, who rode all day, and drank all theevening. We need the assistance of the ingenious correspondent of _Notesand Queries_:--

"It is quite certain that the fox was not accounted a noble beast ofchase before the Revolution of 1688; for Gervase Markham classes the foxwith the badger in his 'Cavalrie, or that part of Arte wherein iscontained the Choice Trayning and Dyeting of Hunting Horses whether forPleasure or for Wager. The Third Booke. Printed by Edw. Allde, forEdward White; and are to be sold at his Shop, neare the Little NorthDoor of St. Paule's Church, at the signe of the Gun. 1616. ' He says:--

"'The chase of the foxe or badger, although it be a chase of much moreswiftness (than the otter), and is ever kept upon firm ground, yet Icannot allow it for training horses, because for the most part itcontinues in woody rough grounds, where a horse can neither convenientlymake foorth his way nor can heed without danger of stubbing. The chase, much better than any of these, is hunting of the bucke or stag, especially if they be not confined within a park or pale, but havingliberty to chuse their waies, which some huntsmen call "hunting atforce. " When he is at liberty he will break forth his chase into thewinde, sometimes four, five, and six miles foorth right: nay, I havemyself followed a stag better than ten miles foorth right from the placeof his rousing to the place of his death, besides all his windings, turnings, and cross passages. The time of the year for these chases isfrom the middle of May to middle of September. ' He goes on to say, 'which being of all chases the worthiest, and belonging only Princes andmen of best quality, there is no horse too good to be employed in such aservice; yet the horses which are aptest and best to be employed in thischase is the Barbary jennet, or a light-made English gelding, being of amiddle stature. ' 'But to conclude and come to the chase which is of allchases the best for the purpose whereof we are now entreating; it is thechase of the hare, which is a chase both swift and pleasant, and of longendurance; it is a sport ever readie, equally distributed, as well tothe wealthie farmer as the great gentleman. It hath its beginningcontrary to the stag and bucke; for it begins at Michaelmas, when theyend, and is out of date after April, when they first come into season. '

"This low estimate of the fox, at that period, is borne out by a speechof Oliver St. John, to the Long Parliament, against Strafford, quoted byMacaulay, in which he declares--'Strafford was to be regarded not as astag or hare, but as a fox, who was to be snared by any means andknocked on the head without pity. ' The same historian relates that reddeer were as plentiful on the hills of Hampshire and Gloucestershire, inthe reign of Queen Anne, as they are now in the preserved deer-forestsof the Highlands of Scotland. 

"When wild deer became scarce, the attention of sportsmen was probablyturned to the sporting qualities of the fox by the accident of harriersgetting upon the scent of some wanderer in the clicketing season, andbeing led a straight long run. We have more than once met with suchaccidents on the Devonshire moors, and have known well-bred harriers runclear away from the huntsmen, after an on-lying fox, over an unrideablecountry. 

"Fox-hunting rose into favour with the increase of population attendanton improved agriculture. In a wild woodland country, with earthsunstopped, no pack of hounds could fairly run down a fox. 

"I have found in private records two instances in which packs of hounds, since celebrated, were turned from hare-hounds to fox-hounds. There are, no doubt, many more. The Tarporley, or Cheshire Hunt, was established in1762 for Hare-hunting, and held its first meeting on the 14th Novemberin that year. 'Those who kept harriers brought them in turn. ' It isordered by the 8th Rule, 'that if no member of the society kept hounds, or that it were inconvenient for masters to bring them, a pack beborrowed at the expense of the society. '

"The uniform was ordered to be 'a blue frock with plain yellow mettledbuttons, scarlet velvet cape, and double-breasted flannel waistcoat. Thecoat sleeve to be cut and turned. A scarlet saddle-cloth, bound singlywith blue, and the front of the bridle lapt with scarlet. ' The thirdrule contrasts oddly with our modern meets at half-past ten andhalf-past eleven o'clock:--'The harriers shall not wait for any memberafter eight o'clock in the morning. '

"As to drinking, it was ordered 'that three collar bumpers be drunkafter dinner, and the same after supper; after that every member mightdo as he pleased in regard to drinking. '

"By another rule every member was 'to present on his marriage to eachmember of the hunt, a pair of well-stitched leather breeches, '[213-*]then costing a guinea a pair. 

"In 1769, the club commenced Fox-hunting. The uniform was ordered to bechanged to 'a red coat, unbound, with small frock sleeve, a green velvetcape, and green waistcoat, and that the sleeve have no buttons; in everyother form to be like the old uniform; and the red saddle-cloth to bebound with green instead of blue, the fronts of the saddles to remainthe same. '

"At the same time there was an alteration in regard to drinkingorders--'That instead of three collar bumpers, only one shall be drunk, except a fox be killed above ground, and then one other collar glassshall be drunk to "Fox-hunting. " Among the names of the original membersin 1762, we recognise many whose descendants have maintained in thisgeneration their ancestral reputation as sportsmen. For instance, Crewe, Mainwaring, Wilbraham, Smith, Barry, Cholmondeley, Stanley, Grosvenor, Townley, Watkin Williams Wynne, Stanford. But, although the TarporleyHunt Club has been maintained and thriven through the reigns of GeorgeIII. , George IV. , William IV. , and Victoria, the pack of hounds, destroyed or removed by various accidents, have been more than oncerenewed. But the Brocklesby pack has been maintained in the family ofthe present Earl of Yarborough more than 130 years without break orchange of blood; and a written pedigree of the pack has been kept forupwards of 100 years; and it is now the oldest pack in the kingdom. TheCottesmore, which was established before the Brocklesby, has beenrepeatedly dispersed and has long passed out of the hands of the familyof the Noels--by whom it was first established 200 years ago. "

By the kindness of Lord Yarborough, I was permitted to examine all thepapers connected with his hounds. Among them is a memorandum dated April20, 1713: it is agreed "between Sir John Tyrwhitt, Charles Pelham, Esq. , and Robert Vyner, Esq. (another name well known in modern huntingannals), that the foxhounds now kept by the said Sir John Tyrwhitt andMr. Pelham shall be joyned in one pack, and the three have a jointinterest in the said hounds for five years, each for one-third of theyear. " And it was agreed that the establishment should consist of"sixteen couple of hounds, three horses, and a huntsman and a boy. " Soapparently they only hunted one day a week. It would seem that, underthe terms of the agreement, the united pack soon passed into the handsof Mr. Pelham, and down to the present day the hounds have been brandedwith a P. I also found at Brocklesby a rough memoranda of the kennelfrom 1710 to 1746; after that date the Stud Book has been distinctlykept up without a break. From 1797 the first Lord Yarborough keptjournals of the pedigree of hounds in his own handwriting; and since histime by the father, the grandfather, and great-grandfather of thepresent huntsman. 

In the time of the first Lord Yarborough, his country extended over thewhole of the South Wold country, part of the now Burton Hunt, and partof North Nottinghamshire; and he used to go down into both thosedistricts for a month at a time to hunt the woodlands. There were, as hetold his grandson when he began hunting, only three or four fencesbetween Horncastle and Brigg, a distance of at least thirty miles. 

Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt kept harriers at his Manor House of Aylsby, at thefoot of the Lincolnshire Wolds, before he turned them into fox-hounds. Abarn at Aylsby was formerly known as the "Kennels. " The Aylsby estatehas passed, in the female line, into the Oxfordshire family of theTyrwhitt Drakes, who are so well known as masters of hounds, andfirst-rate sportsmen; while a descendant of Squire Vyner, ofLincolnshire, has, within the last twenty years, been a master offox-hounds in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Mr. Meynell, the fatherof modern fox-hunting, and founder of the Quorn Hunt, formed his packchiefly of drafts from the Brocklesby. 

Between the period that fox-hunting superseded hare-hunting in theestimation of country squires, and that when the celebrated Mr. Meynellreduced it to a science, and prepared the way for making hunting inLeicestershire almost an aristocratic institution, a great change tookplace in the breed of the hounds and horses, and in the style ofhorsemanship. Under the old system, the hounds were taken out beforelight to hunt back by his drag the fox who had been foraging all night, and set on him as he lay above his stopped-earth, before he had digestedhis meal of rats or rabbits. The breed of hounds partook more of thelong-eared, dew-lapped, heavy, crock-kneed southern hound, or of thebloodhound. Well-bred horses, too, were less plentiful than they arenow. 

But the change to fast hounds, fast horses, and fast men, took place ata much more distant date than some of our hard-riding young swells of1854 seem to imagine. A portrait of a celebrated hound, Ringwood, atBrocklesby Park, painted by Stubbs, the well-known animal painter in1792, presents in an extraordinary manner the type and character of someof the best hounds remotely descended from him, although the Cheshiresong says:--

 "When each horse wore a crupper, each squire a pigtail, Ere Blue Cap and Wanton taught greyhounds to scurry, With music in plenty--oh, where was the hurry?"

But it is more than eighty years since Blue Cap and Wanton ran theirrace over Newmarket Heath, which for speed has never been excelled byany modern hounds. 

And it is a curious fact, that although Somerville, the author of TheChase, died in 1742, his poem contains as clear and correct directionsfor fox-hunting, with few exceptions, as if it were written yesterday. So that the art must have arrived at perfection within sixty or seventyyears. In the long reign of George III. The distinction between town andcountry was much broken down, and the isolation in which country squireslived destroyed. Packs of hounds, kept for the amusement of a smalldistrict, became, as it were, public property. At length the meets ofhounds began to be regularly given in the country newspapers. 

With every change sportsmen of the old school have prophesied the totalruin of fox-hunting. Roads and canals excited great alarm to ourfathers. In our time every one expected to see sport entirely destroyedby railroads; but we were mistaken, and have lived to consider themalmost an essential auxiliary of a good hunting district. 

Looking back at the manner in which fox-hunting has grown up with ourhabits and customs, and increased in the number of packs, number ofhunting days, and number of horsemen, in full proportion with wealth andpopulation, one cannot help being amused at the simplicity with whichMrs. Beecher Stowe, who comes from a country where people seldom amusethemselves out of doors (except in making money), tells in her "SunnyMemories, " how, when she dined with Lord John Russell, at Richmond, theconversation turned on hunting; and she expressed her astonishment"that, in the height of English civilisation, this vestige of the savagestate should remain. " "Thereupon they only laughed, and told storiesabout fox-hunters. " They might have answered with old Gervase Markham, "Of all the field pleasures wherewith Old Time and man's inventions hathblessed the hours of our recreations, there is none so excellent as thedelight of hunting, being compounded like an harmonious concert of allthe best partes of most refined pleasures, as music, dancing, runningand ryding. "

Mrs. Stowe's distinguished countryman, Washington Irving, took a sounderview of our rural pleasures; for he says in his charming "SketchBook:"--

"The fondness for rural life among the higher classes of the English hashad a great and salutary effect upon national character. I do not know afiner race of men than the English gentlemen. Instead of the softnessand effeminacy which characterizes the men of rank of most countries, they exhibit a union of elegance and strength, of robustness of frameand freshness of complexion, which I am inclined to attribute to theirliving so much in the open air, pursuing so eagerly the invigoratingrecreations of the country. "

FOOTNOTES:

[213-*] I think this is a mistake. In a copy of the rules forwarded tome by a Cheshire squire, one of the hereditary members of the club, itis a pair of _gloves_. But in the notes, the songs and ballads by R. Egerton Warburton, Esq. , of Arley Hall, it is printed "breeches. "

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE WILD PONIES OF EXMOOR. 

In England there are so few wild horses, that the following descriptionof a visit I made to Exmoor a few years ago in the month of September, may be doubly interesting, since Mr. Rarey has shown a short and easymethod of dealing with the principal produce of that truly wild region. 

The road from South Molton to Exmoor is a gradual ascent over asuccession of hills, of which each descent, however steep, leads to astill longer ascent, until you reach the high level of Exmoor. The firstsix miles are through real Devonshire lanes; on each side high banks, all covered with fern and grass, and topped with shrubs and trees; formiles we were hedged in with hazels, bearing nuts with a luxuriancewonderful to the eyes of those accustomed to see them sold at thecorners of streets for a penny the dozen. In spring and summer, wildflowers give all the charms of colour to these game-preservinghedgerows; but a rainy autumn had left no colour among the rich greenfoliage, except here and there a pyramid of the bright red berries ofthe mountain ash. 

So, up hill and down dale, over water-courses--now merrily trotting, anon descending, and not less merrily trudging up, steep ascents--weproceed by a track as sound as if it had been under the care of a modelboard of trustees--for the simple reason that it rested on natural rock. We pushed along at an average rate of some six miles an hour, allowingfor the slow crawling up hills; passing many rich fields wherein fatoxen of the Devon breed calmly grazed, with sheep that had certainly notbeen bred on mountains. Once we passed a deserted copper-mine; which, after having been worked for many years, had at length failed, or grownunprofitable, under the competition of the richer mines of Cuba andSouth Australia. A long chimney, peering above deserted cottages, and aplentiful crop of weeds, was the sole monument of departed glories--inshares and dividends--and mine-captain's promises. 

At length the hedges began to grow thinner; beeches succeeded thehazels; the road, more rugged and bare showed the marks where winter'srains had ploughed deep channels; and, at the turn of a steep hill, wesaw, on the one hand, the brown and blue moor stretching before andabove us; and on the other hand, below, like a map, the fertile vale layunrolled, various in colour, according to the crops, divided byenclosures into every angle from most acute to most obtuse. Below wasthe cultivation of centuries; above, the turnip--the greatestimprovement of modern agriculture--flourished, a deep green, under theprotection of fences of very recent date. 

One turnpike, and cottages at rare intervals, had so far kept up theidea of population; but now, far as the horizon extended, not a place ofhabitation was to be seen; until, just in a hollow bend out of theascending road, we came upon a low white farm-house, of humblepretensions, flanked by a great turf-stack (but no signs of corn; nofold-yard full of cattle), which bore, on a board of great size, in longletters, this imposing announcement, "The Poltimore Arms. " Our drivernot being of the usual thirsty disposition of his tribe, we did not testthe capabilities of the one hostelry and habitation on Lord Poltimore'sMoorland Estate, but, pushing on, took the reins while our conductordescended to open a gate in a large turf and stone wall. We passedthrough--left Devon--entered Somerset; and the famous Exmoor estate of20, 000 acres, bounded by a wall forty miles in length, the object of ourjourney, lay before us. 

Very dreary was this part of our journey, although, contrary to thecustom of the country, the day was bright and clear, and the Septembersun defeated the fogs, and kept at a distance the drizzling rains whichin winter sweep over Exmoor. We had now left the smooth, rocky-flooredroad, and were travelling along what most resembled the dry bed of atorrent: turf banks on each side seemed rather intended to define thanto divide the property. As far as the eye could reach, the rushy tuftedmoorland extended, bounded in the distance by lofty, round-backed hills. Thinly scattered about were horned sheep and Devon red oxen. For abouttwo miles we jolted gently on, until, beginning to descend a hill, ourdriver pointed in the valley below to a spot where stacks of hay andturf guarded a series of stone buildings, saying, "There's the Grange. "The first glance was not encouraging--no sheep-station in Australiacould seem more utterly desolate; but it improved on closer examination. The effects of cultivation were to be seen in the different colours ofthe fields round the house, where the number of stock grazing showedthat more than ordinary means must have been taken to improve thepasture. 

We started on Exmoor ponies to ride to Simon's Bath. 

Exmoor, previous to 1818, was the property of the Crown, and leased toSir Thomas Dyke Acland, who has an estate of a similar character closeadjoining. He used its wild pasture (at that time it was without roads)for breeding ponies and feeding Exmoor sheep. There are no traces of anypopulation having ever existed on this forest since Roman times. TheRomans are believed to have worked iron-mines on the moor, which haverecently been re-opened. 

Exmoor consists of 20, 000 acres, on an elevation varying from 1000 to1200 feet above the sea, of undulating table-land, divided by valleys, or "combes, " through which the River Exe--which rises in one of itsvalleys--with its tributary, the Barle, forces a devious way, in theform of pleasant trout-streams, rattling over and among huge stones, andcreeping through deep pools--a very angler's paradise. Like many similardistricts in the Scotch Highlands, the resort of the red deer, it iscalled a forest, although trees--with the exception of some veryinsignificant plantations--are as rare as men. After riding all day witha party of explorers, one of them suddenly exclaimed, "Look, there is aman!" A similar expression escaped me when we came in sight of the firsttree--a gnarled thorn, standing alone on the side of a valley. 

The sides of the steep valleys, of which some include an acre, andothers extend for miles, are usually covered with coarse herbage, heather, and bilberry plants, springing from a deep black or red soil:at certain spots a greener hue marks the site of the bogs which impede, and at times almost engulph, the incautious horseman. These bogs areformed by springs, which, having been intercepted by a pan of sediment, and prevented from percolating through the soil, stagnate, and cause, atthe same time, decay and vicious vegetation. They are seldom deep, andcan usually be reclaimed by subsoiling or otherwise breaking the pan, and so drying the upper layers of bog. Bog-turf is largely employed onExmoor as fuel. On other precipitous descents, winter torrents havewashed away all the earth, and left avalanches of bare loose stones, called, in the western dialect, "crees. " To descend these crees at aslapping pace in the course of a stag-hunt, requires no slight degree ofnerve; but it is done, and is not so dangerous as it looks. 

Exmoor may be nothing strange to those accustomed to the wild, barrenscenery. To one who has known country scenes only in the best-cultivatedregions of England, and who has but recently quitted the perpetual roarof London, there is something strangely solemn and impressive in thedeep silence of a ride across the forest. Horses bred on the moors, ifleft to themselves, rapidly pick their way through pools and bogs, andcanter smoothly over dry flats of natural meadow; creep safely down theprecipitous descents, and climb with scarcely a puff of distress thesesteep ascents; splash through fords in the trout-streams, swelled byrain, without a moment's hesitation, and trot along sheep-paths, bestrewed with rolling stones, without a stumble: so that you areperfectly at liberty to enjoy the luxury of excitement, and follow outthe winding valleys, and study the rich brown and purple herbage. 

It was while advancing over a great brown plain in the centre of themoor, with a deep valley on our left, that our young quick-eyed guidesuddenly held up his hand, whispering, "Ride on without seeming to takenotice; there are the deer. " A great red stag, lying on the brown grass, had sprung up, and was gazing on our party--too numerous and toobrightly attired to be herdsmen, whom he would have allowed to passwithout notice. Behind him were clustered four hinds and a calf. Theystood still for some minutes watching our every movement, as we tried toapproach them in a narrowing circle. Then the stag moved off slowly, with stately, easy, gliding steps, constantly looking back. The hindspreceded him: they reached the edge of the valley, and disappeared. Wegalloped up, and found that they had exchanged the slow retreat for arapid flight, clearing every slight or suspicious obstacle with a grace, ease, and swiftness it was delightful to witness. In an incredibly shorttime they had disappeared, hidden by undulations in the apparently flatmoor. 

These were one of the few herds still remaining on the forest. In ashort time the wild deer of Exmoor will be a matter of tradition; andthe hunt, which may be traced back to the time of Queen Elizabeth, will, if continued, descend to the "cart and calf" business. 

A sight scarcely less interesting than the deer was afforded by a whitepony mare, with her young stock--consisting of a foal still sucking, ayearling, and a two-year-old--which we met in a valley of the Barle. Thetwo-year-old had strayed away feeding, until alarmed by the cracking ofour whips and the neighing of its dam, when it came galloping down asteep combe, neighing loudly, at headlong speed. It is thus these ponieslearn their action and sure-footedness. 

It was a district such as we had traversed--entirely wild, withoutinclosures, or roads, or fences--that came into the hands of the fatherof the present proprietor. He built a fence of forty miles around it, made roads, reclaimed a farm for his own use at Simon's Bath, introducedHighland cattle on the hills, and set up a considerable stud forimproving the indigenous race of ponies, and for rearing full-sizedhorses. These improvements, on which some three hundred thousand poundswere sunk, were not profitable; and it is very doubtful whether anyconsiderable improvements could have been prosecuted successfully, ifrailways had not brought better markets within reach of the district. 

Coming from a part of the country where ponies are the perquisites ofold ladies and little children, and where the nearer a well-shaped horsecan be got to sixteen hands the better, the first feeling on mounting arough little unkemped brute, fresh from the moor, barely twelve hands(four feet) in height, was intensely ridiculous. It seemed as if theslightest mistake would send the rider clean over the animal's head. Butwe learned soon that the indigenous pony, in certain useful qualities, is not to be surpassed by animals of greater size and pretensions. 

From the Grange to Simon's Bath (about three miles), the road, whichruns through the heart of Exmoor proper, was constructed, with all theother roads in this vast extra-parochial estate, by the father of thepresent proprietor, F. Knight, Esq. , of Wolverly House, Worcestershire, M. P. For East Worcestershire (Parliamentary Secretary of the Poor LawBoard, under Lord Derby's Government). In the course of a considerablepart of the route, the contrast of wild moorland and high cultivationmay be found only divided by the carriage-way. 

At length, descending a steep hill, we came in sight of a view--of whichExmoor and its kindred district in North Devon affords many--a deepgorge, at whose precipitous base a trout-stream rolled along, gurglingand plashing, and winding round huge masses of white spar. The far banksometimes extended out into natural meadows, where red cattle and wildponies grazed, and sometimes rose precipitously. At one point, whereboth banks were equally steep and lofty, the far side was covered by aplantation with a cover of under-wood; but no trees of sufficientmagnitude to deserve the name of a wood. This is a spot famous in theannals of a grand sport that soon will be among things of the past--WildStag Hunting. In this wood more than once the red monarch of Exmoor hasbeen roused, and bounded over the rolling plains beyond, amid the shoutsof excited hunters and the deep cry of the hounds, as with a burringscent they dashed up the steep breast of the hill. 

But there was no defiant stag there that day; so on we trotted on ourshaggy sure-footed nags, beneath a burning sun--a sun that sparkled onthe flowing waters as they gleamed between far distant hills, and threwa golden glow upon the fading tints of foliage and herbage, and castdeep shadows from the white overhanging rocks. 

Next we came to the deep pool that gives the name to Simon's Bath, wheresome unhappy man of that name, in times when deer were more plentifulthan sheep, drowned himself for love, or in madness, or both--longbefore roads, farms, turnip crops, a school, and a church were dreamedof on Exmoor. Here fences give signs of habitation and cultivation. Arude, ancient bridge, with two arches of different curves, covered withturf, without side battlements or rails, stretches across the stream, and leads to a small house built for his own occupation by the father ofMr. Knight, pending the completion of a mansion of which the unfinishedwalls of one wing rise like a dismantled castle from the midst of agrove of trees and ornamented shrubs. 

A series of gentle declivities, plantations, a winding, full-flowingstream, seem only to require a suitable edifice and the hand of anartist gardener to make, at comparatively trifling expense, an abodeunequalled in luxuriant and romantic beauty. We crossed the stream--notby the narrow bridge, but by the ford; and, passing through thestraggling stone village of Simon's Bath, arrived in sight of the fieldwhere the Tattersall of the West was to sell the wild and tame horsestock bred on the moors. It was a field of some ten acres and a half, forming a very steep slope, with the upper path comparatively flat, thesloping side broken by a stone quarry, and dotted over with huge blocksof granite. At its base flowed an arm of the stream we had foundmargining our route. A substantial, but, as the event proved, notsufficiently high stone fence bounded the whole field. On the upperpart, a sort of double pound, united by a narrow neck, with a gate ateach end, had been constructed of rails, upwards of five feet in height. Into the first of these pounds, by ingenious management, all the ponies, wild and tame, had been driven. When the sale commenced, it was the dutyof the herdsmen to separate two at a time, and drive them through thenarrow neck into the pound before the auctioneer. Around a crowd ofspectators of every degree were clustered--'squires and clergymen, horse-dealers and farmers, from Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, aswell as South Devon, and the immediate neighbourhood. 

These ponies are the result of crosses made years ago with Arab, Dongola, and thorough-bred stallions, on the indigenous race of Exmoors, since carefully culled from year to year for the purpose of securing theutmost amount of perfection among the stallions and mares reserved forbreeding purposes. The real Exmoor seldom exceeds twelve hands; has awell-shaped head, with very small ears; but the thick round shoulderpeculiar to all breeds of wild horses, which seem specially adapted forinclemencies of the weather; indeed, the whole body is round, compact, and well ribbed. The Exmoor has very good quarters and powerful hocks;legs straight, flat, and clean; the muscles well developed by earlyracing up and down steep mountain sides while following their dams. Inabout forty lots the prevailing colours were bay, brown, and gray;chestnuts and blacks were less frequent, and not in favour with thecountry people, many of whom seemed to consider that the indigenous racehad been deteriorated by the sedulous efforts made and making to improveit--an opinion which we could not share after examining some of the bestspecimens, in which a clean blood-like head and increased size seemed tohave been given, without any diminution of the enduring qualities of theExmoor. 

The sale was great fun. Perched on convenient rails, we had the wholescene before us. The auctioneer rather hoarse and quite matter-of-fact;the ponies wildly rushing about the first enclosure, were withdifficulty separated into pairs to be driven in the sale section; whenfairly hemmed in through the open gate, they dashed and made a sort ofcircus circuit, with mane and tail erect, in a style that would drawgreat applause at Astley's. Then there was the difficulty of decidingwhether the figures marked in white on the animal's hind-quarters were 8or 3 or 5. Instead of the regular trot up and down of Tattersall's, awhisk of a cap was sufficient to produce a tremendous caper. A verypretty exhibition was made by a little mare, with a late foal about thesize of a setter dog. [228-*]

The sale over, a most amusing scene ensued: every man who had bought apony wanted to catch it. In order to clear the way, each lot, as sold, as wild and nearly as active as deer, had been turned into the field. Ajoint-stock company of pony-catchers, headed by the champion wrestler ofthe district--a hawk-nosed, fresh-complexioned, rustic Don Juan--stoodready to be hired, at the moderate rate of sixpence per pony caught anddelivered. One carried a bundle of new halters; the others, warmed by aliberal distribution of beer, seemed as much inspired by the fun as thesixpence. When the word was given, the first step was to drive a herdinto the lowest corner of the field in as compact a mass as possible. The bay, gray, or chestnut, from that hour doomed to perpetual slaveryand exile from his native hills, was pointed out by the nervous anxiouspurchaser. Three wiry fellows crept cat-like among the mob, shelteringbehind some tame cart-horses; on a mutual signal they rushed on thedevoted animal; two--one bearing a halter--strove to fling each one armround its neck, and with one hand to grasp its nostrils--while theinsidious third, clinging to the flowing tail; tried to throw the poorquadruped off its balance. Often they were baffled in the first effort, for with one wild spring the pony would clear the whole lot, and flyingwith streaming mane and tail across the brook up the field, leave thewhole work to be recommenced. Sometimes when the feat was cleverlyperformed, pony and pony-catchers were to be seen all rolling on theground together; the pony yelling, snorting, and fighting with his forefeet, the men clinging on like the Lapithæ and the Centaurs, and howescaping crushed ribs or broken legs it is impossible to imagine. On oneoccasion a fine brown stallion dashed away, with two plucky fellowshanging on to his mane: rearing, plunging, fighting with his fore feet, away he bounded down a declivity among the huge rocks, amid theencouraging cheers of the spectators: for a moment the contest wasdoubtful, so tough were the sinews, and so determined the grip of Davy, the champion; but the steep bank of the brook, down which the brownstallion recklessly plunged, was too much for human efforts (in a momentthey all went together into the brook), but the pony, up first, leapedthe opposite bank and galloped away, whinnying in short-lived triumph. 

After a series of such contests, well worth the study of artists notcontent with pale copies from marbles or casts, the difficulty ofhaltering these snorting steeds--equal in spirit and probably in size tothose which drew the car of Boadicea--was diminished by all thoseuncaught being driven back to the pound; and there, not without furiousbattles, one by one enslaved. 

Yet even when haltered, the conquest was by no means concluded. Somerefused to stir, others started off at such a pace as speedily broughtthe holder of the halter on his nose. One respectable old gentleman, ingray stockings and knee-breeches, lost his animal in much less time thanit took him to extract the sixpence from his knotted purse. 

Yet in all these fights there was little display of vice; it was purefright on the part of the ponies that made them struggle so. A fewdays' confinement in a shed, a few carrots, with a little salt, andgentle treatment, reduces the wildest of the three-year-olds todocility. When older they are more difficult to manage. It was a prettysight to view them led away, splashing through the brook--conquered, butnot yet subdued. 

In the course of the evening a little chestnut stallion, twelve hands, or four feet in height, jumped, at a standing jump, over the bars out ofa pound upward of five feet from the ground, only just touching the toprail with his hind feet. 

We had hoped to have a day's wild stag hunting, but the hounds were outon the other side of the country. However, we had a few runs with ascratch pack of harriers after stout moorland hares. The dandy school, who revel in descriptions of coats and waistcoats, boots and breeches, and who pretend that there is no sport without an outfit which is onlywithin the reach of a man with ten thousand a year, would no doubt havebeen extremely disgusted with the whole affair. We rose at five o'clockin the morning and hunted puss up to her form (instead of paying ashilling to a boy to turn her out) with six couples, giving tongue mostmelodiously. Viewing her away we rattled across the crispy brown moor, and splattered through bogs with a loose rein, in lunatic enjoyment, until we checked at the edge of a deep "combe. " Then--when the oldyellow Southerner challenged, and our young host cheered him with "Harkto Reveller, hark!"--to hear the challenge and the cheer re-echoed againfrom the opposite cliff; and--as the little pack in full cry again tookup the running, and scaled the steep ascent--to see our young huntsman, bred in these hills, go rattling down the valleys, and to follow byinstinct, under a vague idea, not unmixed with nervous apprehensions ofthe consequences of a slip, that what one could do two could, was vastlyexciting, and amusing, and, in a word, decidedly jolly. So with manyfacts, some new ideas, and a fine stock of health from a week of openair, I bade farewell to my hospitable hosts and to romantic Exmoor. 

FOOTNOTES:

[228-*] According to tradition, the Exmoor ponies are descended fromhorses brought from the East by the Phoenicians, who traded there withCornwall for metals. 

[Illustration: SITZ BATH. ]

POSTSCRIPT. 

THE HUNTING MAN'S HEALTH. 

Without health there can be no sport. A man at the commencement of thehunting often requires condition more than his horse, especially ifengaged in sedentary occupations, and averse to summer riding orwalking. Of course the proper plan is to train by walking or riding. Iremember, some years ago, when three months of severe mental occupationhad kept me entirely out of the saddle, going out in Northamptonshire, fortunately admirably mounted, when the hounds were no sooner in coverthan they were out of it, "running breast high, " five minutes after Ihad changed from my seat in a dog-cart to the saddle. We had thirty-fiveminutes' sharp run, without a check, and for the latter part of the runI was perfectly beaten, almost black in the face, and scarcely able tohold my horse together. I did not recover from this too sudden exertionfor many days. Those who are out of condition will do well to ride, instead of driving to cover. 

In changing from town to country life, between the different hours ofrising and hearty meals--the result of fresh air and exercise--thestomach and bowels are very likely to get out of order. It is as well, therefore, to be provided with some mild digestive pills: violent purgesare as injurious to men as to horses, and more inconvenient. 

The enema is a valuable instrument, which a hunting man should not bewithout, as its use, when you are in strong exercise, is often moreadvisable than medicine. 

But one of the most valuable aids to the health and spirits of ahard-riding man is the Sitz Bath, which, taken morning and evening, coldor tepid, according to individual taste, has even more advantageouseffects on the system than a complete bath. It braces the muscles, strengthens the nerves, and tends to keep the bowels open. Sitz bathsare made in zinc, and are tolerably portable; but in a country place youmay make shift with a tub half-filled with water. In taking this kind ofbath, it is essential that the parts not in the water should be warm andcomfortable. For this end, in cold weather, case your feet and legs inwarm stockings, and cover your person and tub with a poncho, through thehole of which you can thrust your head. In default of a poncho, a plaidor blanket will do, and in warm weather a sheet. If you begin withtepid water, you will soon be able to bear cold, as after the firstshock the cold disappears. The water must not reach higher than yourhips, rather under than over. The time for a Sitz bath varies from tento twenty minutes, not longer, during which you may read or smoke; butthen you will need sleeves, for it is essential that you should becovered all the time. I often take a cup of coffee in this bath, itsaves time in breakfasting. In the illustration, the blanket has beenturned back to show the right position. 

THE HOT-AIR OR INDIAN BATH. 

In case of an attack of cold or influenza, or a necessity for sweatingoff a few pounds, or especially after a severe fall, there is no bath soeffective and so simple as the hot-air or Indian bath. This is made witha wooden-bottomed kitchen chair, a few blankets, a tin cup, and aclaret-glass of spirits of wine. For want of spirits of wine you mightuse a dozen of Price's night lights. 

Take a wooden-bottomed chair, and place it in a convenient part of thebedroom, where a fire should be previously lighted. Put under the chaira narrow metal cup or gallipot, if it will stand fire filled withspirits of wine. Let the bather strip to his drawers, and sit down onthe chair with a fold of flannel under him, for the seat will getextremely hot--put on his knees a slop-basin, with a sponge and a littlecold water. Then take four blankets or rugs, and lay them, one over hisback, one over his front, and one on each side, so as to cover himclosely in a woollen tent, and wrap his head up in flannel or silk--ifhe is cold or shivering put his feet in warm water, or on a hot brickwrapped in flannel. Then light the spirits of wine, which will very soonmake a famous hot-air bath. By giving the patient a little _cold water_to drink, perspiration will be encouraged; if he finds the airinconveniently hot before he begins to perspire, he can use the spongeand slop-basin to bathe his chest, &c. 

[Illustration: INDIAN BATH. ]

When the perspiration rolls like rain from his face, and you think hehas had enough, have a blanket warmed at the fire, strip him, roll himin it, and tumble him into bed. In five or ten minutes, you can takeaway the blanket and put on his night shirt--give him a drink of whitewine whey, and he will be ready to go to sleep comfortably. 

This bath can be administered when a patient is too ill to be put in awarm bath, and is more effective. I have seen admirable results from iton a gentleman after a horse had rolled over him. 

It can also be prepared in a few minutes, in places where to get a warmbath would be out of the question. 

In the illustration, the blanket is turned back, to show the properposition, and by error the head is not covered. 

Woodfall and Kinder Printers, Angel Court, Skinner Street, London. 

"_If the steamboat and the railway have abridged time and space, andmade a large addition to the available length of human existence, whymay not our intellectual journey be also accelerated, our knowledge morecheaply and quickly acquired, its records rendered more accessible andportable, its cultivators increased in number, and its blessings morecheaply and widely diffused?_"--QUARTERLY REVIEW. 

 LONDON: FARRINGDON STREET. 

 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & CO. 'S NEW AND CHEAP EDITIONS OF Standard and Popular Works IN

 HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, FICTION, TRAVELS & VOYAGES, NATURAL HISTORY, POETRY & the DRAMA, SPORTING, USEFUL, RELIGIOUS, JUVENILE, And MISCELLANEOUS LITERATURE;

 WITH THE ADDITION OF Illustrated Present Books, AND THE POPULAR CHEAP LIBRARIES. 

 TO BE OBTAINED BY ORDER OF ALL BOOKSELLERS, HOME OR COLONIAL. 

 In ordering, specially mention "ROUTLEDGE'S EDITIONS. "

HISTORY. 

In 1 vol. Price =5=s. Cloth lettered. 

RUSSELL'S MODERN EUROPE EPITOMIZED. For the use of Students and Schools, with an Index, forming a complete Text-Book of Modern History; a perfecttreasury of Facts, Dates, and Important Events; the History of Kingdomsand States, and Lives of celebrated Characters. By GEORGE TOWNSEND. 

In epitomizing this valuable book of reference, Mr. Townsend hasendeavoured to give as fair a view of the leading details of ModernHistory as was possible within the limits. The more interesting portionsof the subjects that stand out in bold and full relief on the map of thepast have been described at greater length, while less important mattershave been abridged, without interrupting the thread of the narrative. Every date has been verified, and the entire work submitted to the mostcareful revision. In fact, Mr. Townsend's aim has been to supply whathas long been wanting in English literature--a Handbook in which thechief events of Modern History are set forth in a clear, concise, andintelligent form. 

All candidates for offices in her Majesty's Civil Service are examinedin "Russell's Modern Europe. "

Three Editions of Robertson and Prescott's Charles the Fifth. 

PRESCOTT AND ROBERTSON'S HISTORY OF CHARLES the FIFTH, being ROBERTSON'SHistory of his Reign. With important original additions by W. H. PRESCOTT. New Index, and Steel Portrait. Uniform with the Editions ofMr. PRESCOTT'S other Works published by R. BENTLEY. 

 1. Library Edition, 2 vols. 8vo, cloth lettered, with a Portrait, price 24s. 2. Cabinet Edition, 2 vols. Post 8vo, with a Portrait, price 12s. 3. The 1 vol. Edition, in crown 8vo, price 5s. 

"In this edition Mr. Prescott has given a brilliant sketch and minuteaccount of the latter days of Charles the Fifth. "--_Times. _

"Robertson's Charles the Fifth is only a history of that reign, lessthan three pages being devoted to Charles's life subsequent to hisabdication. Yet this is the most curious and interesting portion of thatmonarch's existence. The result of Mr. Prescott's examination of theArchives of Simancas has been to exhibit, under a very different aspect, the monastic life of Charles, from that in which it has hitherto beenwritten, and to give great completeness to the original work ofRobertson. "

Each in 2 vols. Boards, =4=s. ; or in cloth, =5=s. 

PRESCOTT'S (W. H. ) HISTORICAL WORKS. Cheap Complete Edition. Viz. :

 FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. 2 vols. CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 2 vols. CONQUEST OF PERU. 2 vols. PHILIP THE SECOND. 2 vols. 

Also, uniform, CHARLES THE FIFTH. 2 vols. By ROBERTSON, with a continuation by PRESCOTT. 

[asterism] _This issue of Mr. Prescott's Historical Works is the onlycheap one that contains, without the slightest abridgment, all the Notesof the original octavo American editions, with full Indexes. _

"To Mr. Prescott belongs the rare distinction of uniting solid meritwith extensive popularity. He has been exalted to the first class ofHistorians--both by the popular voice and the suffrages of the learned. His fame, also, is not merely local, or even national--it is as greatin London, Paris, and Berlin, as at Boston or New York. His works havebeen translated into Spanish, German, French, and Italian; and, intowhatever region they have penetrated, they have met a cordial welcome, and done much to raise the character of American letters andscholarship. "--_Whipple's Essay. _

"Prescott's Works in point of style rank with the ablest Englishhistorians, and paragraphs may be found in which the grace and eleganceof Addison are combined with Robertson's cadence and Gibson'sbrilliancy. "--_Athenæum. _

Price =2=s. Boards, or =2=s. =6=d. Cloth. 

PRESCOTT'S ESSAYS, BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL. --Comprising:

C. B. Brown, the Novelist. Irving's Conquest of Granada. Cervantes. SirWalter Scott. Chateaubriand's Eastern Literature. Bancroft's UnitedStates. Molière. Italian Narrative Poetry. Scottish Song. Poetry andRomance of the Italians. 

In 2 vols. Fcap. 8vo, boards, =4=s. ; or in cloth, =5=s. 

BANCROFT'S HISTORY OF AMERICA. The Colonization and its Results. WithIndex. 

[asterism] This standard Work has, in the five volumes, more than 6000references to the best Historical Works and Manuscripts in existence. Ittakes its stand in literature by the side of Alison's "Europe, " andMacaulay's "England. " Its style is lofty and eloquent, written withcandour, neither exaggerating vices of character, nor reviving nationalanimosities, but rendering a just tribute to virtue, wherever found. 

In fcap. 8vo, boards, each vol. =2=s. , or in cloth, =2=s. =6=d. 

BANCROFT'S HISTORY OF AMERICA. Vols. 3, 4, and 5, with Index. Continuingthe History from its Colonization, and completing a period in theHistory of the American Revolution. 

This cheap edition of Mr. Bancroft's standard Work is now complete asfar as he has written it, and contains the history of the AmericanRevolution considered in all its causes--the rise of the Union of theUnited States from the body of the people--the change in the colonialpolicy of France--and the consequences of the endeavours of GreatBritain to consolidate her power over America. 

In 3 vols. Post 8vo, price =15=s. Cloth lettered. 

MICHAUD'S HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES, The First English Edition translatedfrom the French; with Notes. Memoir and Preface by W. ROBSON. 

"Michaud is faithful, accurate, and learned: his mind is lofty andgenerous, and exactly suitable to the proper filling up of a history ofthe Crusades. "--ALISON. (_Blackwood's Magazine. _)

"Mr. Robson has done a great service in making Michaud's admirable workaccessible to the general reader. "--_The Spectator. _

In 1 vol. 8vo, price =14=s. Cloth lettered. 

THE BRITISH EXPEDITION TO THE CRIMEA. By W. H. RUSSELL, _The Times'_"Special Correspondent. " Being a Revised Edition of "The War, " withadditions and corrections. Illustrated with Plans of the Battles, Woodcuts, and Steel Portrait of Author. 

"It is not surprising if I avail myself of my brief leisure to revise, for the first time, and re-write portions of my work, which relate tothe most critical actions of the war. From the day the Guards landed atMalta, down to the fall of Sebastopol, and the virtual conclusion of thewar, I have had but one short interval of repose. My sincere desire hasbeen, and is, to tell the truth, as far as I know it, respecting all Ihave witnessed. Many incidents in the war, from various hands (many ofthem now cold for ever), I have availed myself of; but the matter of thework is chiefly composed of the facts and materials accumulated in myletters. "

In post 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth gilt. 

A HISTORY OF BRITISH INDIA, from the Earliest Period of EnglishIntercourse to the Present Time. By CHARLES MACFARLANE. With Additionsto the year 1858. Illustrated with numerous Engravings. 

"This admirable aid to the study of British India we particularlyrecommend, as one of the best epitomes that our literaturepossesses. "--_North Wales Chronicle. _

New Edition, brought down to the Peace of Paris, 1856. In 4 vols. 8vo. Price £=1= =10=s. Cloth lettered. 

RUSSELL'S MODERN EUROPE, with a View of the Progress of Society from theRise of the Modern Kingdoms. New Edition, continued to the Peace ofParis, 1856, to which is added a compendious Index compiled expresslyfor this Edition. 

The FOURTH VOLUME, from the year 1802 to 1856, is sold separately, price10s. 6d. ; it forms the best handbook of General History for the lasthalf-century that can be had. All the Candidates for the GovernmentCivil Service are examined in "Russell's Modern Europe, " as to theirknowledge of General History. 

In 2 vols. Crown 8vo, cloth, price =5=s. , or in 1 vol. Cloth gilt, =5=s. =6=d. 

THE HISTORY OF EXTRAORDINARY POPULAR DELUSIONS. By CHARLES MACKAY, LL. D. The Third Edition. Illustrated with One Hundred and Twenty Engravings, from scarce Prints and other authentic sources. 

Among which will be found the following interesting subjects:--TheSOUTH SEA BUBBLE, The TULIPOMANIA, RELICS, MODERN PROPHECIES, DUELS AND ORDEALS, LOVE OF THE MARVELLOUS, The O. P. MANIA, TheCRUSADES, The WITCH MANIA, The SLOW POISONERS, HAUNTED HOUSES, TheALCHYMISTS, --PRETENDED ANTIQUITY OF THE ART, AVICENNA, ALBERTUS MAGNUS, THOMAS AQUINAS, RAYMOND LULLI, ROGER BACON, POPE JOHN XXII. , CORNELIUSAGRIPPA, PARACELSUS, DR. DEE and EDWARD KELLY, The COSMOPOLITE, SENDIVOGIUS, The ROSICRUCIANS, Alchymical Writers of the SeventeenthCentury, DE LISLE, ALBERT ALUYS, COUNT DE ST. GERMAINS, CAGLIOSTRO, Present State of the Sciences, &c. --FORTUNE-TELLING, The MAGNETISERS, &c. 

"These volumes will captivate the attention of readers who, according totheir various tempers, feel either inclined to laugh at or sigh over thefollies of mankind. "--_Times. _

In 1 vol. Post 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth lettered. 

BONNECHOSE'S HISTORY OF FRANCE. The first English Edition. Translated byW. ROBSON, Esq. , Translator of Michaud's "History of the Crusades, " &c. With Illustrations and Index. 

"It is a cleverly written volume, the translation also being easy andflowing; and there is no English manual of French history at once soportable and authentic as this. "--_The Guardian. _

In 1 vol. Post 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth lettered. 

FELICE'S HISTORY OF THE PROTESTANTS OF FRANCE, from the Commencement ofthe Reformation to the Present Time. Translated from the Revised andCorrected Edition. 

"We recommend this work to our readers as one of the most interesting ofReligious History that we have met with after Merle d'Aubigné's'Reformation;' and perhaps, to the reading public generally, moreinteresting and more novel than even that very popular work. "--_Atlas. _

In 1 vol. Royal 8vo, price =6=s. =6=d. Cloth extra. 

HISTORY OF THE POPES. By LEOPOLD RANKE. Including their Church andState, the Re-organization of the Inquisition, the Rise, Progress, andConsolidation of the Jesuits, and the means taken to effect theCounter-reformation in Germany, to revive Romanism in France, and tosuppress Protestant Principles in the South of Europe. Translated fromthe last edition of the German by WALTER K. KELLY, of Trinity College, Dublin. 

"This translation of Ranke we consider to be very superior to any otherin the English language. "--_Dublin Review. _

In small post 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth extra. 

EMBASSIES AND FOREIGN COURTS. A History of Diplomacy. By THE ROVINGENGLISHMAN. The Second Edition. 

"The 'Roving Englishman' is a satirical chronicler. His style is notless lively than severe--not subtle enough for irony, but caustic, free, and full of earnest meaning. This volume is also an admirable manual, skilfully adapted to the purpose of diffusing a general knowledge ofhistory and the working of diplomacy. "--_The Athenæum. _

In small post 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth extra, gilt. 

PICTURES FROM THE BATTLE FIELDS. By THE ROVING ENGLISHMAN. The ThirdEdition, with Illustrations from Sketches taken on the spot, andChapters respecting--

 Scutari and its Hospitals. Miss Nightingale. Balaklava. A Snow Storm. The Commissariat again. A Camp Dinner. The Heights before Sebastopol. The Bashi-Bazouk. Russian Officers and Soldiers. The French Officer. The Zouave. 

"Who is unfamiliar with those brilliant little sketches oftravel--particularly the pictures of Turkish life and manners--from thepen of the 'Roving Englishman, ' that were, week after week, the verytit-bits of 'Household Words?'--Who did not hail their collection into acompanionable-sized volume?--and who will not thank our truly 'fast'friend--the friend of almost everything and everybody but foreignnoodles--the 'Roving Englishman, ' for this new book of sketches?"

In fcap. 8vo, price =1=s. =8=d. Strongly bound, or in cloth gilt, =2=s. , orwith the Questions and Coloured Map, red sheep, =3=s. 

LANDMARKS OF THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By the Rev. JAMES WHITE. (TheTwenty-second Thousand. )

"We hold this to be a pattern volume of cheap literature. It is sowritten that it cannot fail to amuse and enlighten the more ignorant;yet it is a book that may be read with pleasure and profit, too, by themost polished scholar. In a word, excellent gifts are applied to theadvantage of the people--a poetical instinct and a full knowledge ofEnglish History. It has nothing about it of common-place compilation. Itis the work of a man of remarkable ability, having as such a style ofits own, and a grace that cannot fail to exercise its refining influenceupon uneducated people. The amount of solid information it compresses ina small compass excites in the reader's mind repeated surprise. "--_TheExaminer. _

[asterism] Is placed on the list of School Books of the EducationalCommittee of the Privy Council. 

In fcap. 8vo, price =1=s. =6=d. , or =2=s. Cloth gilt. 

LANDMARKS OF THE HISTORY OF GREECE. By the Rev. JAMES WHITE. 

"This book, with its companion volume, deserves to have a place in everyhouse where there are young readers, and in many a house where there arenone but elder ones, able to appreciate the genial writings of a man, who having taste and knowledge at command, sits down to write in thesimplest way the story of a people for a people's reading. "--_Examiner. _

In fcap. 8vo, price =2=s. Cloth, or =2=s. =6=d. Roan lettered. 

GOLDSMITH'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. A New Edition, with Continuation to theDeath of Wellington. With Portraits of all the Sovereigns. 

"In this edition, the editor has added some facts which had beenoverlooked by the author, and preceded the original work by a shortnotice of the earlier history, gathered from the old chroniclers, andcontinued to the present time. To each chapter is appended a series ofquestions, by means of which the tutor will readily be enabled toexamine the pupil as to the impressions the facts have made on hismemory. "

[asterism] Is placed on the list of School Books of the EducationalCommittee of the Privy Council. 

BIOGRAPHY. 

In 4 vols. Crown 8vo, price =10=s. , or in 2 vols. Cloth gilt, =10=s. 

BOSWELL'S LIFE OF DR. JOHNSON, with numerous Portraits, Views, andCharacteristic Designs, engraved from authentic sources. 

"Homer is not more decidedly the first of heroic poets, Shakspeare isnot more decidedly the first of dramatists, Demosthenes is not moredecidedly the first of orators, than Boswell is the first ofbiographers. Many of the greatest men that have ever lived have writtenbiography. Boswell was one of the smallest men that ever lived, and hehas beaten them all. His was talent, and uncommon talent, and to JemmyBoswell we indeed owe many hours of supreme delight. "--_Macaulay. _

In crown 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth extra, gilt. 

THE LIFE, PUBLIC AND DOMESTIC, OF THE RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE. By PETERBURKE, Esq. (of the Inner Temple and the Northern Circuit). Profuselyillustrated with Portraits, Scenes of Events, and Landscape Views, relating to the great Orator and the other noted persons of his time andcareer. 

"This volume attempts to relate the biography of Edmund Burke as aprivate person and a public character in an easily intelligible shape. The author's aim has been to furnish a plain and popular biography, inwhich he trusts he has succeeded. "

In fcap. 8vo, =3=s. Boards, or =3=s. =6=d. Cloth gilt. 

ELLISTON'S LIFE and ENTERPRISES. By GEORGE RAYMOND. Illustrated withPortrait and Engravings on steel, from designs by Phiz, Cruikshank, &c. 

"This is a very entertaining memoir of one of the most gentlemanly, accomplished, and versatile actors who adorned the English stage. Thelife of R. W. Elliston, unlike that of the majority of his professionalbrethren, affords ample materials for a readable book, and this volumepresents indubitable testimony in proof of that fact. "--_Morning Post. _

In 1 vol. Crown 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth extra. 

EXTRAORDINARY MEN: their Boyhood and Early Youth. By WILLIAM RUSSELL, Esq. The Sixth Edition, illustrated with 50 Engravings of Portraits, Birthplaces, Incidents, &c. &c. 

"What a title to interest the youth of this nation! It teaches in everypage lessons of prudence, frugality, industry, and perseverance; and howdifficulties, moral and physical, have been successfully overcome. "

In 1 vol. Crown 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth extra, gilt. 

EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN: their Girlhood and Early Years. By WILLIAM RUSSELL, Esq. Illustrated with numerous Engravings designed and executed byMessrs. Dalziel. 

This volume contains the lives of the Empress Josephine, Christina Queenof Sweden, Catherine Empress of Russia, Mrs. Fry, Madame Roland, Mrs. Hutchinson, Isabella of Castile, Marie Antoinette, Lady Stanhope, Madamede Genlis, Mrs. Opie, &c. &c. 

In 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth lettered. 

EXMOUTH'S (LORD) LIFE. BY EDWARD OSLER. 

"It is the wisdom of those to whom England will hereafter commit thehonour of her flag, to study well the examples of the great sea officerswhose services illustrate the annals of their country. Among thesebright examples, none is more worthy of careful study than Admiral LordExmouth. We therefore hail with pleasure the cheap edition of this greatand good sailor. "

In 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth gilt. 

MARLBOROUGH'S LIFE. By CHARLES MACFARLANE. With Two Illustrations. 

"This is an excellent life of the great General for young readers, andfor those who have not time to make themselves acquainted with thelarger works on the subject. "--_Atlas. _

In 1 vol. Post 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth gilt. 

THE GREAT COMMANDERS OF ALL NATIONS. By G. P. R. JAMES. A new revisedEdition, comprising the Lives of Henry the Fifth, Turenne, the GreatCondé, Marlboro', Peterboro', General Wolfe, Cromwell, Duke of Alva, Gonzalvo de Cordova, &c. , &c. , with Eight Illustrations. 

In 1 vol. Post 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth gilt. 

THE BUCCANEERS (HISTORY OF); or, The Monarchs of the Spanish Main. ByWALTER THORNBURY. With Eight Illustrations by Phiz. 

In 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth gilt. 

WELLINGTON (LIFE OF). By CHAS. MACFARLANE. With Illustrations by JohnGilbert. 

"The times in which we live seem to call for an animated revival of ourmilitary prowess, and of the science, skill, valour, and achievements ofour fathers, as well on the battle-field as on the ocean. "

In fcap. 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth lettered. 

GRIMALDI'S LIFE. Edited by CHARLES DICKENS, and Illustrated by GeorgeCruikshank. 

"The editor has made such alterations in the original manuscript as heconceived would improve the narration of the facts, without anydeparture from the facts themselves. "--_Introductory Chapter. _

In 2 vols. Post 8vo, price =10=s. Cloth lettered. 

CRANMER'S LIFE. By JOHN STRYPE, M. A. , being Memorials of the MostReverend Father in God, Thomas Cranmer, some time Lord Archbishop ofCanterbury. A New Edition, by PHILIP E. BARNES, Esq. , B. A. , F. L. S. , ofthe Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law. 

The works of Strype hold a place amongst the very best authorities, asforming a most valuable portion of the history of the reformation ofreligion in this country, no less than as of standard excellence, inasmuch as the narratives of the most interesting events in the annalsof our country were based by this truly Protestant author upondocumentary evidence, and drawn from original MSS. , the greater part ofwhich are still extant. 

In 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo, price =2=s. =6=d. Cloth gilt. 

NELSON'S LIFE. By JOSEPH ALLEN, Author of "Battles of the British Navy. "With a Portrait of Nelson. 

"To Mr. Allen we owe the inexpressible advantage of being able to readNelson's biography unencumbered by idle speculations, denuded of thetedious detail, and yet sufficiently nautical to give an appropriatecolouring to the exciting and glorious narrative. "--_United ServiceGazette. _

In 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth extra, or with gilt edges, =5=s. =6=d. 

RICHELIEU'S LIFE. By W. ROBSON. With Illustrations. 

"The reader will find much pleasure and profit in perusing Mr. Robson'svery able and intelligent biography. "--_Observer. _

"The student will find the events of Richelieu's life reflected as in amirror. "--_Liverpool Albion. _

In 2 vols. Post 8vo, price =7=s. Cloth lettered. 

CHANNING'S (DR. ) LIFE and CORRESPONDENCE. Edited by his Nephew, WILLIAMHENRY CHANNING. A New Edition, with a Portrait. 

"His nephew has compiled his biography with singular judgment. He hasfollowed the method of Lockhart in his Life of Scott. As far aspossible, the narrative is woven with letters and diaries: the subjectspeaks for himself, and only such intermediate observations of theeditor are given as are necessary to form a connected whole. "

In 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo, price =5=s. Cloth extra, or with gilt edges, =5=s. =6=d. 

JULIUS CÆSAR (LIFE OF). By the Ven. JOHN WILLIAMS, Archdeacon ofCardigan, Author of "Life of Alexander. " Printed on superfine paper, with Four Illustrations. 

"In writing this Life of Julius Cæsar, it has been the aim of the authorto give as truthful a view of the thoughts, words, and deeds of this'foremost man of all the world, ' as well as the chief characters of hisopponents and supporters; thus rendering it, as it were, a biography ofthe celebrated characters who lived in Cæsar's time. "

STANDARD BIOGRAPHY. --CHEAP EDITIONS

In vols. Fcap. 8vo, price =1=s. =6=d. Each, cloth extra. 

 =Life of Nelson. = By Joseph Allen. =Life of Wellington. = By MacFarlane. =Peel (Sir Robert), Life of. = With a Portrait by W. Harvey. =Life of Oliver Goldsmith. = By Washington Irving. =Lives of the Successors of Mahomet. = By Washington Irving. =Monk and Washington. = By F. Guizot. =Representative Men. = By R. W. Emerson. 

FICTION. 

THE STANDARD EDITION OF THE

NOVELS AND ROMANCES OF SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, BART. , M. P. Uniformlyprinted in crown 8vo, corrected and revised throughout, with newPrefaces. 

20 vols. In 10, price =£3= =3=s. Cloth extra; or any volumes separately, incloth binding, as under:--

 _s. _ _d. _ RIENZI: THE LAST OF THE TRIBUNES 3 6 PAUL CLIFFORD 3 6 PELHAM: OR, THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 3 6 EUGENE ARAM. A Tale 3 6 LAST OF THE BARONS 5 0 LAST DAYS OF POMPEII 3 6 GODOLPHIN 3 0 PILGRIMS OF THE RHINE 2 6 NIGHT AND MORNING 4 0 ERNEST MALTRAVERS 3 6 ALICE; OR THE MYSTERIES 3 6 THE DISOWNED 3 6 DEVEREUX 3 6 ZANONI 3 6 LEILA; OR THE SIEGE OF GRANADA 2 6 HAROLD 4 0 LUCRETIA 4 0 THE CAXTONS 4 0 MY NOVEL (2 vols. ) 8 0

 Or the Set complete in 20 vols. =£3= =11= =6= " " half-calf extra =5= =5= =0= " " half-morocco =5= =11= =6=

"No collection of prose fictions, by any single author, contains thesame variety of experience--the same amplitude of knowledge andthought--the same combination of opposite extremes, harmonized by anequal mastership of art; here, lively and sparkling fancies; there, vigorous passion or practical wisdom--these works abound inillustrations that teach benevolence to the rich, and courage to thepoor; they glow with the love of freedom; they speak a sympathy with allhigh aspirations, and all manly struggle; and where, in their moretragic portraitures, they depict the dread images of guilt and woe, theyso clear our judgment by profound analysis, while they move our heartsby terror or compassion, that we learn to detect and stifle in ourselvesthe evil thought which we see gradually unfolding itself into the guiltydeed. "--_Extract from Bulwer Lytton and his Works. _

The above are printed on superior paper, bound in cloth. Each volume isembellished with an Illustration; and this Standard Edition is admirablysuited for private, select, and public Libraries. 

The odd Numbers and Parts to complete volumes may be obtained; and thecomplete series is now in course of issue in Three-halfpenny WeeklyNumbers, or in Monthly Parts, Sevenpence each. 

UNIFORM ILLUSTRATED EDITIONS OF MR. AINSWORTH'S WORKS. 

In 1 vol. Demy 8vo, price =6=s. Each, cloth, emblematically gilt. 

TOWER OF LONDON (The). With Forty Illustrations on Steel; and numerousEngravings on Wood by George Cruikshank. 

LANCASHIRE WITCHES. Illustrated by J. Gilbert. 

JACK SHEPPARD. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. 

OLD ST. PAUL'S. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. 

GUY FAWKES. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. 

In 1 vol. Demy 8vo, price =5=s. Each, cloth gilt. 

CRICHTON. With Steel Illustrations, from designs by H. K. Browne. 

WINDSOR CASTLE. With Steel Engravings, and Woodcuts by Cruikshank. 

MISER'S DAUGHTER. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. 

ROOKWOOD. With Illustrations by John Gilbert. 

SPENDTHRIFT. With Illustrations by Phiz. 

STAR CHAMBER. With Illustrations by Phiz. 

"It is scarcely surprising that Harrison Ainsworth should have securedto himself a very wide popularity, when we consider how happily he haschosen his themes. Sometimes, by the luckiest inspiration, he has chosena romance of captivating and enthralling fascinations, such as'Crichton, ' the 'Admirable Crichton. ' Surely no one ever hit upon aworthier hero of romance, not from the days of Apuleius to those of LeSage or of Bulwer Lytton. Sometimes the scene and the very title of hisromance have been some renowned structure, a palace, a prison, or afortress. It is thus with the 'Tower of London, ' 'Windsor Castle, ' 'OldSt. Paul's. ' Scarcely less ability, or, rather, we should say, perhapsmore correctly, scarcely less adroitness in the choice of a new theme, in the instance of one of his latest literary productions, viz. , the'Star Chamber. ' But the readers of Mr. Ainsworth--and they now numberthousands upon thousands--need hardly be informed of this: and now thata uniform illustrated edition of his works is published, we do not doubtbut that this large number of readers even will be considerablyincreased. "--_Sun. _

In 1 vol. Fcap. 8vo, price =3=s. =6=d. Cloth gilt, or with gilt edges, =4=s. 

FLITCH OF BACON (The); or, the Custom of Dunmow. A Tale of English Home. By W. H. AINSWORTH, Esq. With Illustrations by John Gilbert. The SecondEdition. 

"Certainly no custom was ever more popular; the fame of it is bruitedthroughout the length and breadth of the land. It is a subject thatgives excellent scope to a writer of fiction; and Mr. Ainsworth, byskilful treatment, has rendered it most entertaining. The materials areput together with dramatic force. "--_Examiner. _

"In our judgment, one of the best of Mr. Ainsworth'sromances. "--_Scottish Citizen. _

In 1 vol. , price =8=s. =6=d. Cloth gilt. 

COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. By ALEXANDRE DUMAS. Comprising the Château d'If, with 20 Illustrations, drawn on Wood by M. Valentin, and executed by thebest English engravers. 

"'Monte Cristo' is Dumas' best production, and the work that will conveyhis name to the remembrance of future generations as a writer. "

In 8vo, cloth extra, price =2=s. =6=d. Gilt back. 

FANNY, THE LITTLE MILLINER; or, the Rich and the Poor. By CHARLESROWCROFT, Author of "Tales of the Colonies, " &c. With 27 Illustrationsby Phiz. 

In 2 vols. 8vo, reduced to =12=s. =6=d. Cloth, emblematically gilt; orthe 2 vols. In 1, price =10=s. =6=d. Cloth extra, gilt. 

CARLETON'S TRAITS AND STORIES OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY. A new PictorialEdition, with an Autobiographical Introduction, Explanatory Notes, andnumerous Illustrations on Wood and Steel, by Phiz, &c. 

The following Tales and Sketches are comprised in this Edition:--

 Ned M'Keown. The Three Tasks. Shane Fadh's Wedding. Larry M'Farland's Wake. The Battle of the Factions. The Station. The Party Fight and Funeral. The Lough Derg Pilgrim. The Hedge School. The Midnight Mass. The Donah, or the Horse Stealers. Phil Purcell, The Pig Driver. Geography of an Irish Oath. The Llanham Shee. Going to Maynooth. Phelim O'Toole's Courtship. The Poor Scholar. Wildgoose Lodge. Tubber Derg, or the Red Well. Neal Malone. 

=Also, a New Cheap Re-Issue. =

In 5 vols. Fcap. 8vo, fancy boards, with new illustrations, =7=s. =6=d. ; orin cloth extra, gilt, with steel portrait, =10=s. 

"Unless another master-hand like Carleton's should appear, it is in hispages, and his alone, that future generations must look for the truestand fullest picture of the Irish peasantry, who will ere long havepassed away from the troubled land, and from the records ofhistory. "--_Edinburgh Review_, Oct. 1852. 

"Truly--Intensely Irish. "--_Blackwood. _

In 8vo, cloth, full gilt, price =6=s. 

THE FORTUNES OF TORLOGH O'BRIEN: a Tale of the Wars of King James. WithSteel Illustrations by Phiz. 

"This stirring tale contains the best history of the Battle of theBoyne, and is written with a master hand. It is fully equal to any ofLever's works. "--_Observer. _

In fcap. 16mo, price =1=s. Sewed wrapper. 

THE NEW TALE OF A TUB. By F. W. N. BAYLEY. Illustrated by Engravingsreduced from the original Drawing by Aubrey. 

"Fun and humour from beginning to end. "--_Athenæum. _

ROUTLEDGE'S STANDARD NOVELS. 

Price =2=s. =6=d. Each, cloth gilt. 

This Collection now comprises the best Novels of our more celebratedAuthors. The volumes are all printed on good paper, with anIllustration, and form, without exception, the best and cheapestcollection of light reading that is anywhere to be obtained. 

_The following are now ready_:--

 =1. Romance of War. = By James Grant. =2. Peter Simple. = By Captain Marryat. =3. Adventures of an Aide-de-Camp. = By James Grant. =4. Whitefriars. = By the Author of "Whitehall. " =5. Stories of Waterloo. = By W. H. Maxwell. =6. Jasper Lyle. = By Mrs. Ward. =7. Mothers and Daughters. = By Mrs. Gore. =8. Scottish Cavalier. = By James Grant. =9. The Country Curate. = By Gleig. =10. Trevelyan. = By Lady Scott. =11. Captain Blake; or, My Life. = By W. H. Maxwell. =13. Tylney Hall. = By Thomas Hood. =14. Whitehall. = By the Author of "Whitefriars. " =15. Clan Albyn. = By Mrs. Johnstone. =16. Cæsar Borgia. = By the Author of "Whitefriars. " =17. The Scottish Chiefs. = By Miss Porter. =18. Lancashire Witches. = By W. H. Ainsworth. =19. Tower of London. = By W. H. Ainsworth. =20. The Family Feud. = By the Author of "Alderman Ralph. " =21. Frank Hilton; or, the Queen's Own. = By James Grant. =22. The Yellow Frigate. = By James Grant. =24. The Three Musketeers. = By Alexandre Dumas. =25. The Bivouac. = By W. H. Maxwell. =26. The Soldier of Lyons. = By Mrs. Gore. =27. Adventures of Mr. Ledbury. = By Albert Smith. =28. Jacob Faithful. = By Captain Marryat. =29. Japhet in Search of a Father. = By Captain Marryat. =30. The King's Own. = By Captain Marryat. =31. Mr. Midshipman Easy. = By Captain Marryat. =32. Newton Forster. = By Captain Marryat. =33. The Pacha of Many Tales. = By Captain Marryat. =34. Rattlin the Reefer. = Edited by Captain Marryat. =35. The Poacher. = By Captain Marryat. =36. The Phantom Ship. = By Captain Marryat. =37. The Dog Fiend. = By Captain Marryat. =38. Percival Keene. = By Captain Marryat. =39. Hector O'Halloran. = By W. H. Maxwell. =40. The Pottleton Legacy. = By Albert Smith. =41. The Pastor's Fireside. = By Miss Porter. =42. My Cousin Nicholas. = By Ingoldsby. =43. The Black Dragoons. = By James Grant. 

Transcriber's Note

The following typographical errors were corrected. 

Page Error iii Mr. Rarey's Introduction changed to Mr. Rarey's Introduction. V snaffle. --the changed to snaffle. --The vii struogling changed to struggling 10 under the auspicies changed to under the auspices 11 violent loungings changed to violent longeings fn 20-* April 7. ' changed to April 7. " 23 shere humbug changed to sheer humbug 26 omiting changed to omitting 30 scimetar changed to scimitar 31 spangled troope changed to spangled troupe 31 horse wont changed to horse won't 64 suppleing changed to suppling 88 long wholebone whip changed to long whalebone whip 95 any horse changed to any horse. 128 round to the right. Changed to round to the right. " (based on comparison to another edition of the book) 129 gotamongst changed to got amongst 129 aid-de-camps changed to aide-de-camps 159 of my pupils changed to of my pupils. 173 white potatoe oats changed to white potato oats 173 45lbs. Changed to 45 lbs. 185 distance, we though changed to distance, we thought 202 Mobbing a fox changed to Mobbing a fox. 210 danger of stubbing changed to danger of stubbing. 216 distinction bewteen changed to distinction between Ads 2 Bancrofts changed to Bancroft's

 bullfinch / bulfinch farm-house / farmhouse fox-hounds / foxhounds jibbing / gibbing off-side / offside over-run / overrun practice / practise (and other forms of the word also vary) road-side / roadside steeple-chase / steeplechase thorough-bred / thoroughbred