Part 2

The right of Translation is reserved.

PREFACE.

The writer of this little volume deems it only fair to forewarn his readers that he is not, and never has been, an inhabitant of that variegated region in creation commonly called "the sporting world."

He has never bred, raced, steeple-chased, nor betted sixpence on any colt, filly, horse, or mare. He has never seen, nor been seen by, the Jockey-Club. He has never been on the turf. He does not belong to "the ring."

Nevertheless, sometimes in the performance of public duties,--sometimes from private inclination,--sometimes for the benefit of his health,--sometimes for recreation,--sometimes for rumination,--sometimes to risk his life,--and more than once to save it, he has, throughout a long and chequered career, had to do an amount of rough-riding, a little larger than has fallen to the lot of many men.

His observations and reflections on horses and horsemen he now ventures to submit to that portion only of the community who, like himself, preferring a long tether to a short one, take exercise on four legs, instead of on two.

CONTENTS.

+Page+

+Preface+ 3

+Contents+ 5

+Preliminary Observations--The Horse+ 7

+Mr. Rarey's mode of subduing Horses--compared with that practised in South America+ 16

+Difference between the character and conduct of a wild horse and a tame one+ 24

+Horsemanship--a just seat--a light hand--their advantages in riding, in leaping, in galloping over rough ground, in going fast down hill, in falling+ 28

+A jump into a stone-quarry--the Mameluke's leap out of the Citadel of Cairo--Letter from Gen. Moore, and story of his fall on horseback over a precipice of 237 feet+ 44

+Mode of riding at Timber+ 51

+Water Jumping--Scene at a Northamptonshire brook+ 54

+Different ways of Swimming a Horse+ 62

+Judicious Riding+ 63

+Use and Abuse of Spurs+ 65

+How to treat a Hunter in the Field+ 74

+How to bring a Hunter Home+ 80

+How to Dress for Hunting+ 89

+How to Eat and Drink for Hunting+ 97

+Difference between Leicestershire and Surrey Hunting+ 104

+The Stable+ 106

+On Shoeing+ 114

+On Roughing Horses+ 119