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THE

HORSE AND HIS RIDER

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LONDON

THE

HORSE AND HIS RIDER

^n ^itcc6ofic ^^cdlce

BY

'THORMANBY'

AUTHOR OF 'MEN OF THE TURF' ETC.

|i*onbon
CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY

[,The 7:ghi of iianslation is rcsc?'.cd]

:>

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGB

I. THE ARAB AND HIS STEED . , " 1

II. FEATS OF ENDURANCE . . , .

III. ENGLISH versus ARAB THOROUGHBREDS ,

IV, A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES . ,
V. FAMOUS JOCKEYS ....

VI. MILITARY STEEPLECHASING ,

VII. SOME FOREIGN JOCKEYS . , ,

VIIT. HORSE -RACING — SOME OLD MATCHES AND SOME
NEW DODGES . , . , ,

IX. THE HUMOURS OP THE RACECOURSE

X. THE HUNTING-FIELD— ITS HEROES AND THEIR EX-
PLOITS ......

XI. ADVENTURES WITH THE HOUNDS

XII. COMICALITIES OP THE HUNTING-FIELD ,

XIII, COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN

XIV. ANECDOTES OF HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING

13

20
29
42
56
63

68
84

120
152
162
174
185

vi CONTENTS

CHi-PTER PAQB
XV. FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP — IN THE RIDING-SCHOOL

AND OUT OF IT . . . . . 210

XVI. HORSE DEALING ..... 228

XVII. STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES . . . 242

XVIII. HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES .... 256

XIX. INSTINCT, POWER OF MEMORY, AND DOCILITY OF

THE HORSE ...... 272

XX. ECCENTRIC XITERARY AND CLERICAL HORSEMEN . 282

XXI. A CHAPTER- OF ACCIDENTS .... 288

XXir. POWER OF ENDURANCE AND LENGTH OF LIFE IN

THE HORSE ...... 296

THE

HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTEE I.

THE AEAB AND HIS STEED.

The Arab is in many respects entitled to take the
lead among all the breeds of horses. The pace of
these animals is rapid and graceful ; thej are hardy,
and can continue travelling at the rate of from fifty
to sixty miles a day ; and five or six pounds weight of
coarse barley in the evening is a sufficient feed. The
horses of Arabia are divided into two classes, ignoble
and noble : the former they call by a name which
signifies ' without pedigree ; ' the latter by another
name, which means ' known for two thousand years.'
* If,' says an Arab story, ' you meet one of the faith-
ful in the desert mounted upon a Jcochlani, and he
shall say, " God bless you ! " before you can say,
^' And God's blessing upon you," he shall be out of
your horizon, for the whirlwind toils after him in
vain.'

^^ B

3 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

The best horses are -understood to be bred by the
Bedouins of the north part of Arabia, and the gene-
alogy is invariably reckoned from the mother. Those
of the pure blood are more readily and cheaply ob-
tained from the people about the towns than from
the nomads of the desert, for the latter have a strong
affection for their horses, and will hardly ]3art with
them at any price. It sometimes haj^pens, however,
that there is an ' unlucky mark ' on the horse, as the
superstitious Arab imagines, and then a really good
thoroughbred Arabian steed can be obtained for a
very small sum.

But the European who purchases horses of the
Arabs will require all his wits, for the simple sons of
the desert, although very romantic, are reputed to
be most accomplished cheats. They beat even York-
shiremen at horse-dealing.

Learned Mussulmans have written a great num-
ber of books upon horses, in which they discourse at
considerable length upon their colours, upon all that
is esteemed beneficial or injurious, their maladies,
and the right mode of treatment. One of them,
Abou-Obeida, a contemporary of the son of Haroun-
al-Raschid, composed no fewer than fifty volumes on
the horse. This Abou-Obeida met with a little mis-
adventure, which shows that it is not the author of
the most ponderous and numerous volumes who im-
parts the soundest information, and that not the
worst plan is to consult men themselves.

THE ARAB AND HIS STEED 3

' How many books hast thou written upon the
horse ? ' asked one day of a celebrated Arab poet,
the vizir of Mamoun, the son of Haroun-al-Raschid.
' Only one.' Then turning to Abou-Obeida, he put
to him the same question. * Fifty,' replied he. ' Eise,
then,' said the vizir. ' Go up to that horse, and
repeat the name of every part of his frame, taking
care to point out the position of each.' ' I am not a
veterinary surgeon,' answered Abou-Obeida. ' And
thou? ' said the vizir to the poet.

' Upon that ' — it is the poet himself who relates
the anecdote — ' I rose from my seat, and taking the
animal by the forelock, I began to name one part
after another, placing my hand upon each to indicate
its position; and at the same time recited all the
poetic allusions, all the sayings and proverbs refer-
ring to it. When I had finished, the vizir said to
me, " Take the horse." I took it ; and if ever I
wished to annoy Abou-Obeida, I rode the animal on
my way to visit him.' ^

General Daumas, from whom we have just quoted,
was a distinguished officer of the French army, who
served sixteen years in Algeria. For two years he
was consul at Mascara, accredited to the Emir Abd-
el-Kader, and afterwards for a considerable time
Central Director of fche Arab Office of Algeria — posts
which brought him in close contact with the native

^ The Horses of the Sahara, by General Daumas, translated by
James Hutton.

B 2

4 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

chiefs He gives the following further interesting
particulars of the Arab horses :

' The Arabs of Sahara are very particular as to
the colour of their horses. White is the colour for
princes, but does not stand heat. The black brings
good fortune, but fears rocky ground. The chestnut
is the most active. If one tells you that he has seen
a horse fly in the air, ask of what colour it was ; if
he replies, " Chestnut," believe him.' ' In a combat
against a chestnut you must have a chestnut.' The
bay is the hardiest and most sober. ' If one tells
you a horse has leaped to the bottom of a precipice
without hurting himself, ask of what colour he was,
and if he replies " Bay," believe him.'

Ben Dyab, a renowned chief of the desert, hap-
pening one day to be pursued by Saad-el-Zenatj^,
turned to his son and asked, ' What horses are in
front of the enemy ? ' ' White horses,' replied the
son. 'It is well; let us make for the sunny side,
and the}^ will melt away like butter.' Some time
afterwards Ben Dyab again turned to his son and
said, ' What horses are in front of the enemy ? '
' Black horses,' cried his son. ' It is well ; let us
make for stony ground, and we shall have nothing
to fear ; they are the negroes of the Soudan, who
cannot walk with bare feet upon the flints.' He
changed his course, and the black horses were
speedily distanced. A third time Ben Dyab asked,
' And now what horses are in the front of the

THE ARAB AND HIS STEED 5

enemy ? ' ' Dark cliestnuts and dark bays.' ' In
that case,' said Ben Dyab, ' strike out, my children,
strike out, and give your horses the heel ; for these
might perchance overtake us had we not given
barley to ours all the summer through.'

The dark dappled gray is also highly esteemed,
especially when the head is of a lighter colour than
the body.

The coat most despised is the piebald : ' Flee
him like the pestilence, for be is own brother to the
cow.'

The roan is called meghedeur-el-deum, ' a pool of
blood.' The rider is sure to be overtaken, but will
never overtake.^

The Arab horse-dealer therefore sells his horses
which happen to be of the unlucky colours to the
infidels, i.e, Europeans, who are not quite so super-
stitious ; and the consequence is that many a good
Arab horse, bought in Algeria or Egypt for a mere
trifle, finds its way to England, France, or Intlia.

The training the Arab horse has to endure is
not only very severe, but it embraces a more varied
system of exercise than falls to the lot of the English
horse. The Arabs not only train their horses to
endure fatigue, hunger, and thirst, and the manoeuvres
so necessary in battle, but they also teach them to
shine at feasts by the following accomplishments :

El Entrahe, ' the caracol.' The horse walks, so

* Daumas, The Horses of the Sahara.

6 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

to speak, on his liiiid legs. Scarcely does lie touch
the orround with his fore-feet than he rises a«:ain.
One hand, in concert with the legs, soon trains to
this exercise a horse of fair intelligence.

El Gueteua, ' the bucking.' The horse springs
up with all fours off the ground, the horseman at the
same time throwing up his gun into the air and
cleverly catching it. To obtain this action, the rider
marks certain intervals of rest, and works with his
legs. He gives with the animal as it rises, in order
to hold him up when he comes down again. Nothing
can be more picturesque than this movement. The
horses quit the earth, the guns fly into the air, and
the ample folds of the burnous float and unroll them-
selves in the wind, thrown back by the vigorous arms
of the children of the desert.

Lastly, El Berrcika, ' the kneeling.' The rider,
remaining on his saddle, causes his horse to kneel
down. This is the ne plus ultra of the horse and
the animal. Not every horse is fit for this exercise.
The colt is trained to it by tickling him on the
coronet, pinching him on the legs, and forcing him
to bend the knee. After a time the horseman will
reap the benefit of these preliminary steps. He need
only clear his feet of the stirrups, stretch his legs
forward, turn out the points of his toes, touch with
his long spurs the animal's forearm, and then, as his
piece is fired at marriage-feasts and other rejoicings,
his horse will kneel down, amid the applause of the

THE ARAB AND HIS STEED 7

young maidens, piercing the air with joyful acclama-
tions.^

Nevertheless, endurance is the quality most culti-
vated in the Arab horse. It is necessary that the
horse should be able to travel long distances upon
scanty food and little water, for in the African deserts
the places where man and horse can refresh are few
and far between ; wells are many miles apart, and
even when the traveller has found water for himself
and steed, the chances are that no food can be had,
except what the horse and his rider have brought
with them from their last halting-place.

' Every horse inured to fatigue brings good for-
tune,' the Arabs say. So to speak, he is always on
the march. He travels with his master, who is one
of the greatest travellers on horseback in the world.
He travels to seek his food ; he traverses long dis-
tances in search of water, and this sort of life renders
him abstinent and not easily tired. Sidi-Hamed-
Ben-Mohammed-el-Mokhrani, the chief of one of the
most illustrious families of all Algeria, says :

^During my long career, in my tribes, by my
friends, or among my followers, I have seen upwards
of ten thousand colts reared, and I aflB.rm that all
those whose education was not begun at a very early
age have never turned out other than stubborn
troublesome horses, unfit for war. I also affirm that

* Daumas, The Horses of the Saliara.

8 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

-^lien I have made long and rapid marches, at the
head of twelve or fifteen hundred horsemen, horses^,
however lean, if early broken in to fatigue, never
fell out of the ranks, "whilst those that were fat, or
mounted too late, have always fallen to the rear.
My conviction on this head is based on such a long
experience, that lately, finding myself at Masseur
(Cairo) in the necessity of purchasing some horses, I
refused point-blank all that were presented to me
that had been broken in at a comparatively advanced
age.

' " How has thy horse been reared ? " was always
my first question.

' " My lord," an inhabitant of the city would repl}^,
" this gray stone of the river has been brought up by
me like one of my own children, always well fed, well
tended to, and spared as much as possible, for I did
not begin to ride him till he was full four years old.
See how fat he is, how sound in all his limbs."

' " Well, keej) him, my friend ; he is thy pride and
that of thy family. It would be a shame to my gray
beard to deprive thee of him."

' " And thou," I would then ask of an Arab, whom
I recognised as a child of the desert, so embrowned
was he by the sun — " how has thy horse been reared? "

' " My lord," he would answer, " betimes I formed
his back to the saddle and his mouth to the bridle.
With him I have reached a distant, very distant
point. He has passed many a day without food.

THE ARAB AND HIS STEED g

His ribs are bare, it is true ; but if you encounter any
enemies on your path lie will not leave you in peril.
I swear it by the clay of last judgment, when Allah
shall be kadi, and the angels witnesses."

' " Hola, there ! tether the dark chestnut before my
tent," I would cry to my servants, " and satisfy this
man." ' ^

But although the Arab horse is worked hard, it
is most tenderly treated, as a rule — petted as the
collier in England pets his dog — at the expense of
the rest of the family.

' The love the Arabs bear their mares is exemplified
by an anecdote which was told me,' says the ' Old
Shekarry,' ' by a celebrated Arab chieftain who
served on my staff in the Crimea, Mahomet Ben
Abdullah, better l^nown as Bou Maza(the son of the
Goat), whose daring exploits and hairbreadth escapes
in his predatory expeditions against the French have
caused his name to become famous in song among
the Santons of the desert. One of the tribes of the
Djdjhura mountains possessed a coal-black mare of
the pure Nedjed breed, which in the desert was of
untold value ; for her fame had gone forth far and
wide, and the tribes were wont to swear by her
lleetness and endurance. Bou Maza, then a young
man, determined to possess her either by fair or foul
means, and offered the whole of his wealth in ex-

> D aura as, The Horses of t Tie Sahara.

lo THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

change, viz. several tents and slaves, forty camels,
and even his two wives ; but nothing would induce
Ben Ali the Sheikh (who was the principal owner)
to part with her. Bou Maza, who was on friendly
terms with the Djdjhura tribes, then determined to
obtain her by stealth ; but this was a difficult opera-
tion, as there were always people watching night
and day. After many days' consideration, and severe
praying to Allah to sharpen his wits, he fixed upon
a plan, and forthwith proceeded to execute it. He cut
himself with a knife about the face and chest, and
wounded his horse ; and one day about noon claimed
the protection of Ben Ali the Sheikh, stating that he
had been attacked by some Arabs of a neighbouring
tribe, with whom there was a bloody feud, who were
lurking about in the vicinity. The Sheikh sent out
his young men to retaliate and follow up the sup-
posed aggressors, whilst he and the hakeem of the
tribe bound up the wounds and attended on Bou
Maza, who, pretending to be in a dying state, begged
that they would carry him out to a sward where the
cattle of the tribe were grazing, so that he might
turn his face towards the sacred city, and perform
his devotions. His wish was complied with, and he
soon had the gratification of beholding this famous
mare cropping the stunted herbage a short distance
from the clump of date-trees under the shade of
which he was lying. She was strictly watched by
two of the tribe, who for two hours hardly ever

THE ARAB AND HIS STEED ii

seemed to take tlieir eyes off lier; and Bou Maza
began to think tliat the young men would return
before bis undertaking could be accomplished. He
therefore uttered a loud cry, as if in agony, which
brought the watchers to his side, and, selecting his
opportunity, he plunged a knife, which he had con-
cealed under his dress, into their breasts, killing
them ere they could utter a cry ; and, flinging his
burnous (cloak) over their bodies, unfastened the
tether which hobbled the mare's fore-feet, and,
springing on her back, was far away in the desert
before the theft was discovered. When it was found
out, the Sheikh Ben Ali, whose son was one of the
slain, and all the men of the tribe, set out in pursuit,
and, after a chase of three days, almost surprised
him near one of those immense salt-marshes which
are so numerous in Algeria, in a place where there
was no way of escape but across this dangerous
ground ; and Bou Maza was about to attempt it, when
the Sheikh Ben Ali, seeing the ignominious fate that
awaited his beloved mare, forgot his revenge for the
loss of his son, and begged him to forbear, giving
him his sacred pledge that his tribe should not molest
him, or continue the pursuit for three days, should
he do so, preferring to run the chance of regaining
her another time to seeing her perish before his
eyes. Bou Maza accepted the pledge, and got away.
Another time he was hard run by the same tribe, and
the Sheikh, who headed the pursuing party, being

12 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

mounted upon the own brother of the mare, finding'
he was not gaining ground, desisted from the chase,
and cried out for him to stop and not fatigue the
mare to save his wretched life, and bidding him
drink the water in which her feet were washed, in
token of his being indebted to her for his preserva-
tion. The abduction of this celebrated mare gave
rise to a feud between the tribes, in which several
hundred Arabs lost their lives ; and she participated
in most of Bou Maza's daring exploits which made
his name so terrible to those tribes who had sub-
mitted to the French.'^

This story shows that the lawful owner of the
mare would rather the thief should get away with
her in safety than that she should be injured by
overwork. This is not an uncommon kind of occur-
rence.

' The Forest and the Field, by the ' Old Shekarry.'

13

CHAPTER II.

FEATS OP ENDURANCE.

The renowned Algerian chieftain Abd-el-Kader de-
clared tliat if the true Arab horse ever treads upon
ploughed land, he diminishes in value, and he illus-
trated the idea by the following story :

' A man was riding upon a horse of pure blood,
when he was met by his enemy, also splendidly
mounted. One pursued the other, and he who gave
chase was distanced by him who fled. Despairing of
reaching him, the pursuer in anger shouted out,

' " I ask, in the name of God, has your horse ever
worked on land ? "

' " He has worked on land for four days."

' " Yery well — mine never has ; and, by the beard
of the Prophet, I am sure to catch you."

'Towards the close of the day the horse that
never laboured was the victor ; and as the rider of
the degraded horse sank under the blows of his
enemy, he said,

' " There has been no blessing upon our country
since we changed our coursers into beasts of burden

14 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

and of tillage. Has not God made the ox for the
plough, the camel to transport merchandise, and the
horse alone for the race ? There is nothing gained
bj changing the ways of God " ' (T. B. Thorpe).

And if the Arab horses are capable of doing the
amount of work stated in the following tale (which
comes from one of the French generals in Algeria),
they ought to be highly prized ;

' With regard to the great distances accomplished
by the horses of the desert of Sahara, instances may
be quoted which will appear incredible, and the
heroes of which are still alive (1863), if witnesses
were wanted to confirm the truth of the story. Here
is one of a thousand, which was told to me by a man
of the tribe of Arbaa. I give his own words :

' " I had come into the Tell (a most fertile district
- -the granary, in fact, of the Sahara) with my father
and the people of my tribe to buy corn. It was in
the time of the Pasha Ali. The Arbaa had had some
terrible quarrels with the Turks ; and as it was their
interest for the moment to feign a complete submission
in order to obtain an amnesty for the past, they
agreed to win over by presents of money the Pasha's
suite, and to send to himself not merely a common
animal as was customary, but a courser of the high-
est distinction. It was a misfortune, but it was the
will of Allah, and we were forced to resign ourselves.
The choice fell upon a mare, ' Gray Stone of the
River,' known throughout the Sahara, and the pro-

FEATS OF ENDURANCE 15

perty of my father. He was informed that he must
hold himself in readiness to set ont with her on the
morrow for Algiers. After the evening prayer my
father, who had taken care not to make any remark,
came to me and said, 'Ben-Zyan, art thou thyself
to-day ? Wilt thou leave thy father in a strait, or
wilt thou make his face red ? '

' " ' I am nothing but your will, my lord,' I replied.
' Speak, and if I obey not your commands, it will be
because I am vanquished by death.'

'"'Listen. These children of sin seek to take
my mare in the hope of settling their affairs with the
Sultan, — my gray mare, I say, which has always
brought good fortune to my tent, to my children, and
the camels ; my gray mare, that was foaled on the
day that thy youngest brother was born ! Speak [
Wilt thou let them do this dishonour to my hoary
bsard ? The joy and happiness of the family are in
thy hands. Mordjana (such was the name of the
mare) has eaten her barley. If thou art of a truth
my son, go and sup, take thy weapons, and then at
earliest nightfall flee far away into the desert with
the treasure dear to us all.'

' " Without answering a word I kissed my father's
liand, took my evening repast, and quitted Beroua-
guia, happy in being able to prove my filial affection,
and laughing in my sleeve at the disappointment
that awaited our sheikhs on their awaking. I j)ushed
forward for a long time, fearing to be pursued, but

i6 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Mordjana continued to pull at her bridle, and I had
more trouble to quiet her than to urge her on. When
two-thirds of the night had passed, and a desire to
sleep was growing upon me, I dismounted, and seizing
the reins, twisted them round mj wrist. I placed
my gun under my head, and at last fell asleep, softly
couched on one of those dwarf palms so common in
our country. An hour after, I roused myself. All
the leaves of the dwarf palm had been stripped off
by Mordjana. "We started afresh. The peep of day
found us at Souagui. My mare had thrice broken
out into a sweat, and thrice dried herself. I touched
her with the heel. She watered at Sidi-Bou-Zid,
and that evening I offered up the evening prayer at
Leghrouat, after giving her a handful of straw to
induce her to wait patiently for the enormous bag of
barley that was coming to her. These are not jour-
neys fit for your horses," said Ben-Zyan in conclusion,
" for the horses of you Christians, who go from
Alsfiers to Blidah — thirteen leao^ues — as far as from
my nose to my ear, and then fancy you have done a
good day's work."

' This Arab had done eighty leagues in twenty-four
hours (Berouaguia to Souagui, thirty-one leagues;
Sidi-Bou-Zid twenty-five leagues farther on ; and
lastly, Leghrouat, twenty-four leagues beyond that) ;
his mare had eaten nothing but the leaves of the dwarf
palm on which he had lain down, and only once had
been watered, about the middle of the journey; and

FEATS OF ENDURANCE 17

yet he swore to me bj the head of the Prophet
that he could have slept on the following night at
Gardaya, forty-five leagues farther on, had his life
been in any danger.

' Another Arab, Mohammed-Ben-Mokhtar by
name, had come to buy corn in the Tell after the
harvest. His tents were already pitched, and he had
opened a business communication with the Arabs of
the Tell, when the Bey Bou-Mezrag, " father of the
spear," fell upon him at the head of a strong body
of cavalry to chastise one of those imaginary offences
which the Turks were in the habit of inventinsf as
pretexts for their rapacity. Not the slightest warn-
ing had been given ; the razzia was complete ; and
the horsemen of Makhzen gave themselves up to all
the atrocities customary in such cases. Mohammed-
Ben-Mokhtar thereupon threw himself on his dark
bay mare, a magnificent animal known and coveted
throughout the Sahara, and perceiving the critical
nature of the situation, at once resolved to sacrifice
the whole of his property to save the lives of his
three children. One of them, only four years old,
he placed on the saddle before him, and another,
aged six or seven, behind him, holding on by the
troussequin, and was about to place the youngest in
the hood of his burnous when his wife stojDped him,
exclaiming, "No, no; I will not let thee have this
one. They will never dare to slay an infant at its
mother's breast. Away ! I shall keep him with me.

0

i8 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Allah will protect us." Moliammed-Ben-Mokhtar
then dashed forward, fired off his piece, and got clear
of the melee ; but being hotlj pursued, he travelled
all that day and the following night until he reached
Leghrouat, where he could rely upon being in safety.
Shortly after he received intelligence that his wife
had been rescued by some friends he had in the
Tell. Mohammed-Ben-Mohhtar was still alive, and
the two children he carried are spoken of as two
of the best horsemen of the tribe.

' And why should I look for evidence to establish
these facts ? All the old officers of the Oran division
can state how, in 1837, a general, attaching the
greatest importance to the receipt of intelligence
from Tlemcen, gave his own charger to an Arab to
go and procure the news. The latter set out from
Chateau Neuf at four o'clock in the morning, and
returned the same hour on the following day, having
travelled seventy leagues over ground very different
from the comparatively level desert.' ^

Abd-el-Kader, when questioned about the en-
durance of Arab horses, replied as follows to General
Daumas :

' You ask me how many days an Arab horse can
march without rest, and without suffering too severely.
Know, then, that a horse, sound in every limb, that
eats as much barley as his stomach can contain, can

' DaumaSj The Uorscs of the Sahara.

FEATS OF ENDURANCE 19

do whatever his rider can ask of him. For this
reason, the Arabs say, " Give barley, and overwork
him." But without tasking him overmuch, a horse
can be made to do sixteen parasangs day after day.^
A horse performing this journey every day, and
having as much barley as it likes to eat, can go on
without fatigue for three or four months without
lying by a single day.

^ You ask me what distance a horse can accom-
plish in a day. I cannot tell you very precisely ; but
it ought to be about fifty parasangs, or the distance
from Tlemcen to Mascara. But an animal that has
performed such a journey ought to be carefully ridden
on the following day, and allowed to do only a very
much shorter distance.' ^

• A parasang is about 5,000 metres ; sixteen parasangs are equal,
in round numbers, to about fifty English miles.
^ Daumas, The Horses of the Sahara.

c 2

20 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER III.

ENGLISH VEESUS AKAB THOEOUGHBREDS.

The thoroughbred racer, as we know him in Eng-
land, is a different kind of animal from the Arab
thoroughbred, although a considerable amount of
Arab blood runs in his veins. We have no sandy
desert to try the endurance of our horses. In no
part of England could a horse travel at the mildest
trot for a couple of hours without coming to a drink-
ing place ; food in the shape of grass is found by
every roadside ; so that it would be difficult for the
horse to die of hunger or thirst if set at liberty.

The question whether the English thoroughbred,
reared in our temperate climate, and brought up, so
to speak, in luxury, could hold his own with the
genuine horse of the desert, has been much discussed,
and more than one trial has taken place ; but the
question even now is not to be considered as settled.
Ever since it was proposed to make Egypt a halting-
place on the road to India, a sporting spirit has been
fostered in the land of the Pharaohs, and Egyptian
princes and pasbas have been found willing to run

ENGLISH VERSUS ARAB THOROUGHBREDS 2i

tlieiv horses and stake their money against anything
the English coukl put in the field.

One of the first intimations Englishmen had of
the fact that the Egyptians were inclined for sport
was the appearance of the following letter in BeWs
Life, in October 1849 :

' Sir, — A challenge has been sent through me, on
the part of the Pasha of Egypt, to the English Turf,
which I first communicated to the Jockey Club, and
now wish to notify to the public through the medium
of your paper. It was my intention to have sent
you the letter of our Consul-General, in which this
challenge is conveyed ; but I have unfortunately
mislaid it, and, after the most diligent search, have
been unable to find it. I remember, however, the
contents of it with sufficient accuracy to answer
every purpose. Mr. Murray states that his Highness
the Pasha is convinced that his Arab horses are
superior to our English racehorses over a length of
ground, and he proposes to test their relative merits
by a match to be run in Egypt, the distance to be
ten miles, the stake 10,000?., which he thinks might
be increased to 15,000/., no limitation as to age or
weight. The ground over which the match would be
run is sand with a good many stones in it. He con-
cludes by saying that if there is a disposition here to
make the match, he will proceed to adjust the pre-
liminaries. Upon the receipt of this letter, I wrote

23 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

liim word that I would make this challenge public,
and I thought it very probable it would be accepted,
and I then put to him a great variety of questions
upon certain points on Avhich I deemed it essential
that information should be suppUed. Thus the matter
stands at present. — C. Geeville.

♦ Bruton Street, Oct. 12.'

Beneath the letter, BelVs Life had the following
paragraph :

' The vast superiority of the English thorough-
bred horse over Arabs has been established by in-
numerable trials in India; and that the Cossack
horses have as little chance with them will be
gathered from the following account of a match in
Kussia, taken from the second volume of the Biii^
Booh :

"Sharper, bred by Lord Egremont, and got by
Octavius out of Young Amazon by Gohanna, was
sent in 1825 to Russia, where he and Minna, bred
by Mr. Newton, and got by Woful out of Diana by
Stamford, were matched to run seventy-five versts
(49| English miles) on the public road against two
Cossack horses. Minna, falling lame, was pulled up
early in the race, which Sharper won with ease, not-
withstanding the loss of a stirrup, and the consequent
inability of the rider to restrain him for several
miles. The Cossack horses had nearly three stone
advantage in weight, and one of them fell at the end

ENGLISH VERSUS ARAB THOROUGHBREDS 23

of twenty-five miles and died. This race was run in
1825, near St. Petersburg." '

This challenge was not accepted by the English
horse-owners, as appears from the following letter,
which appeared in BelVs Life of August 24, 1851 :

'About eighteen months ago, Abbas Pasha, the
Governor of Egypt, challenged the Jockey Club to
run their English horses against his Arabs for a dis-
tance of not less than eight to ten miles over very
fair ground for a sum of 5,000?. to 50,000L, money
down, weight optional to either party, allowing also
a start of three hundred yards to the English horses.
This challenge was not accepted by the Jockey Club,
nor did they offer it to any other gentleman, conse-
quently the Viceroy thought they were afraid to meet
him. As many of your readers, however, must be
interested in knowing what an English thoroughbred
horse can do amongst the Arabs, I send you an ex-
tract of a letter from Damascus, the writer of which
is a Hungarian officer attached to the staff of
General Guyon, now holding a command in that
country :

' " General Guyon's English mare is thoroughbred
by Hindostan out of Lightfoot. Prince Lichtenstein
brought her from England with the mother in 1848,
and she is now only three and a half years old. You
ask me if she ever ran against any first-rate Arab
horses. I have before told yon that we are very
often making excursions into the Howran, to the

24 THE HORSE AXD HIS RIDER

Dead Sea, and to Horu ; and in all these excursions we
pass the greater part of our time with the Bedouins,
owners of the finest horses, and we are scarcely to-
gether half an hour with these gentlemen without
getting up a race, and as they know our General
wants to purchase, they always bring every horse
likely to catch his attention. Now, I assure you that
on all these occasions the mare beats them all, and in
splendid style, although she has never been trained
for racing; and that she can also beat them at long
distances she has shown very often in hunting the
gazelles, running three or four miles at a stretch
until we caught them, being always a long way
ahead of the Arabs. The Bedouins insist upon her
being an Arab mare, though they are rather puzzled
at her size, as she stands 16 hands 1 inch. From
what I have seen of her performance, I think a well-
trained English horse would beat any Arab whatever,
and in any wa3\ Guy on 's mare, when she was only
one year and a half old, went through the Hungarian
campaign in 1849, so she is pretty well seasoned."

' From the above, Mr. Editor, you will see how
very soft owners of English horses were when they
refused the splendid challenge of Abbas Pasha, &c.

— A SUBSCEIBER.
* Cairo, Aug, 6, 1851.'

The next attempt to get up a race between

ENGLISH VERSUS ARAB THOROUGHBREDS 25

English and Arab horses is thus noticed in BdVs Life
of March 20, 1853:

'About two years ago there was a great talk
about a challenge given by Abbas Pasha to the
Jockey Club to run his Arab against anything they
could bring out from England, and for any amount ;
and a great difference of opinion existed among sport-
ing men as to the probable result of a long race over
uneven ground. The Jockey Club refused to run,
and the match has remained an uncertainty ever
since. Lately, however, a trial was made by an Eng-
lish half-bred mare, by Touchstone, against two of
the best Arabs in this place, their own terms being
granted, say, three miles on a straight unequal road,
equal weight — ten stone upwards ; and I am happy
to tell you that the mare had it all her own way,
winning in a canter, without having been pressed at
all. The first half-mile was up a stiff hill, then
down a gully — quarter of a mile — with a mile of
level bad road, many parts under water, and the
wind up, heavy sand and rising ground ; distance,
exactly three miles, and run in 7 min. 40 sec. The
fact of this mare never having been intended to run
a race in England will show what chance an Arab
would have had with a thoroughbred or a steeple-
chaser. But, to put the question at rest, Mr. Smart,
the spirited owner of the mare, has accepted another
race with an Arab belonging to his Highness Said
Pasha ; and, as this horse has beat everything he has

26 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

run against, tlie result, if favourable, will put liim in
a position to challenge all comers at Cairo for the
long race of seven to ten miles, when no doubt he
will take the conceit out of them. The race with
Said Pasha's horse is to be on the same ground as
the last heat, only run in a contrary direction, with
an additional mile of heavy sand. You will hear
from us when the thing comes off.'

This letter was dated Alexandria, March 6, 1853 ;
and in BelVs Life of September 25 following came
an account of a match between the English mare
and an Arab belonging to Hallim Pasha, apparently
substituted for that owned by Said Pasha ; and it
will be seen that, owing to an accident, the English
horse did not win. The correspondent of that paper
writes :

' On August 9 a match came off here between an
English mare and an Arab horse for 350/. a side —
distance 9J miles, 4 miles 7 furlongs out, and the
same distance back again, without stopping. The
run out was accomplished in 15 J minutes, and the
Arab returned home in 11 J minutes, having per-
formed the distance in 27^ minutes. The English
mare, about a mile from home, swerved from the
straight road, and her jockey, in trying to turn her,
upset her into a cane-fence ; she thus lost the race.
The English party engaged therein wish to take it
up again ; but Hallim Pasha, owner of the horse,

ENGLISH VERSUS ARAB THOROUGHBREDS 27

refuses to run for less than fourteen miles, and for a
sum of 1,000?. to 10,000?., and tliey, therefore, ad-
dress themselves to the sporting world in England,
in hopes that some party in England may think it
worth while to try the stamina of the English horse
asfainst the Arab on the above terms.

' The race lately run was on the Aboukir Eoad —
4 miles 7 furlongs out, and the same back again.

' The English mare which ran against the Arab
is five years old, 15| hands high, strongly built and
wide-chested, lengthy, and perfectly sound. Her sire

was , and her dam by Touchstone, and she had

already beaten every Arab we had tried against her
in short distances up to three miles. But in this
last race we had not sufficient time for training— say
twenty days — and, in short, took it too easy ; besides
which we had not our former jockey, who was laid
ujD, and we had to secure the services of a foreigner,
who did not understand the thing. If she had been
well ridden, we should probably have had a very
different story to tell.

' The Arab horse belongs to Hallim Pasha, one of
the old Viceroy's sons, who has constantly been using
him in coursing gazelles, and has, he says, beaten,
in bottom, all his other horses. In other respects he
is a sorry-looking animal, 14 hands high, 6 years old,
bright chestnut, and without one single point that
would catch the eye of a connoisseur. Yet there is
no doubt that he showed game enough in the late

28 THE HORSE AND HIS RiDER

race, as lie was scarcely ever touclied with the whip,
and, after he came in, his rider did not pull up, but
galloped on about 1^ miles further to take the news
of his success to his owner, ^Yho was ill in bed ! This
is the horse which Hallim Pasha now offers to run
against anything that can be brought against him
for the distance of from 14 to 40 miles, and for a
sum of 1,000/. to 10,000/. a-side.'

29

CHAPTER IV.

A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES.

In tlie case just narrated the Arab horse certainly
showed wonderful power of endurance ; but then it
should be remembered that he was at home, running
in a climate to which he was accustomed, and over a
course to which he was no stranger. But the question
was not to be considered as settled. English officers
on their way to India would still brag of the superior
qualities of the English thoroughbred ; so a trial of
another kind took place, the particulars of which
were duly published in BelVs Life :

'A match which has caused quite a sensation
here for some time past has at length been brought
to a conclusion. It was a question of endurance
between the Arab and the English horse in the
desert ; and this having been a much-vexed question
for years past among sportsmen generally, an account
of the proceedings will surely prove interesting to the
readers of jomv columns.

'The above-mentioned question of endurance
having been raised between his Highness Prince

30 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Hallim and Mr. Ross, the former offered to bet ten
to one that no English horse could go through a
week's gazelle-hunting with him in the desert ; he,
of course, always riding the same Arab horse. Mr.
Ross at once accepted the challenge, and a bet was
consequently made, the Prince laying 1,000Z. against
100?. The affair was originally fixed to come off in
January, but for some reason was deferred again and
again until the present month. The Prince chose
from his stable for this undertaking his little Arab
horse Al Cissi, who, it may be remembered, won the
grand Egyptian, prize of 500 sovs., three miles, at
the last Alexandrian race-meeting, he being then in
Mr. Smart's possession ; whilst Mr. Ross depended
upon his chestnut mare Beechnut to accomplish the
task. The Prince rode for himself ; but Mr. Ross,
having business matters to occupy him at home,
entrusted his mount to a friend. Having been an
eye-witness to the affair, I am enabled to give you
an accurate account.

* On the 14th inst., the competitors having met
at Shoubrah Palace, the residence of the Prince, we
started off at a canter for the first encampment in
the desert at a spot near a small village called Khan-
kah. An hour and a quarter brought us to our des-
tination, neither of the horses having at all suffered,
thouch it is to be remarked that, not having started
till 4 P.M., in the cool of the day, and proceeded at a
pace less than an exercise canter, there was nothing

A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES 31

to hurt either of them, the road being extremely
good going the whole way. The mare was very rest-
less during the whole night, and twice broke loose
from her picket, though not until having eaten her
supper with a hearty goodwill; while the horse,
though perfectly quiet and comfortable, refused his
food altogether. On the morning of the 15th, a little
before sunrise, 4.30 a.m., we started for the real
hunt. The mare was very fidgety, and took con-
siderably more out of herself in consequence than if
she had taken it quietly during the five and a half
hours of walking before finding a gazelle. The
hawks were flown and the dogs slipped at this point,
and, after a run of about two miles and a half, the
gazelle was taken ; the two horses both were appa-
rently as fresh now as when we started. We now
started off on our way to join the tents, which had
been ordered to meet us at a certain point. We
proceeded at a slow canter — so slow that the English
mare simply trotted over the hard ground, cantering
merely through the heavy sand. Unfortunately for
the mare's chance, we missed the way, and instead
of going towards the camp went off in the opposite
direction. After proceeding at this pace for an hour
and a half, the mare, who was going within herself,
with the bit between her teeth, suddenly sto]3ped, as
if shot. The rider immediately dismounted, and
endeavoured to keep her on her legs, but, reeling
about as if tips}^, she went a few paces forward

32 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

and then fell. The Prince immediately rode off
for assistance, but returned in about twenty minutes
with no aid, having found out the mistake we had
made, and not knowing how far off the tents we
might be. Assistance being thus rendered impossible
in our present situation, the only remedy was to
endeavour to procure it as quickly as possible. His
Highness now dismounted, and having placed the
mare's saddle on the horse, we started off on foot in
the direction of the tents. Three hours and a half
had elapsed before we reached the encampment, from
which the Prince at once despatched his veterinary
surgeon and Mr. Eoss's groom to the spot where the
mare was lying, to render her assistance, if not too
late ; they, however, returned, bringing the news
of her death, and reporting that the vultures had
already commenced to devour her carcass ; the body
was perfectly stiff, proving that she must have died
very shortly after leaving her. The Arab horse on
arriving at the encampment showed not the slightest
sign of fatigue, and, unlike the previous night, went
into his nosebag with a good will. The match was
thus brought to a speedy conclusion, and I might even
say satisfactory, as it proved beyond doubt, at least
to all present, that for slow continued work the Arab
is immeasurably superior to his English brethren. I
should add that the Arab horse continued hunting
the following four days, always going strong and
well; at the same time the hunting on the succeed-

A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES 33

ing da3^s was of shorter duration than on the first

occasion. From my own personal observation of the

merits and demerits of each horse, I am of opinion

that for any given distance of ground the English

horse would always , show his superiority ; but for

slow, continued, and indefinite work the Arab is far

superior. They seem to be able to go for ever at

their own pace, but if fairly extended they shut up

almost immediately. Thus in our race-meetings we

have always found that in the five-mile race the

English horses can beat the Arab by a mile. I think

there is no doubt but that the heat alone caused the

defeat of the mare, as, calculating it at the outside,

she could only have gone forty miles, and, at the

pace described, under ordinary circumstances it would

be next to nothing to a well-trained horse; but it is

a difficult question to conceive the heat in the desert,

with no kind of vegetation or shade near, and with

the sand reflecting back upon you. On getting in

between two sand-hills, the temperature may be best

imagined by fancying yourself in a hot oven. On

this day we had not a breath of wind. What would

it have been if a " khamseen," or hot wind, had been

blowing ?

E. T.

'Cairo, May 28, 1865.'

This was not considered conclusive either, and
BelVs Life for a few weeks was flooded with corre-

D

34 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

spondence on the comparative merits of tlie English
thoroughbred and the Arab. One of the best written
letters on the subject is the following, which appeared
on July 8, 1865 :

' I observe in your issue of the 24th ult. a letter
on the subject of the endurance of English and Arab
horses. As I have owned Arab horses both in India
and in Egypt, and made use in India of English-bred
horses, Australian, Cape, and Government stud-bred
horses, as well as those got by English stallions out
of country-bred mares, and even the country-bred
horses themselves, I venture to take up my pen on
the subject of the comparative merits of the English
blood and the Arab, especially at this moment, when
the stamina of our horses is called in question, and
the public mind is directed thereto.

' It appears from the match between H.H. Hallim
Pasha and Mr. Ross that the English mare never
had a chance in the trial, as she showed symptoms
of distress soon after starting, and was evidently
suffering all the way. I do not consider that this
is a fair trial of the superiority of Arab horses over
English as regards endurance. Much, of course,
would depend upon the relative state of health and
condition in which the animals were at starting, and
it is also possible that the English mare had some
organic defect which, though not apparent in her
ordinary work, gave way when put to such a severe
test. Another truth is that it is quite impossible to

A BATCH OF CURiOUS MATCHES 35

judge comparatively of the merits of English and
Arab horses in such a climate. English horses are
like English men, they suffer as severely from heat
as we do, and their frames become as relaxed ;
though we both have the pluck to go in and do a
good thing in a spurt when wanted, we have not the
physical ability to contend in a tropical climate
against its native inhabitants when the question at
issue is one of endurance. Horses suffer equally
with men from liver complaint, heart complaint, and
disease of the lungs ; and most all the English
horses of which I have been the possessor in India
have evidently felt the effects of the climate and the
demand on their constitution as much as I did my-
self. This was strikingly exemplified to me, and I
had good opportunity of judging of the powers of
different breeds of horses during the Mutiny cam-
paign in 1857-8, as I then had in my stud an
English horse, an Australian, a stud-bred, and several
Arabs. The Australian was a thoroughbred, and
the English was probably three-quarters bred, and
a clever animal. The stud-bred horse showed quality
also, but was as soft as butter, and I always got to
the end of him the soonest of all. Ths Arabs were
beautiful specimens of the Aweezeh caste, and as
hardy and as wiry as iron. At the same time, during
the winter months, or cold weather, I found little
difference between the Arabs and the Englisli or
Australian horses — they all did their work well ; but

D 2

36 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Tvhen the weather was more advanced, and the hot
weather of April and May set in, the depression and
lassitude of the English horse became very apparent,
and he was not within stones of himself to undergro
fatigue. He became fretful and impatient, and at
the action of Bareilly, when stationed in the rear of
a troop of horse artillery, I could scarcely get him to
approach the guns, and at each discharge he sprang
into the air like a rocket, nearly dragging me out
of the saddle. The Australian suffered less from
nervousness, but he lost condition rapidly, and I was
almost obliged to put him out of work entirely by
the beginning of May. The Arab horses, on the
contrary, did not feel the effects of the heat in the
least. As a proof of this I may mention that I had
two Arab horses sent up to me from Bombay. They
left that town in November, and did not reach me
until the day after the final evacuation of Lucknow,
about April 20, having been marching continually
for five months, and having undergone many vicissi-
tudes— being passed from column to column, and
making forced marches continually, and being fed
irregularly and scantily while left to the care of
native syces or grooms. Still, they arrived at Luck-
now in perfect trim, and continued to do fast work
throughout the hot season, at the end of which
period, on my leaving the field, I sold them for 400^.
I remember well on one occasion four of my horses
had a fair trial, as they, each in their turn, were

A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES

37

ridden on the same day. It was the day on which
Lord Clyde marched from Buntara on Lucknow, be-
fore opening the siege operations. We were in the
saddle at seven a.m., and were fighting all day from
ten or eleven till dusk. My horses had very little
rest, carrying orders, &c., and at seven o'clock I re-
ceived an order to start as soon as I had dined, and
meet the siege-train under Sir Robert Walpole, and
conduct it to its ground. I accordingly started at
once. I rode my English horse, and I did not get
back from duty till about eleven a.m. the next day.
I had thus been nearly twentj^- eight hours in the
saddle, the last twelve or fourteen of which I rode
my English horse, and he stood the work well. Cer-
tainly I was tired enough myself, and I had the full
means of testing the relative powers of all the horses.
Neither the English horse nor the Australian showed
any want of stamina ; the only one that flinched was
the stud-bred. Still, all things considered, I should
prefer, for a long journey in that climate or in Egypt,
an Arab to any other horse ; his education suits him
more to undergo fatigue. His stomach is habituated
from infancy to scanty food and water, and his frame
to endure heat and rough usage; above all, he is
sounder in the legs and feet. He is a good-tempered,
willing, and docile slave, and a rare agent with which
to traverse a distance in an open country, and, above
all, in his own climate in the months of May and
June, when the '' khamseen," or fifty days' hot wind,

38 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

blows loaded with sand, and the fate of the poor
Engflish mare is not to be wondered at. I lost in
the same way a favourite greyhound in Arabia, in
August 1850, which died of disease of the heart,
after a few days' illness, the result of a distressing
run after a gazelle, near the "Ayoun Mousa," or
Well of Moses, on the Gulf of Suez. Poor Spring !
Peace to his manes ; he was buried at Jeddah with
naval honours, to the horror of its Moslem inhabi-
tants. However, all these trials bear upon the point
of my letter of last week. Let us be particular in
breeding from sound and stout animals.

'Cosmopolite.'

^n English horse that had seen some service in
a hot climate like India would perhaps be the best to
pit against the Arab. Our troops in India get most
of their horses from Australia or the Cape of Good
Hope, but there are some Arabs and some of other
breeds. A great authority on horses says :

' The best horses met with in India are, most of
them, it is said, derived direct from Persia, though
of Arabian origin. It is remarkable that these are
also in most cases vicious and intractable, except to
their known attendants, to whom, notwithstanding,
they yield an obedience the very reverse of the savage
nature they display to others. A general officer of
the E-oyal Artillery related an anecdote of an Arabian
for which he had- given a large sum during his mili-

A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES 59

tary service in India. This horse was always forced
to be held by two coolies for his master to mount
him ; and it was always necessarj- also that the coolie
to which the horse was most attached should be
present at his dismounting, to prevent his being at-
tacked by the horse. One da}^, the general, having
prolonged his ride beyond the accustomed hour, on
his arrival at home thoughtlessly dismounted, and
ran up-stairs to the drawing-room without waiting
for the coolie. The consequence was that he had
not entered the room many moments before the
horse made his appearance, but evidently without
any vicious intent, for he, immediately on seeing his
master, '' knuckered " with pleasure. Of course with
a horse of such value it was a subject of considera-
tion how he was to be got down again. However,
when the coolie appeared he made light of the matter,
and taking him by the bridle, with little trouble and
no ill-consequence safely led him down the stairs ;
and from that time, by some strange caprice, the
animal showed as much personal attachment to his
master as to the favourite coolie.' ^

The Persians from the earliest ages have been a
horsey nation. Every one in the country rides, and
rides well too.

' Before 1800, no political mission from a European
nation had visited the Court of Persia for a century ;

* Blaine's Encyclopcedia of Rural Sports,

40 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

but tlie English, had fame as soldiers from the re^^ort
of their deeds in India. An officer of one of the
frigates which conveyed Sir John Malcolm's mission,
who had gone ashore at Abushelier, and was there
mounted on a spirited horse, afforded no small enter-
tainment to the Persians by his bad horsemanship.
The next day the man who supplied the ship with
vegetables, and who spolre a little English, met him
on board, and said, *' Don't be ashamed, sir ; nobody
knows you. Bad rider? I tell them you, like all
English, ride well, but that time they see you, you
very drunlc.'' The worthy Persian thought it would
have been a reproach for a man of a warlike nation
not to ride well, but none for a European to get
drunk.

^ During Sir John Malcolm's first visit to Persia,
he, when riding one day near a small encampment
of Afshar families, expressed doubts to his Mehman-
der, a Persian nobleman, as to the reputed boldness
and skill in horsemanship of their females. The
Mehmander immediately called to a young woman
of handsome appearance, and asked her in Turkish
if she was a soldier's daughter. She said she was.
" And you expect to be a mother of soldiers ? " She
smiled. "Mount that horse," said he, pointing to
one with a bridle, but without a saddle, " and show
this European Elchee the difference between a girl
of a tribe and a citizen's daughter." She immediately
sprang upon the animal, and, setting off at full speed.

A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES 41

did not stop till she had reached the suininit of a
small hill in the vicinitj, which was covered with
loose stones. When there she waved her hand over
her head, and came down the hill at the same rate
at which she had ascended it. Nothing could be
more dangerous than the ground over which she
galloped ; but she appeared quite fearless, and
seemed delighted at having the opportunity of vindi-
cating the females of her tribe from the reproach of
being like the ladies of cities.' ^

' Bentleifs Miscellany, 1852.

42 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER Y.

FAMOUS JOCKEYS.

A GOOD horse, if lie is to figure to advantage,
must have a good rider ; and what is more, the
quadiniped knows perfectly well the quality of the
biped on his back. In the hands of an unskilful
jockey the best horse that ever trod turf may fail to
hold his own even in the company of second-raters,
if the latter have the advantage of being piloted
by clever horsemen. And the qualities which go to
the making of a first-rate jockey are far rarer than
most people imagine. He must not only be possessed
of great nerve and coolness — he must have a firm
and graceful seat, fine hands, and above all must be
a good judge of pace, able to calculate whether the
horse he is riding can last the distance, up to what
stage he will have to be nursed, and when to make
the final effort. He must exercise his wits as well
as his limbs. Besides, his duties are attended with
considerable danger : his life and limbs are con-
stantly in jeopardy, and the wasting process to
which he must perpetually submit is not calculated

FAMO US JOCKE YS 43

to strengthen either his muscles or his nerves.
Taking all these things into consideration, it is not
surprising that a first-rate jockey should be in great
demand, and that large sums should be paid to secure
his services. Moreover, so strong are the temptations
to dishonesty that an owner of race-horses knows that
the best, if not the only, way to secure the fidelity of
a jockey is to pay him well.

But the life of a popular jockey is by no means
^ all sunshine and forced strawberries ; ' it is, and
has ever been, an arduous calling, as the following
facts will show :

' With jockeys in high repute it is necessary to
remain in " condition " from the middle of March
till the end of October, though a week or a fortnight
are quite sufficient time for a rider to reduce himself
from his natural weight to sometimes a stone or a
stone and a half below it. An inquiry into this sub-
ject was made by Sir John Sinclair, and it was stated
by Mr. Sandiver, a surgeon long resident at l^ew-
market, that John Arnull, when rider to the Prince
of Wales, was desired to reduce himself as much as
he could to enable him to ride a particular horse ; in
consequence of which he abstained from every kind
of food, saving an apple occasionally, for the space of
eight days, and declared himself not only uninjured,
but in better wind, and altogether more fit to con-
tend in a severe race, than before he commenced this
unnatural course of diet.

44 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' When moderately reduced, through exercise
taken in a suit of proper sweaters — say eight, or at
most ten, miles' hrisk walk — repeated for two or
three days, nothing can exceed the delicious sensation
of health and elasticity which comes over a man,
after being rubbed down with a coarse towel and
fresh clothed for the remainder of the day. The
effect is visible on the skin, w^hich assumes a remark-
ably transparent hue, whilst after a repetition of such
regimen condition follows every sweat, till the jockey
becomes as sleek as the animal he is going to ride.

' There was, I mind, a favourite sweating-ground
with the Newmarket jocks, of about four miles out,
kept by a " Mother Onion," or some such name,
whither a whole brigade of antique-visaged little
gentlemen, carrying as much clothing as would
suffice for many much taller personages, might be
seen bathed in perspiration, either swinging their
arms to-and-fro to increase the muscular action, and
tramping after each other in single file on the foot-
path bordering the high-road, or else encountered
over the public-house fire, scraping the perspiration
from their heads and faces with a horn carried for
the purpose, precisely as a race-horse is scraped after
a race. After resting thus for half an hour or so,
and imbibinof a tumbler of warm beverao^e to increase
the sweat, they return at a good pace to Newmarket,
perhaps to turn in for a short time and lie loaded
with blankets, in addition to their load of sweaters.

FAMOUS JOCKEYS 45

when thej finally strip and groom themselves care-
fully for the evening. Some men are bad wasters,
when nothing but very severe exercise, aided by
medicine and the most complete self-denial under
every craving appeal for food, suffices to get off the
last twenty-four ounces. Sam Chifney, Bill Scott,
and Eobinson were tall men by comparison with
others of the fraternity, and consequently not so easy
to reduce. But the season once concluded, few men
are more convivial or hospitable than the jockey,
when ample revenge is taken upon the sporting Lent
they have conformed to so piously.' ^

One would almost imagine that such a severe
course of training would sweat all the spirit out of a
man or boy ; but it does not, and the slim mannikins
are always lively. One of the great events of every
summer is a cricket-match between jockeys and
gentlemen connected with the sporting press, and the
display invariably made by the former proves that
they have a good deal of energy left after all the
severe and drastic process of reduction to which they
have been subjected.

As an illustration of the mirth, fun, and good-
humour which generally prevail among the fraternity
of jockeys, we may give the following : * A laughable
incident which took place at York many years ago,
when the celebrated Buckle was in his palmy days.

* Tlie Bye-Lanes and Downs of England, by Sylvanus.

46 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

At that time Mr. Rhodes was the clerk of the course,
the starter, and the judge, and wore a very large and
conspicuous bushj wig. Buckle, who was about to
ride one of Colonel Mellish's horses, was behind time
at the post, and kept the competitors, as well as the
starter, waiting. On Buckle coming up mounted,
Mr. Rhodes said, " Come, come ; you're behind time
again. This may do at Newmarket, Mr. Buckle,
but it won't do at York ! " Buckle, eyeing his wig,
replied, " I say, old un, what do you ask for the wig ?
I've a bull-bitch at home about to pup — just the
thing for her ! " " Go ! " said the starter, and off
the horses rushed. Buckle was last, and turning his
head, repeated, " What do you ask for the wig ? "
amid the laughter of the spectators and the chagrin
of Rhodes, who proceeded to the judge's box. Buckle
had the race in hand, and won it in fine stjde. As
he was passing the post a winner, Buckle turned his
head aside and repeated, " What do 3^ou ask for the
wig, old un ? " Rhodes never heard the last of this
— it became a by -word in the streets.' ^

But it is time to turn to some of the most famous
jockeys, whose sayings and doings deserve to be
rescued from oblivion ; and first we will take the
jockey just referred to, Francis Buckle.

This celebrated and accomplished horseman was
the son of a saddler at Newmarket — which may

* Turf Characters, by Martingale.

FAMOUS JOCKEYS 47

account for his prowess in tlie pigskin — and began
his career in the Honourable Richard Vernon's
stables at a very early age. He rode the winners of
five Derby, seven Oaks, and two St. Leger Stakes,
besides, to use his own words, ' most of the good
things at Newmarket.' But it was in 1802 that he
so greatly distinguished himself at Epsom by taking
long odds that he won both Derby and Oaks on
what were considered very unlikely horses to win
either. His Derby horse was the Duke of Grafton's
Tyrant, with seven to one against him, beating Mr.
Wilson's Young Eclipse, considered the best horse of
his year. Young Eclipse made the play, and was
opposed by Sir C. Bunbury's Orlando, who contested
every inch of ground for the first mile. From
Buckle's fine judgment of pace he was convinced
they must both stop ; so following and watching
them with Tyrant, he came up and won, to the sur-
prise of all who saw him, witli one of the worst horses
that ever ivon a Derby, Buckle, having made one
of his two events safe, had then a fancy that Mr.
Wastell's Scotia could win the Oaks if he were on
her back, and he got permission to ride her. 8he
tvas beaten three times between Tattenham Corner and
home; but he got her up again in front, and won
the race by a head. The Newmarket people declared
they had never seen a race before snatched out of
the fire, as it were, by fine riding.

Buckle's weight was favourable, being seldom

48 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

called upon to reduce himself, as lie could ride seven
stone eleven pounds with ease. He continued riding
in public until past his sixty-fifth year, and his nerve
was good even to the last, although, as might be
expected, he was latterly shy of a crowd, and gene-
rally cast an eye to the state of the legs and feet
when asked to ride a horse he did not know.

But it is not only in public but in private life
that Buckle stood well. He was a kind father and
husband, and a good master ; and his acts of charity
were conspicuous for a person in his situation of
life, who might be said to have gotten all he pos-
sessed first by the sweat of his brow and then at the
risk of his life. He was a great patron of the sock
and buskin, and often bespoke plays for the night
in countrj^ towns. He was a master of hounds, a
breeder of greyhounds, fighting cocks, and bull-dogs,
and always celebrated for his hacks. In the language
of the stud-book, his first wife had no produce,
but out of the second he had several children. We
may suppose he chose her as he would a race-horse,
for she was not only very handsome, but very good.
He left three sons comfortably and respectably settled
in life — one a solicitor, one a druggist, and the other
a brewer. ' Young Buckle was his nephew, and
considered a fair jockey.' ^

No man experienced more than Buckle both the

' Nimrodj The Chase, the Tnrf, and the Road.

FAMOUS JOCKEYS 49

smiles and frowns of the blind goddess, and on more
than one occasion he suffered the extreme of ill-luck.
One of these untoward events took place at Lewes,
where he had backed very heavily a horse of Mr.
Durand's, but was subsequently retained to ride
another in the same race. He mounted, and, highly
to his credit and honour, he won. With little cash
left, it now became a matter of moment with the
honest jockey how to get back to Newmarket. In
this dilemma, however, a gentleman offered a seat
in his carriage. Off they went, and all things went
smooth too, until they approached the last toll-bar
near Newmarket, when the silver of the condudeur
began to fail, and he applied to Buckle to pay the
toll. The budget then must come out, and he con-
fessed to this kind friend that, by the race in question,
he had lost his all. Shortly after this they met a
beggar, and to him Buckle threw his last shilling,
exclaiming at the same time ' that he would never
take that into Newmarket.' ^

Buckle was not only a skilful rider, but a re-
markably good judge of a horse, as the following
anecdote will show :

' The owner of Violante (a celebrated mare early
in the present century). Lord Grosvenor, not think-
ing her worth training, had condemned her to be
sold as a hack for as much as she would fetch.

' Xcw Sjjortlng Magazine, 1832.

E

50 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Buckle, by chance, saw her, and, with that quick de-
cision which so strongly marked his character, asked
the groom her price. " I'ifty, sir." " I'll have her,"
was the reply. The mare was accordingly in the
very act of being led to Buckle's stable when her
noble owner appeared. " Hallo ! " addressing the
groom, " who has bought that filly ? " " Buckle, my
lord." '' Ho ! Buckle bought her ? She sha'n't go;
there must be something more about her than we
think ; take her back." And back she went, but
only to come forward as the best mare that ever ran
in England. Although no explanation or acknow-
ledgment ever followed this novel mode of being off,
Buckle never grumbled.' ^

Indeed, he was one of the coolest men that ever
mounted a horse, and to the fact that he never lost
his composure may be attributed many of his vic-
tories. A jockey who loses his nerve at a critical
moment in a race had better give up riding.

Buckle's chief competitor was Dennis Fitzpatrick,
and ae:ainst him some of Buckle's best riding^ was
called forth. In the race between Hambletonian
and Diamond for 3,000 guineas he is acknowledged
to have displayed the most consummate skill, and to
have won the race by manoeuvring between the ditch
and the turn of the lands, so as to have gained
considerably u]3on his antagonist ere they pushed up

* New Sjportinff Magazine, 1832.

FAMO US JO CKE YS 5 1

the liill. And, as a part of the events of that day.
Buckle related the following anecdote : Sh' Harry
Yane Tempest had betted heavily on Hambletonian's
winning, and, in proportion to the heavy sums in his
book, his mterest in the event had deepened, and
his nerves became proportionably unsteady. In the
deepest apprehension, and just as the horses arrived
at the starting-post, he approached his jockey with
his last orders, and to inquire yet once more his
opinion as to the event of the race. It was then
that the cool and unruffled demeanour of the man
of nerve, confident in his own skill and resources,
reassured the baronet, who exclaimed, as his own

fevered hand touched that of Buckle, ' By G ,

but I would give the whole stake to be half as calm
as you ! ' ^

Another famous rider of the past — long since
dead, and forgotten save by very few — was William
Arnull, who rode for most of the great sportsmen
of his day at Newmarket, and was considered par-
ticularly to excel in matches. He was much afflicted
with gout, but when well was a fine rider, and more-
over as steady and honest as his father was before
him. Being occasionally called upon to waste, he
felt the inconvenience of his disorder, and the
following anecdote is related of him : Meeting an
itinerant piper towards the end of a long and painful

^ New Simrting MagaziTie, 1832.

E 2

52 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

walk, * Well, old boy,' said he, ' I have heard that
niusic cheers the weary soldier ; why should it not
enliven the wasting jockey? Come, play a tune,
and walk before me to Newmarket.' ^

The Chifneys were also renowned riders, though
the scandal attaching to the Running Rein business
(which will be hereafter spoken of) somewhat tar-
nished the lustre of the name. But, without doubt,
the Chifneys, father and son, were splendid riders,
as is shown by the following opinion of one who was
no mean judge :

' The late Samuel Chifney presented the hea'u,
ideal of a jockey — elegance of seat, perfection of
hand, judgment of pace all united, and power in his
saddle beyond any man of his weight that yet sat
in one. It is scarcely necessary to add that he was
son of a celebrated jockey of the same name, con-
sequently well bred to his profession. Chifney's
method of finishing a race was the general theme of
admiration on the Turf. " Suppose," says he, "a man
has been carrying a stone too heavy to be pleasant
in one hand, would he not find much ease by shift-
ing it into the other? Thus, after a jockey has been
riding over his horse's fore-legs for a couple of miles,
must it not be a great relief to him Avhen he sits
back in his saddle, and, as it were, divides the
weight more equally ? But caution is required," he

* Nimrod, The, Chase, the Turf, and the T.oid,

FAMOUS JOCKEYS 53

adds, " to preserve a due equilibrium, so as not to
disturb the action of a tired horse." Without doubt
this celebrated performer imbibed many excellent
lessons from his father, but he has been considered
the more powerful jockey of the two.' ^

Thomas Holcroft, author of the well-known
comedy, The Road to Ruin, who flourished at the
end of the last and the beginning of the present
century, was in early life a stable-boy in the
Newmarket training stables. It was in his time
that ' sweepstakes ' became fashionable, and in his
Memoirs he speaks thus of such races :

' In addition to matches, plates, and other modes
o£ adventure, that of " sweepstakes " had come into
vogue; and the opportunity it gave to deep calcu-
lators to secure themselves from loss by hedging
their bets greatly multiplied the bettors, and gave
uncommon animation to the sweepstakes mode. In
one of these the Hon. Richard Yernon had entered a
colt, and as the prize to be obtained was great, the
whole stable was on the alert. It was prophesied
that the race would be a severe one ; for although
the horses had none of them run before, they were
all of the highest breed — that is, their sires and
dams were in the first list of fame. As was fore-
seen, the contest was indeed a severe one, for it
could not be decided — it vjas a dead-heat j but our

^ Nimrod, The Chase, the Turf, and the Road.

54 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

colt was b}^ no means among the first. Yet so
adroit was Captain Yernon in hedging his bets, that
if one of the two colts that made it a dead-heat had
beaten, our master would on that occasion have won
ten thousand pounds ; as it was he lost nothing, nor
would in any case have lost anything. In the lan-
guage of the Turf, he stood ten thousand pounds to
nothing ! — a fact so extraordinary to ignorance and
so splendid to poverty ! '

Holcroft began betting next morning, and by the
end of the week had lost half a year's wages. ^

' In 1824, Eobinson the jockey made a wager (in '
which he obtained good long odds) that he would in
that year, and within the week, win the Derby and
Oaks races, and also get married : all three some-
what problematical occurrences, the chances of suc-
cess as regards the two first events being a matter
determined by a mathematical calculation, and the
latter, we presume, being almost reduced to a cer-
tainty by previous courtship. Of course the chances
were in favour of those who laid odds, but on
this occasion the odds were floored; for Robinson
won the Derby on Cedric, the Oaks on Cobweb, and
his wife — no, what we mean to say is, and he also
got married within the week.' ^

William Scott, who died in October 1848, was
another celebrated jockey, who, in his day, had no

' Memoirs «f Thmyias Holcroft.
' Horse-Ilacing, its Ilistor?/, &c.

FAMOUS JOCKEYS 55

superior and few equals, winning as lie did no less
tlian nine St. Legers, four Derbys, and three Oaks,
besides innumerable smaller events. He rode nine
winners for the Champagne Stakes, and six for
the Great Two-3^ear-olds at Doncaster. His Derby
triumphs were on St. Giles, Mundig, Attila, and
Cotherstone.

' On the Monday prior to Cotherstone's running
for the Derby, Prince Albert rode over from Esher
to Leatherhead to look at this rare specimen of a
race-horse, and William was frequently heard to say
that had the Prince known what he (William) and
Cotherstone were going to do on the following Wed-
nesday, he would have made them both baronets !

' It is said of him in this race, when Sam Day
was put upon Tom Tulloch, in order to make running
for lago, Sam made the pace terrific for the first
mile; then finding his horse nearly out, he looked
over his shoulder anxiously for a sight of the Pig-
burn horses, when Scott exclaimed, " Go along, you
old buffer ; it is Sir Tatton coming. None of the
Pigburn division here yet." Scott was commonly
supposed to be a Yorkshireman, but as a matter of
fact he was born at Chippenham in Wiltshire.' ^

' Sjjortinff Magazine, 18^8.

56 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER VL

MILITARY STEEPLECHASING.

In whatever part of the world British military officers
are gathered together, there steeplechases or flat races,
or perhaps both, are pretty sure to take j^lace. The
army has produced some fair amateur jockeys,
and amongst them is — or, alas ! was — Major H. A.
Leveson, the ' Old Shekarr}^,' who thus describes a
steeplechase in which he rode for a friend. The
scene is Hyderabad, in the East Indies :

'Moonlight was brought to my stables. He was
a high-caste, dark-bay Arab, standing very little
under fifteen, hands, and had many good points,
evincing great power and endurance ; but his temper
had been soured b}^ ill-treatment, and my friend
bought him at one-fifth of his value on account of
his vicious tendencies. In fact, he had been turned
out of a celebrated racing: stable because Georgfe
Smith, the jockey, had declared him to be dangerous,
and would have nothing to do with him; and his
character had become so notorious that Fred's in-
tended had forbidden his ever mounting him again.

MILITARY STEEPLECHASING 57

Not being under petticoat governnrieut, I resolved to
try his mettle at once, and ordered him to be saddled
and led to the horse-artillerj parade-ground, a large
sandy plain, where I did not care for his bolting. I
followed with Fred in his buggy, and on arrival at
the ground had the girths drawn as tightly as
possible, not merely to keep the saddle in its place,
but to compress the lungs — a plan which I can recom-
mend when riding an unbroken horse, as to a certain
extent it prevents rearing and buck-jumping. When
I first mounted he began all kinds of capers, and I
was obliged to flog the wickedness out of him ; then
he tried all he knew to throw me, but finding his
efforts in vain he bolted, and having a good plain
before me, I allowed him his head, and gave him
" such a gruelling " that in less than an hour he be-
came perfectly passive in my hands, and we began to
understand each other. I found him to have great
bottom, and was altogether so pleased with his going
that, in spite of his character, I made Fred an ofPer,
which was accepted, and the horse became my own
with half his engagements. I now devoted a good
deal of my time to training and getting him into
runninof condition. I had trenches duo^ and hurdles
constructed in a quiet place behind the lines, where
I could give him his gallops, and by the time of the
races he was perfectly fit ; whilst by dint of firm but
kind treatment he had become thoroughly gentle and
much improved in temper.

58 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' The momentous day at last arrived when I was
to make my debut in the pigskin as a steeplechase
rider, and I must own the excitement was tremen-
dous, although I tried hard to dissemble my feelings
and appear cool. The race was to be run at five
o'clock in the afternoon, as by that time the intense
heat of the day had passed away, and the power of
the sun's rays was diminished. Soon after dawn I
had Moonlight saddled, and rode him quietly over
the ground, which described a large circle round the
usual course, the last half-mile being a straight run-
in past the stand. The distance was about three
miles, and the fences would have been considered
stiff even in Leicestershire, whilst the water-jumps
were decidedly " yawners." Moonlight cleared his
fences like a deer, and his easy springy action and
superb condition were all that I could have desired.
After breakfast I went to a large marquee near the
stand, where a good deal of gambling was going on,
and found to my disgust that my horse was not even
mentioned in the betting, as several well-known per-
formers were entered. So little, indeed, was Moon-
liijht thouofht of that the man who drew his number
in the lottery the night before sold me his chance for
a single gold mohr, which was only half the price of
a ticket. However, I was not discouraged, and in
spite of the sneers of the knowing ones, I backed my
horse to win 5,000 rupees, easily getting 25 to 1.

' Having paid considerable attention to my toilet.

MILITARY STEEPLECHASING 59

and made sure that there was nothing in my get-up
likely to invite criticism or betray greenness, I made
my way to the weighing-room, where, without saddle
and bridle, I pulled down very little over eight stone
and a half, being only a couple of pounds over weight ;
for I received seven pounds, my horse never having
run in a previous race, whilst winners had to carry
seven pounds extra.

' These arrangements were hardly settled when
the bugle for saddling sounded, and, having seen to
this myself, I mounted for the preliminary canter.
As I rode slowly past the stand, in which all the
beauty and aristocracy of the cantonment were
assembled, a waving of handkerchiefs attracted my
attention, and there were " the Nina " and her party
arrayed in light blue (my colours), whilst another,
who, in my opinion, was quite as fair, looked
"unutterable things." Moonlight was in the best
of tempers, and, although a dark horse, attracted
considerable attention, for his coat shone like velvet,
showing his condition. His appearance was hailed
with a shout by some of the soldiers who recognised
me ; and an Irish sergeant roared out, '' Sure, it's
the little black captain that'll show 'em the way
entirely, for my month's pay ! "

' After the preliminary canter we took our sta-
tions, and seven horses came to the post. I kept
behind a short distance until I saw the others were
ready, for I wished to keep Moonlight from becom-

6o THE HORSE AXD HIS RIDER

ing excited by the company of other horses. The
favourite T\as a magnificent chestnut Arab that had
won several races, but he appeared fretful and im-
patient, and I remarked that his flanks were v/hite
with foam before we started. His rider sat him like
a Centaur, and I knew if the race could be gained by
horsemanship whereto find the winner. The second
favourite was a gray belonging to a well-known
sportsman in the Civil Service, but his rider looked
far too heavy, and I did not fear him. The horse
that took m}^ fancy was a flea-bitten gray belonging
to a jemedar in the Nizam's service, and had his rider
only nursed him properly he would have proved
dangerous. An officer of irregular cavalry rode a
celebrated hog-hunter, but he carried too much
weight. As the horses walked up, the interest
evinced was immense, and for a moment scarcely even
the slight hum of the crowd could be heard. At
last the word " Go ! " was given, and we were away.
The jemedar on the gray made the running, and the
pace was severe to commence with, but I kept close to
the chestnut, as I felt that he was the most dangerous.
Moonlight was doing his work well, and I had only
to sit steady and keep his head straight. The first
and second fences were cleared by the whole field,
but one swerved at the water and two fell in. The
jemedar by this time was three or four lengths
ahead, and at his girths rode the civilian, I still
kept close to the favourite, who was going as if he

MILITARY STEEPLECHASING 6i

was conscious of what he had to do, whilst his rider's
countenance was as cahn and unmoved as if he was
only taking- a constitutional canter. We rode side
bj side, taking' our jumps together, with our knees
within a yard of each other, and for a mile there was
hardly an}^ perceptible diflPerence in our horses' stride.
Although the ground was rather broken, the pace
was tremendous, and I knew could not long last. I
therefore held in, and allowed the favourite to forge
a little ahead ; and although I felt my horse was full
of running, I determined to nurse him. My antici-
pations were correct, for in a few strides I perceived
the jemedar's horse was pumped, and the second
favourite's heaving flanks and convulsive twitchings
of the tail showed me his bolt was shot.

'The race now lay between the favourite and
Moonlight, and so nearly were we matched that the
slightest mistake on the part of either horse would
have given the other the race. I had the advantage
of a stone in weight, but that was counterbalanced
by the superior riding of my adversary, who was the
very heau ideal of a gentleman-rider. All at once I
noticed that the captain held his horse more in hand,
and allowed me to take the lead at the water-jump,
behind which there was only one more fence of an}'
consequence, and then a straight run-in past the
stand. Could I but win ! I felt almost wild with
excitement, and giving my horse the spur for the
first time during the race, I crammed him at the

62 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

water, which he cleared at a flj, and then pulled him
together, so as to collect his stride before taking the
last fence. On looking back I saw the chestnut evi-
dently labouring hard, for, having jumped short at the
water, the bank had given way beneath his hind-legs,
and he was heavily shaken on landing. He scram-
bled out, however, very cleverly, and struggled on ;
with the expiring effort of a thoroughly game horse,
he rose at the last fence, but nature was exhausted, his
strength was spent, and he fell on landing ; whilst
Moonlight cleared it, and cantered in past the grand
stand a winner, amidst deafening shouts and yells of
delight from the soldiers who lined the course. The
race was closelv contested throus^hout, and at the
last was so near a thing that the victor could hardly
triumph or his antagonist feel mortified at the result.
Had the favourite not met with the accident at the
water I might have come off second best. It was,
however, a red-letter day in my career, and my heart
still glows with delight when I recall to mind my
first steeplechase.' ^

1 The Forest and the Field, bv the ' Old Shekarry.'

^z

CHAPTER yil.

SOME FOREIGN JOCKEYS.

HoESE-EACiNG is now SO well established in France
that it is difficult to imagine that at the beginning
of the present century it was almost unknown among
our lively neighbours. Now the best English jockeys
ride in the principal French races, and English
horses run on French turf. French horses come
over to England, and beat English ones, too ; so
that French turf matters have improved since the
New Sporting Magazine gave the following description
of two French jocks who rode in the Paris races,
1832:

' Rene, the jockey on Conradin, and Baptiste, the
rider of Cederic, ought to be immortalised in the
annals of horsemanship, for sure such a pair were
never seen on any course before. The former was
a long, lean, half-starved looking Frenchman, with
sharp knees, who sat astride his horse like a pair of
tongs; while the other — a. great lusty hulk of a
Norman, in a pair of mahogany-topped boots, great
white cord breeches, lashed twice round his waist

64 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

with tape, if waist that could be called which difiPered
in breadth nothing from his shoulders, and a queer-
looking blue-and-black chequered shirt for a jacket ;
a cap, with the peak turned behind, to match, and
huge rufiies at his wrist — had his stirrup-leather so
short that, although he might contrive to preserve
his equilibrium, it was utterl}^ impossible for him to
render any assistance to his horse. . . . They all got
away at the first wave of the hand of a gentleman in
black, with a portly stomach encircled with a tri-
coloured scarf. The Norman (who, by the way, had
a wet sponge applied to his knees before starting, by
way of improving his grip of the saddle) went off at
score ; indeed, had the heats been once round we
believe he must have won, for the five-year-old bay
seemed to have a will of his own, and there being
nothing but a plain snafiSe in his mouth, he was left
to the free enjoyment of it. The rider — for it would
be a profanation of the name to call him a jockey —
did not get a pull at him for the first mile and a
quarter, and passed the stands at a slapping pace,
which, however, shortly began to tell upon his horse,
and he was compelled to resign the precedence to
the gray (Lord H. Seymour's Egle, ridden by Moss,
or Mous, as the programme hath it) and Mouna, and
take a place in the middle tier, where both rider and
horse laboured away manfully long after the heat
was decided. The gray won in a canter, Mouna was
second, then, after a long interval, up galloped the

SOME FOREIGN JOCKEYS 65

Norman flogging and spurring, and in about an
equal space of time the rest arrived.' ^

Hungary and America too have sent horses
capable of competing with the best British blood ;
but neither nation seems to have produced a breed
of jockeys. The wild red man of the western prairies
would perhaps, if he conld be caught and tamed,
prove formidable in the saddle.

' The American Indian is an arrant jockey, and
understands all the tricks of professional horse-
racing as well as any veteran of Jerome Park. He
rarely comes in competition with whites, because his
passion being for trick races, he dislikes to come
down to a fair and square race over a straight track.
Besides this, it is really exceedingly difficult to hit
on a fair distance between the Indian and American
horse. The start being always from a halt, the
small quick pony is almost sure to win at from 100
to 300 yards ; while the long stride of the American
horse is equally sure of carrying him in winner from
600 yards to two miles. A|mile or two is then
doubtful, after which it is safe to back the endurance
of the pony.

' A band of Comanches, under Mu-la-que-top,
once camped near Fort Chadbourne in Texas, and
were frequent visitors and great nuisances as beggars
at that post. Some of the officers were decidedly

* New Snorting Magazine, 1832.

66 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

" horsey," several owning blood horses, the relative
speed of each being known, by separate trials, almost
to a foot. Mu-la-qne-top was bantered for a race,
and, after several days of manoeuvring, a match was
made against the third best horse in the garrison,
distance 400 yards.

' The Indians betted robes and plunder of various
kinds, to the value of sixty or seventy dollars, against
money, flour, sugar, &c., to a like amount. At the
appointed time all the Indians and most of the
garrison were assembled at the track. The Indians
showed a miserable sheep of a pony, with legs like
churns, a three-inch coat of rough hair stuck out all
over the body ; and a general expression of neglect,
helplessness, and patient suffering struck pity into
the hearts of all beholders. The rider was a stalwart
■warrior of one hundred and seventy pounds, looking
big and strong enough to carry the poor beast on his
shoulders. He was armed with a huge club, with
which, after the word was given, he belaboured the
miserable animal from start to finish. To the
astonishment of all the whites the Indian won by
a neck.

* Another race was proposed by the officers, and,
after much '^ dickering," accepted by the Indians,
against the next best horse of the garrison. The
bets were doubled, and in less than an hour the
second race was won by the same pony, with the
same apparent exertion, and with exactly the same
result.

SOME FOREIGN JOCKEYS 67

^The officers, thoronglily disgusted, proposed a
third race, and brought to tlie ground a magnificent
Kentucky mare, of the true Lexington blood, and
known to beat the best of the others at least 40 yards
in 400. The Indians accepted the race, and not
only doubled bets as before, but piled up everything
they could raise, seemingly almost crazed with the
excitement of their previous success. The riders
mounted ; the word was given. Throwing away his
club, the Indian gave a whoop, at which the sheep-
like pony pricked up his ears, and went away like
the wind, almost two feet to the mare's one. The
last fifty yards of the course was run by the pony
with the rider sitting face to his tail, making hideous
grimaces, and beckoning to the rider of the mare to
come on.

' It afterwards transpired that it was a trick-and-
straight-race pony, celebrated among all the tribes
of the south, and that Mu-la-que-top had only just
returned from a visit to the Kickapoos, in the Indian
nation, whom he had easily cleaned out of 600
ponies.' ^

^ Hunting-grounds of the Great West, by Lieut.-Colonel Dodge,
U.S.A.

F 2

68 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER YIII.

HORSE-RACING : SOME OLD MATCHES, AND SOME
NEW DODGES.

There can be no doubt as to tbe great antiquity of
horse-racing ; the Greeks and the Eomans practised
a form of the sport, and so did the ancient Egyptians,
if reliance is to be placed on the pictorial represen-
tations of their every-day life which those peculiar
people left behind them by way of history. The
Arabs have always been ready to enter their horses
in a race, and the Moors of Northern Africa were
ever prepared to back their horses and their own
horsemanship against all comers.

In the early period of Britain's history, when
horsemen as a rule wore heavy suits of armour, the
great object was to get a horse that could carry
weio-ht ; speed was quite a secondary consideration.
But when gunpowder made defensive armour com-
paratively useless, men paid more attention to the
speed of their animals, and horse-races became
popular. Endurance also was necessary; there
were no half-mile races for baby horses in the time
of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs.

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 69

It is hardly possible to say where the first regular
race-meetings were established ; but ' the good city
of Lincoln ' was the first to erect a grand stand on
its race-course. In Nichol's Progresses of James I,
we read that on Thursday, A^Dril 3, 1617, his Majesty
was at Lincoln, 'where there was a greate Horse-
race on the heath for a Cupp, where his Majestie
was present, and stoode upon a Scaffold ye Cittie
had caused to be set up, and withal caused ye race
a quarter of a mile long to be raled and corded
with rope and hoopes on both sides, whereby the
people were kept out, and the horses that ronned
were seen faire.'

Those who see the next Lincoln Handicap will
do well to remember, therefore, that the corporation
of Lincoln was the first to provide good accommo-
dation on its racecourse, and they will doubtless feel
grateful in the extreme to the predecessors of the
present corporate body of the ancient city.

We are not informed what were the weights or
distances in the Lincoln races just mentioned, but
no doubt they were greater than in the present day,
judging from the following :

'In 1676 a race was run on Winchester Downs,
" none but gentlemen to ride, four-mile heats ; four-
teen stone was the weight up without the saddle,
and fourteen stone two pounds and a half with."
And during the last century the majority of royal
plates Avere given to six-year-old horses carrying

70> THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

twelve stone; and the Duke of Rutland, owner of
Bonny Black, tlie best mare of her day for a long
distance, in 1719 challenged all the world "to run
sixteen miles for one thousand pounds." This mare
was by Black Harry by the Byerley Turk, out of a
mare by a Persian stallion.'

The name of the individual who first formed the
idea of ^making a book ' is not on record, but very
sharp practices have always characterised horse-
racing. It seems as though man's wit had never
been so actively employed as in devising how to win
a horse-race, or how to win money while losing the
race.

' At Newmarket, in the time of George I., a
match was made between the notorious Tregonwell
Frampton and Sir W. Strickland to run two horses
over Newmarket for a considerable sum of money ;
and the betting was heavy between the north- and
south-country sportsmen on the event. After Sir
W. Strickland's horse had been a short time at
Newmarket, Frampton's groom, with the knowledge
of his master, endeavoured to induce the baronet's
groom to have a private trial at the weights and dis-
tance of the match, and thus to make the race safe.
Sir William's man had the honesty to inform his
master of the proposal, when he ordered him to
accept it, but to be sure to deceive the other by
putting seven pounds more weight in the stuffing
of his own saddle. Frampton's groom had already

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES yi

done the same thing ; and in the trial, Merlin, Sir
William's horse, beat his opponent about a length.
" Now," said Frampton to his satellite, " my fortune
is made, and so is yours ; if our horse can run so
near Merlin with seven pounds extra, what will he
do in the race ? " The betting was immense. The
south-country turfites, who had been let into the
secret by Frampton, told those from the north that
" they would bet them gold against Merlin while
gold they had, and then they might sell their land."
Both horses came well to the post, and of course the
race came off like the trial.'

In the foregoing we have an instance of an
honest jockey and a confiding employer ; but owners
of racehorses have not always shown the same
amount of confidence.

' The notorious Duke of Queensberry possessed a
racing-stud, not so numerous as some of those of his
contemporaries on the turf, but he prided himself
on the excellence of it. His principal rider was the
famous Dick Goodisoi;, in whose judgment he had
much reliance. But, in the language of the turf,
his Grace was " wide awake." Having on one
occasion reason to know — the jockey, indeed, had
honestly informed him of it — that a large sum of
money was offered his man if he would lose, " Take
it," said the Duke; "I will bear you harmless."
When the horse came to the post, his Grace cooll}'
observed, " This is a nice horse to ride ; I think I'll

72 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

ride him myseK ; when throwing open his coat, he
was found to be in racing attire, and mounting, won
without a struggle.'

No doubt the bookmakers of that period often
found their calculations upset; but, in the long-run,
they probably had very much the best of the bar-
gain, as they have now.

Old John Day used to tell a capital joke of once
being victimised by ' gentlemen jocks ' at Bath.
'In a field of a dozen horses, he had one that he
knew to be so bad that he took the liberty of laying
the odds to a fifty-pound note against him, at fifteen
to one. It seemed the jocks had breakfasted to-
gether, and compared books (as became brethren
of some "Union Club"), which showed that all
the " cream " depended upon Honest John's horse
coming in first ; a result they of course readily
accomplished, being men of nous and education.
One bolting at the first favourable opportunity, with
three or four after him ; some fell off, others
"pulled," till the self-" potted " Danebury nag came
in nearly by himself, every one profusely con^
gratulating his owner, who, besides the fifteen
fifties, had the police to pay for the meeting, and
ten dozen of champagne to the club for winning.
Honest John's countenance, when seeing his gentle-
man jock weighed, must have been rather a legible
index, and deeply instructive.'

The tout of the present day can exercise a great

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 73

influence upon tlie betting on or against a horse ;
but the tout himself, sharp-witted and keen-eyed
as he is, sometimes has to do with people quite as
clever as himself. Of course, if the tout can afford
to give liberal bribes to the stable-boys, and the
latter are so dishonest as to reveal the secrets of the
stables, the tout's work is pleasant and profitable ;
but sometimes misfortunes overtake the gentleman
whose business is to procure information.

' The late Earl of Grosvenor had a horse heavily
engaged in the Craven Meeting, and a few days
before he was to run a report was circulated that he
coughed. But whence the report? Why, a man
had been hired by a party to lie all night on the roof
of his box, to ascertain the fact which he proclaimed.
His authority, however, being doubted, another
worthy was procured to perform the same office on
the following night, which, coming to the ears of
the trainer, was immediately reported to his noble
employer. '* Have we no horse that coughs ? " in-
quired his lordship. " We have one, my lord," was
the reply. " Then," said his lordship, " let him be
put in the box over which the fellow is to pass the
night, and if he does not catch his death from this
cold north-east wind and sleet we shall do very
well. Of course the odds became heavy against the
horse from the report of this second herald ; and his
lordship pocketed a large sum by his horse, who won
the race with ease.

74 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' Still later, indeed (the parties were alive in
1870 — the one no other than Mr. Wilson, the oldest
member of the Jockey Club ; and the other a noble
duke, then a noble viscount), a very fair advantage
was taken of a report circulated by means of one
of these watchers, vulgarly called "touters." Mr.
Wilson was about to try a two-year-old colt, and
had entered his trial for the morrow. " We must not
try to-morrow, sir," said his trainer. " Why not ? "
inquired Mr. Wilson. " We shall be watched, sir,"
replied the trainer; "and the old horse's (i.e. the
trial horse) white fore-leg will be sure to let out the
cat." "Leave that to me," said Mr. Wilson; "I
shall be at the stables before you get out with the
horses." And, coming prepared with materials for
the purpose, he painted the white fore -leg of the old
horse black, and the fellow one of the colt white ;
and so they went to the ground. The old one, as
may be supposed, ran fastest aud longest ; but, being
mistaken by the touter for the young one, his fame
soon spread abroad, and he was sold the next day to
the noble viscount for fifteen hundred guineas, being
somewhere about eleven hundred more than he was
worth.'

Even when horses are 'run on the square' —
when the animal, his rider, and his owner all act in
a fair and straightforward way — the speculator on
the event must not be too certain that the horse of
his selection will win the great event; but when

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 75

owners and jockeys conspire, some one is sure to
come to grief. There is an element of uncertainty
in all worldly affairs, and it is a fact that the results
of many races give even the law the ' go-by ' in
the glorious uncertainty they so forcibly illustrate.
Some have been exquisitely ridiculous. ' I remem-
ber,' says a once popular sporting writer, ' one in
particular that caused the greatest merriment at
Chester. There was a good stake in one of the
races at that very pleasant meeting, that required
three horses to contend for it to make the money
available. Two horses were ready, whose owners
agreed to divide, and to pay the stake of the third,
giving his owner a bonus at the same time to start
his horse (some animal they thought nothing of), to
fulfil the necessary conditions. Away they went,
one of the confederates (old " Zohrab ") very soon
pulling up, leaving his coadjutor (Abraham New-
land) to canter in and receive the money, as duly
intended and arranged ; when, lo and behold ! the
despised brute, running on velvet, collared him at
the distance, ran as game as a bulldog, stride for
stride, and beat him on the post, amidst the laughter
and amusement of all acquainted with the circum-
stances.'

This was decidedly a dishonest affair, and the
biters were most properly bitten. But sometimes it
happens that the owner and trainer are unacquainted
with the real merits of a horse until the jockey

76 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

develops them. For example : ' The most extra-
ordinary incidents in connection with the final issue
of a race took place in the St. Leger in Theodore's
memorable year (1822). Theodore, at two years old,
had run successfully ; but he had been wofully de-
feated a few weeks previous to the decision of the
St. Leger, a circumstance which appears not to have
been viewed in its proper liglit. He had fallen in
public estimation ; and in proof of this it only need
be mentioned that, on the morning of the race, a
hundred guineas to a walking-stick of the value
of one shilling was laid against him, and taken !
This extraordinary transaction took place in the
High Street, near the Earn Inn. Jackson, who had
been appointed by Mr. Petre to ride Theodore, was
sadly mortified at his own position and at his chance
for the race. Indeed, he was very desirous of riding
one of Mr. Gascoigne's horses — either the colt or the
filly ; but he preferred the latter (Yiolet), and de-
clared over and over again that he could win upon
either one or the other. " Why, Jackson," said one
of his friends, " Theodore is a good horse, after all ;
he won't stop in the race." '' No," said the veteran
jockey, " I know he won't stop ; but he has not
strength, I am afraid, to go with Mr. Gascoigne's
horses."

' During the whole of the forenoon Jackson was
extremely low-spirited, and had scarcely a word to
throw at a dog, especially when he learnt the state

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 77

of the odds at the betting-room and the walking-
stick affair, besides a current rumour that Mr. Petre
had got rid of his betting-book, with a bonus, to
Mr. Wyville ; and at length he grew sullen and ill-
tempered. As the time for the decision of the great
event drew near he walked to the ground with his
saddle at his back and his whip in his hand, in no
ver}^ enviable frame of mind. He went to scale in
due course ; and immediately afterwards, on inquir-
ing if any one had seen Mr. Petre, or his groom, or
his horse, he was answered in the negative. He
then proceeded to the rubbing- house, and made the
same inquiries there. "Has any one seen Mr.
Petre ? " " No," was the reply. " Or his groom ? "
"No." "Or Theodore?" "No; they say he is
not coming. 'Tis a hundred guineas to a walking-
stick against him !" Jackson's teeth met in utter
mortification. He then proceeded to the Town
Field, where several of the St. Leger horses were
being walked about. At length he discovered a
horse at the far side of the field, near the hedge,
led by a little stable-boy alone. Jackson thought it
must be his horse Theodore. He trudged across the
lands, and, approaching the boy, said to him, " Is
that Mr. Petre's horse, my boy ? " " Yes, sir," was
the answer. " Bring him here," said the veteran,
" and strip him directly," — an operation which, with
some assistance, was speedily accomplished. In the
meanwhile Jackson proceeded to strip himself to

78 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

his riding-dress — black and pink sleeves — to adjust
his saddle, surcingle, martingale, &c. The little boy
assisted him to mount, and he recrossed the field in
the direction of the course. When he was passing
through the rubbing-house gate one gentleman said
to another, " What horse is that ? " " Mr. Petre's
Theodore," was the reply. " What will you lay
against him?" "A hundred guineas to one."
" Done." " Done ;" and the bet was booked. " Will
you double it ? " asked the taker. " No, no," replied
the other; "I think that is plenty for once." Jack-
son heard this, and did not look very pleasant ; in
fact he was mortified and ill-tempered. But previous
to this conversation he had let Theodore feel that he
had his spurs on. Theodore, indeed, was all alive :
he had done little in the way of exercise since his
recent defeat, but was remarkably fresh, stared
around him, and appeared ready and anxious for the
struggle. Whilst parading in front of the grand
stand, the objects of universal notice were the first
favourites : Mr. Poulett's Swap, Mr. Watt's Mundane
filly and Marion, Mr. Gascoigne's colt, and Violet,
&c., whilst Theodore was little noticed by any one.
The horses approached the post in a compact body ;
and Jackson, who was always noted for getting a
good place at starting, managed to advance in front.
The word " Go ! " was given, and away they rushed
on the wings of the wind. Theodore almost imme-
diately took the lead. The pace was then very fast.

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 79

Jackson was surprised at his own position and his
own chance ; and afterwards observed, in describing
this extraordinary race, " When we got to the first
cross-road I had lost all my ill-temper and mortifi-
cation ; I turned my head for a moment ; a crowd
of horses (twenty-two) were thundering close at my
heels ; the sight was terrific, the speed tremendous.
Theodore pulled hard, but I held him tight. ' IN'ow,
my little fellow,' said I to myself, ' keep up this pace
to the top of the hill, and I don't care a straw for the
whole lot.' I felt as strong as a giant ; I thought
my arms were made of iron ; and the blood rushed
merrily through my veins, while my heart thumped
at my ribs. Away we went at a rattling pace ; I was
first over the hill, and never was headed in any part
of the race ! "

' On reaching the top of the hill, however,
Jackson turned his head to look for the first favourite,
Swap ; he was in the centre of the crowd. " You
are done for," said he to himself; "I sha'n't be
troubled with you ! " On descending, he eased
Theodore a little ; but was instantly on the look-out
for the other favourites, or, to use his own words,
'•'the harlequins and the magpies" — that is, Mr.
Watt's horses, ridden in harlequin jackets, and Mr.
Gascoigne's, in black and white. Swap was com-
pletely defeated ; and he had the greatest terror
of Mr. Gascoigne's two, particularly Yiolet. Then
came the tug of war. The favourites, after passing

8o THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

the T.Y.C., a mile from home, challenged by turns
or by twos. First, Marion, reaching his boots. Then
Mr. Gascoigne's colt and filly, right and left, passing
his boots and nearly reaching the neck of Theodore.
Then the Mundane fill}", with Marion. Then Gas-
coigne's two again ; and here the skill, judgment,
nerve, and resolution of Jackson were powerfully
evinced. Theodore, perhaps partly frightened by the
tremendous thunder at his heels — certainly sharing
in the excitement of the struggle — still wanted to go
farther ahead ; but his rider contrived so to use his
powers as not to waste them. Challenge after chal-
lenge was given, and challenge after challenge as
often defeated. Jackson never permitted his horse
to go much in advance of his formidable competitors.
Holding him with a firm and judicious hand — but
still going very fast — he only slackened rein when
he was attempted to be coupled. " I could see,"
said the veteran jockey, "head after head advance
as far as my boots on each side ; and when I en-
couraged Theodore forwards, I could see head after
head glide beautifully backwards out of my sight ;"
observing to himself (said he after the last bold
attempt), " 'Now I think you are all done ! ' I felt
that the race was my own, and my heart beat merrily
at the thought." Away they sailed ; many changes
taking place with the horses immediately behind
Theodore, while Jackson had his eye on Violet.
Nevertheless, he felt that the victory was his ; and

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES 8i

as lie approached home, his spirits were more ex-
hilarated when he heard the mighty roar from the
multitude of spectators, and the shouts from the grand
stand — " Theodore — Theodore — Theodore wins ! "
"Petre — Mr. Petre wins ! " "Jackson — Jackson ! " —
"Theodore ! "—"Violet's beat ! "— " Theodore wins ! "
In approaching home, however, the Comus filly
(Violet) came again, and made another challenge,
looking more formidable. Jackson elevated his arm,
prepared for the worst, as high as he could reach.
He struck Theodore, and he bounded like a buck,
and was landed a gallant winner by nearly a length —
to the perfect astonishment of all the betting men
and of Mr. Petre himself. The immense crowd of
spectators honoured Jackson with three loud and
enthusiastic cheers as he dismounted and approached
the scales to be weighed. The extraordinary victory
in this instance presented a most wonderful contrast
to the bet of one hundred guineas to a walking-stick.'
In this race it will be noted that the horses started
at the first attempt, and the jockey who steered the
winner managed to make a good start. Had it been
otherwise, had there been false starts and returns to
the post, and all the worry attendant thereon, possibly
the race might have had a different termination. A
fair start is a desirable thing, and a 'good start'
is a great advantage, which every jockey tries to
secure ; in fact, most of the false starts occurring
on the English racecourses may be attributed to the

G

82 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

eagerness of the jockeys to get away, each striving
to be half a second before the other competitors.

' Nothing can possibly be more annoying, mortify-
ing, and vexations to the owners of race-horses than
to witness a recurrence after recurrence of false
starts. The animals become irritated, fretful, restive,
and restless ; the spirit and physical power which
should have been rendered available during the race
are wasted to a useless purpose. A striking proof
of this occurred at the St. Leger in 1827. Twenty-
six horses came to the post. Mr. Gully's Mameluke
was the favourite. By some means or other he got
irritated, turned restive, plunged, reared, and tried
every means to throw his rider Chifney, and then
stood stock-still. At the eighth attempt — and many
of them had gone three or four times to nearly the
top of the hill — the great body of them got away ;
but Mameluke was left behind. The feelin^xs of Mr.
Gully, who was heavily hit on this occasion, may be
readily imagined. Mameluke, however, set off him-
self, about seventy yards "behind the leading horses.
The extraordinary speed at which he was going may
be imagined when it is stated that, on reaching the
top of the hill, about three-quarters of a mile, he had
passed upwards of twenty of his competitors with
his violet jacket and white cap. On reaching the
two-year-old starting-post — a mile from home —
Matilda, who led the race, seemed on the point of
being headed. At the Red House Mameluke fairly

OLD MATCHES, AND NEW DODGES ^^

cauglit her ; a dreadfully severe struggle then ensued.
Matilda, who was ridden Avithout spurs, by James
Robinson, was next the ditch, and Mameluke on her
right. He tried to pass her in so determined a
manner that every muscle in his splendid frame was
visible. On reaching the end of the white rails it
was evident that he was in difficulty. " He can't do
it ! He's defeated ! He can't do it ! " was heard all
around ; and " Matilda ! Matilda ! " was roared from
the top of the grand stand. At the distance-post
another strong effort was made to pass the marc,
but she won the race by about a length, leaving the
impression that, had Mameluke got off in the first
instance, he would have been the victor easily.'

G 2

84 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER IX.

THE HUMOUES OF THE IIACECOURSE.

The history of our great race-meetings lias never
been satisfactorily written ; and the interesting
subject still awaits a pen worthy to do it justice.
Scattered here and there in the pages of old books
and magazines are many accounts of turf-gatherings
which would prove entertaining to those specially
interested in such matters. For instance, Nimrod
has thus described the race for the Derby nearly a
hundred years ago :

' Fancy twenty- four three-year colts, looking like
six-year-old horses, with the bloom of condition on
their coats, drawn up in a line at the starting-place,
with the picked jockeys of all England on their
backs, and on the simple fact of which may prove
the best perhaps a million sterling depends. They
are off! " No, no ! " cried one jockey, whose horse
turned his tail to the others just as the word " Go ! ''
was given. It is sufficient, 'tis no start. " Come
back ! " roars the starter. Some are pulled up in a
few hundred yards, others go twice as far. But

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 85

look at that chestnut colt — white jacket and black
cap — with thousands depending on him ! He is
three parts of the way to Tattenham Corner before
his rider can restrain him. Talk of agonising mo-
ments— the pangs of death ! What can at all equal
these ? But there are no winnings without losings ;
and it is nuts to those who have backed him out.
Who can say, indeed, but that, his temper being
known, the false start may have been contrived to
accommodate him ? However, they are all back
again at the post, and each rider endeavouring once
more to be well placed. Observe the cautious John
Day, how quietly he manoeuvres to obtain an inside
location for his worthy master, his Grace of Grafton.
Look at neat little Arthur Pavis, patting his horse
on the neck and sides, and admiring himself at the
same time ; but his breeches and boots are really
good. Watch Sam Chifney minutely ; but, first
and foremost, his seat in the saddle,

" Incorpsed and demi-natured
With the brave beast ; "

and his countenance — 'tis calm, but thoughtful.
But he has much to think of ; he and his confede-
rates have thousands on the race. Harry Eobinson
and Edwards are side by side, each heavily backed
to win. How they are formed to ride ! Surely
Nature must mould a jockey for the purpose of dis-
playing her jewel the horse. And that elegant

86 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

horseman, Sam Day — but see how he is wasted to
bring himself to the weight. Observe the knuckles
of his hands and the patellae of his knees, how they
appear almost breaking through the skin. But if
he have left nearly half his frame in the sweaters,
the remaining half is full of vigour ; and we'll
answer for it his horse don't find liim wanting in the
struggle. Then that slim young jockey, with his
high cheek-bones and long neck, in the green jacket
and orange cap — surely he must be in a galloping
consumption. There is a pallid bloom on his sunken
cheek, and he wants but the grave-clothes to com-
plete the picture. Yet we need not fear; he is
heart-whole and well ; but having had short notice,
has lost fifteen pounds in the last forty-eight hours.
They are off again ! A beautiful start, and a still
more beautiful sight ! All the hues of the rainbow
in the colours of the riders and the complexions of
their horses. What a spectacle for the sportsmen,
who take their stand on the hill on the course to see
the first part of the race, and to observe the places
their favourites have gotten ; they are all in a cluster,
the jockeys glancing at each other's horses ; for they
cannot do more in such a crowd. They are soon,
however, a little more at their ease ; the severity of
tlie ground and the rapidity of the pace throw the
soft-hearted ones behind, and at Tattenham Corner
there is room for observation. " I think I can win,"
savs Robinson to himself, " if I can but continue to

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 87

live with my horse ; for I know I have the speed of
all here. But I must take a strong pull down this
hill ; for we ha.ve not been coming over Newmarket
flat." Pavis's horse is going sweetly, and the
Yorkshireman, Scott, lying well up. But where is
Chifney ? O, like Christmas, he's coming, creeping
up in his usual form, and getting the blind side of
Harry Edwards ! Chappie is here on a Dangerous
horse, and John Day, with a strain of old Prunella.
It is a terrible race ! There are seven in front
within the distance, and nothing else has a chance
to win. The set-to begins ; they are all good ones.
Whips are at work — the people shout — hearts throb
— ladies faint — the favourite is beat — white jacket
with black cap wins.

' Now a phalanx of cavalry descend the hill to-
wards the grand stand, with " Who has won ? " in
each man's mouth. " Hurrah ! " cries one, '' my
fortune is made ! " "I am a ruined man ! " says
another, pulling up with a jerk. " Scoundrel that I
was to risk such a sum ! 0, how shall I face my
poor wife and children ? I'll blow ni}^ brains out ! "
But where is the owner of the winning horse ? He
is on the hill, on his coach-box; but he will not
believe it till twice told. " Hurrah ! " he exclaims,
throwing his hat into the air. A gipsy hands it to
him. It is in the air again, and the gipsy catches
it, and half a sovereign besides, as she hands it
to him once more. " Heaven bless your honour ! "

88 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

says the dark lady. "Did I not tell your honour
you could not lose ? " '

The same writer satirised the extravaerant charfjes
made by the inhabitants of towns where race-meet-
ings are held. Had Nimrod lived to the present
time he would have used even stronger language on
this subject. Says he :

* Some years since a French gentleman visited
Doncaster, and gave it the name of "the guinea
meeting" — nothing without the guinea. "There
was," said he, " the guinea for entering the rooms
to hear the people bet. There was the guinea for my
dinner at the hotel. There was the guinea for the
stand for myself; and (0, execrable!) the guinea for
the stand for my carriage. There was the guinea
for my servant's bed, and (ah, mon Dieu !) ten guineas
for my own, for only two nights ! " Now, we cannot
picture to ourselves monsieur at Doncaster a second
time ; but if his passion for the race should get the
better of his prudence, we only trust he will not be
so infamously robbed again.'

But they have learnt to charge now at Chantilly
and other places on the Continent, so the wrongs
monsieur suffered at Doncaster are avenged.

A Yankee generally considers himself the smart-
est man alive, but on the turf it sometimes happens
that his smartness fails him. At least so it would
seem from the following anecdote related by the late
Lord William Lennox :

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 89

' Many years ago, upon a certain spring meeting
on the Plains of Abraham, near Quebec, a flyer from
the United States was entered to run for a sweep-
stakes of ten dollars each, mile heats. The writer
of this, then a youth of eighteen, had the care of two
English horses, Wellington and Douro, good names
to contend against the Eagle (for so the stranger's
horse was called), and received a challenge to run a
match, weight for age, although, as the trainer said,
*' They were not particular to a pound or two."
The distances named were a mile, two miles, and
three miles ; the best of the three races to decide
the event. As at this period no professional jockeys
were allowed to ride for the Garrison Stakes, and
as the owner of the bird of Jupiter did not fancy
an amateur, the stewards permitted him to draw his
horse without paying the forfeit, and I consented to
contest against a regular Kentucky jockey for the
sum of two hundred dollars, which was soon made up
by my brother officers on the staff. Wellington had,
unquestionably, the speed of his son, but he could
not last so long. Under these circumstances I named
Douro, who, though successful on many occasions in
Canada, would have only been an average " plater "
at home. The terms were drawn out, the money
staked, the laws of Newmarket read out as our
guide, and public expectation was on the tiptoe. The
Eagle was a long leggy animal, drawn as fine as a
grey-hound ; his opponent a compact, well-shaped,

90 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

tliorougli-bred horse, in splendid condition, fit, as
mj groom said, to run for a man's life. The morn-
ing arrived — one of those bright lovely mornings
that are to be met with ou the sunny banks of the St.
Lawrence, when the great orb shines brilliantly forth,
when scarce a ripple is to be seen on the surface of
the fast-flowing waters, when the sky is blue and
cloudless, the sward green and refreshed by the
heavy morning dew. An enormous crowd was assem-
bled, for the horse had been sent purposely to '' flog
the Britishers." There might be seen the " 'cute
hand " from New York, the " knowing one " from
Albany, the " wide-awake " dealer from Boston ; nor
were the sharp fellows confined down to the United
States, for we could boast of some who, as the saying
goes, " knew a thing or two " — Montreal livery-
stable keepers, Quebec blacklegs, grooms, and
keepers. Among the distinguished classes were the
Governor-General — for the seat of government at
that time was at Quebec — his family, staff, civilians,
and officers of the garrison. The betting was nearly
equal, although occasionally a wild partisan offered
odds on his favourite, which he felt sure could win.
The race, which was looked upon as the event of the
day, was to come off immediately after the Garrison
Stakes, for which I rode, and won on Wellington — an
omen, I thought, of good success. The bell then
rang for saddUng : I weighed to ride 10 st. 7 lb., and
Douro, in a neat suit of clothes, was led uj) by a

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 91

dapper groom, his mane plaited, liis feet plated. I
mounted, proud to show myself off in a new orange
silk jacket and black velvet cap, an unexceptionable
pair of leathers and boots, and a handsomely-
mounted whip, which I had been fortunate enough
to win on a former occasion. What a contrast to
my competitor ! Eagle came out, rough and ready
as a Shetland pony, with a soiled rug, his uncombed
mane flowing wildly about, a saddle full of patches,
a red surcingle, and led by a man decked out in an
ill-shaped overcoat, a gaudy crimson shawl, and a
pair of dark-coloured cord breeches, leaving a large
hiatus between them and a low blucher boot. The
jockey, who had proved the truth of his master's
assertion of not being "particular to a pound or
two," had jumped in and out of the scale, and was
about to mount. Never shall I forget the impression
produced upon my mind when I first caught a
glimpse of my antagonist. His real name was
William Pilling, although better known by the
sobriquet of " Natchitoches Bill," he having won, as
a youth, some great race at that southern meeting.
His dress consisted of a pink cotton jacket, a pair of
coarse trousers, which looked as if they had been
made out of bed-ticking, very long steel persuaders,
and a red bandanna handkerchief round his head.
Some little time was lost before he got comfortably
settled in the pigskin, for his reins had to be tied
to his wrists — a practice, dangerous as it is, which

92 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

existed till very latel}' in America. The course was
cleared, tlie signal given, and off we went at a pace
that appeared to me awful. My orders were to wait,
and I obej^ed them implicitly. Just as we reached
the last turn, and at the very moment when I felt
that I could not live the pace, the Eagle bolted to the
left, and, despite the giant grasp of the infuriated
jockey, left me to win the race as I liked. All that
my friend " Bill " had to do was to save his distance,
which I permitted him to accomplish, feeling sure
that, had I not done so, a wrangle would have
ensued. Unquestionably I was wrong in throwing
away a chance ; my only excuse is that, to adopt the
words of the Egyptian Queen, the Serpent of Old
Nile, those were " my salad days, when I was green
in judgment."

* The next event was even more exciting than the
first, for I felt that I had to contend against a flyer
who, if he only waited, must beat me into fits, and I
was not a little cowed at hearing many who had
backed me heavily hedging their money freely. In
those days, however, my motto was " Never say die,"
and I took heart, and, cheered on by a few who stuck
to me, mounted for the second race. Great, indeed,
was my delight when the word " Off! " was given,
and the flag lowered, to find that the Eagle flew, like
Mazeppa's horse, "upon the pinions of the wind."
The jockey had borrowed a regular break-jaw bridle,
with the assistance of which he felt that no untoward

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 93

accident would occur ; and lie was right in Lis sur-
mise, as the straining animal kept within the limits
of the post and rail. At the fatal turn the owner
was posted on a pony, who joined his horse in a
gallop for a few yards, until they got into straight
running. During the first round it was, in the
phraseology of the ring, Windsor Castle to an Irish
bothie, Gibraltar to a martello tower, Niagara to a
Parisian house-gutter, the prairie to Hampstead
Heath, or any other comparison that may arise in
the imaginative mind of the reader, in favour of my
adversary. " He'll never catch him ; " " The Yankee
has taken the lead, and will keep it ; " " We're done
brown ; " " The Stars and Stripes have it easy."
Such were the expressions of the mob ; all seemed
over except the paying and receiving of the stakes
and bets. Could I have been transported to the
corner of the grand stand, other and more cheering
remarks would have greeted my ear, and consoled
me for the shouts of derision that awaited me as I
sat quite steady on my horse some yards behind my
leader. " Douro will win ! " exclaimed a gallant
colonel, the confidential friend of the Governor-
General. " The Eagle is gradually falling back ; "
and such proved to be the case. Fearing to upset
my horse, I found that, without increasing the pace,
I was gradually getting nearer to the flyer. " Sit
still and you will win ! " shouted a well-known voice
when we were about half a mile from home. This

94

THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

injunction was followed to the letter, and every
second brought the Eagle back to me. We ap-
proached the distance. " Bill " made a vigorous
attempt to hustle his horse, but without avail. Arms
and legs then began to work about like a semaphore
teleo'raj)h, but the life had been pumped out of the
over-ridden animal; my horse, too, had had quite
enough of it ; w^e Avere now neck and neck together.
I made a feint, as if in greater difficulty than I was.
This set my antagonist again to work, and, holding
Douro well together, I landed bim a winner with a
rush, after — and very far after — the manner of Jem
Eobinson. The congratulations that welcomed me
were most gratifying. The hero of Natchitoches
bore his beating extremely well, his only remark to
me, as we entered the weighing-tent, being, " You
gammoned me nicely, captain, at the end ; I thought
that horse of yours, Ducrow, as they call him, was
like an old bellows with a hole in it, but somehow or
another there was one puff left. Come next fall to
Kentucky, and give me my revenge." The following
year the American horses proved more fortunate,
botb at Montreal and Quebec, thus recovering their
lost laurels.'

And it may be added that more recently Mr.
Lorillard has put English horses and jockeys to
shame. However, as before said, the turf is a pursuit
in which one must always be prepared for unexpected
occurrences. Probably the French were not pre-

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 95

pared to be picked up as they were in tlie races
wliicli are now to be described. The sporting writer
known as ' Old Calabar ' appears to have once made
a sporting trip to France with a friend ; the following
is his account of a hurdle-race and steeplechase afc
St. Malo. Old Calabar asserts that the incidents
are true,

' We found St. Malo a dirty town, so we took up
our quarters at St. Servan, close by, at the Union
Hotel, where we found several English and Irish
gentlemen, and learned from them that the St. Malo
races would take place in a few days ; that a hurdle-
race and steeplechase were open ; and that we could
enter our horses during the next two days. The
races, we found on inquiry, were to be held on the
sands.

"Hang it," said Debenham, "I don't know if
the horses will run there, it is a style of thing they
have never been accustomed to ; however, we will go
and have a canter over them to-morrow morning.
Dashed if I shouldn't like to take the shine out of
Mossoo here ! But these chaps are up to a thing or
two, not only here, but in the old country. My man
shall sleep in the stable. I'm not going to have
them nobbled ; and, my boy, if you will only attend
to me, we'll commence winning here, ' skin the lamb,'
if we can, and work our way through these country
meetings. The devil's in it if we can't outride the
Frenchman ; at any rate, we'll try."

96 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' We found our horses went pretty well on the
sands, although they were heavy in places. We
entered the nags that day, but, as we knew nothing
of the cattle against us, could do little in the betting
way. The day arrived for the races; and I shall
never forge b my horror at reading the " correct
card." They had not got our names rightly, which
stood thus :

"Course des Haies (lOOOf.), &c. My Lord
Hairy 's Saltfisher (Anglaise) ; Mons. de Benham's
Topsail (Anglaise)."

' Harry Millard had been turned into " My Lord
Hairy ; " and the title of nobility, " De Benham,"
given to George Debenham. We were both in a
great rage at our names being used in this way ; but
as we were assured it was all a mistake, we were
fain to let the matter drop.

"I say, Harry," observed my friend to me, ''I
see by the correct card that there are four others
against us, and all going. Now, I have looked at
the nags — not bad ones, but they want condition.
If we cannot lick this lot I am a Dutchman. Tour
horse, my bo}^ is fast, but, like the rest, not in fettle,
thoucrh he is better than the others. Mine is as
hard as nails, fit to go for his life, and this ground
suits him. The hurdle-race will only be a canter
for them both, and, bar accidents, they will come
out as fit as fiddles for to-morrow's steeplechase. I
see also that, in addition to the forty pounds for the

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 97

liurdles, a second prize, as they call it, is given in
the shape of a tea-service : not that it is of much
Tise to us, but still, as they say it is worth twenty
pounds, we may as well have it, if possible. Now,
what I propose is this : it is not the slightest conse-
quence which of us wins ; your horse is faster than
mine for a mile ; but, as this is over two, if the pace
is at all good, his bolt will be shot about a mile from
home, and when he dies away you may be certain the
others will do so too, for they are as fat as bullocks.
Now, you make the running at a strong pace, lead
them over the hurdles at the devil of a bat, and
cut the field down as quick as you can. I sha'n't
be far off with Topsail, as they call him, and I
shall sail by them quietly. If you can manage to
beat me, do, and I will tell you why : I shall get
seven pounds allowance for to-morrow, which will
make it a certainty for me. Keep your weather-
eye open, ride with nerve and cool as a cucumber."

' As the time was getting on we dressed ourselves
in the approved fashion of gentlemen jocks. I was
never more amused in my life than looking at the
costumes of the French gentlemen-riders ; they were
ludicrous. One had on a pair of such cut breeches
as it had never been my luck to look upon, and a
pair of tops to his boots which would have knocked
Bartley into a cocked-hat, for he never afterwards
eould have thought anything of those celebrated tops
of his " wot will cut a shine in or over any country."

98 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

One showed a large amount of scarlet stocking be-
tween the boot and his breeches ; whilst another,
determined not to be outdone, displayed an equal
quantity of loud blue and white. Of the caps and
jackets I will say nothing; they were in perfect
keeping with the boots and breeches. One gentle-
man in a splendid scarlet jacket was standing
against the weighing-stand, with a bottle of smell-
ing-salts to his nose ; and on my asking him what
was the :i:atter — was he ill? he replied in pretty
good English, " No, monsieur ; but I feels an emo-
ti-on — a leetle faints. Anglaish sport smens are more
use to de hurdles-race. Mon Dieu ! but it will be
runs fast to-day."

' At last we are mounted ; the bell has rung for
the last time ; our preparatory canters have been
taken, and we are in line. The polite Sous-Prefet
is coming round to us, hat in hand, asking us to
draw for our places, which we do, and change accord-
ingly. Kow all is in readiness. " Etes-vous prets,
messieurs?" shouts the starter, flag in hand.
" Allez ! "

' We are off like a shot, I cutting out the running
at a tremendous pace. My horse threw up the hard
sand in a manner that could not have been very
pleasant to those in the immediate vicinity. The
pace was hot. I lift my horse at the first hurdle,
and pop him over, and turn my head to see how it is
with the others. All over safe ; but one horse has

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE

99

got tlie better of his rider, and is taking him down
to the sea as fast as he can : it is my friend in the
scarlet jacket. The rest are coming along close
behind me, Debenham holding hard in the rear,
Toprail (not Topsail, as in the card) pulling double.
As I ease my horse, and steady him for the second
jump, the Mossoo with the large amount of scarlet
stocking rushes past me ; over he goes, lands on his
horse's ears, then again back on his tail, and finally
finds himself in the pigskin again. During this
little performance I had swept by him.

" Yous ne pouvez pas gagner, mon cher ! " he
shouts, as he rushes past me again.

" Nous verrons," I muttered, as I took another
pull at my horse, and eased him again at the third
hurdle. "No use trying to cut you down," I
thought, as I saw him whipping and spurring away ;
"you'll do that yourself, my boy, and pretty soon
too." He would have pumped a steam-engine.

' The turn is made for home. We run out a
little, but the nags are righted and set going again.
I now made the pace a rattler, as I found I could
not shake off my French friend, who stuck like a
leech to me. The first hurdle on returninof is
approached. I send Saltfish at it ; over we go. I
turn again, and there is my French friend close by
me. Debenham has crept up to the third place ;
the blue-striped-stocking gentleman is whipping,

H 2

loo THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

spurring, and screaming in the rear, like a Eed
Indian in his war-paint, with as much chance of
coming up with us as he has of flying. The second
hurdle is taken, mj horse going well under me, and
I am making but little use of him as yet. The
third, and last, is close by us. I hear shouts from
the crowd : " Blue wins, Blue wins ! " " My God,
he is killed ! " " Sacre ! " &c. I have no time to
look to see what is the matter ; Debenham is on my
whip-hand.

" Send him along, old fellow," he says, " and
make a race of it."

' I do so — catch my horse well by the head, sit
back, and send the Latchfords home. Crack ! crack !
goes my whip ; and I land Saltfish winner by a
head.

' On returning to scale I ask what is the matter,
and am told my poor French friend of the scarlet
stockings is killed. This, however, hapj)ily is not
the case ; he had entirely pumped his horse, who
swerved at the cords, and pitched his rider head-
long amongst some carts. It was a wonder he
was not killed on the spot ; but he got off with a
broken arm, and was quite senseless when taken
u-p

" In the evening, from the ball-room we wandered
into that set apart for play, and there sat facing
us, with a pile of gold pieces before him, no less a
person than our American friend. Captain Willum,

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE loi

the Yankee skipper we liacl met at Havre. He saw
■us on the instant.

" Hellow, Britishers, here we air again ! I rather
guess this old hoss has raised the dander of some of
these gents. Banquo ! " he bawled out, and again
he swept a pile of gold towards him. " I calkerlate
I'm in pretty tarnation tall luck to-night. You
would not see me to-day ; I could not get anighst
you. But when I saw you bringing your bosses
down the track at such a tarnation pace, and win-
ning easy, I shies my hat up, and bawls out, ' Go it,
my Cockneys ; you air a-winning like greased light-
ning ! I knows them air Britishers,' says I, ' and
they can ride like great guns.' "

'Our appearance had the effect of making him
leave the table, which he did, to the evident dissatis-
faction of the others.

" I guess I ain't a-going to play any more, stran-
gers. There air a lot of chaps from Paris, and
thought they wur a-going to clean this old coon out ;
but I guess I've wiped them off pretty slick this
board. Let's go to the grocery, and have a cobbler.
And now I think of it, jist let me whisper a word in
your ears afore you starts for that steeplechase to-
morrow. Keep your mouths shut, and take a spare
set of stirrup-leathers with you. There air a game
going on that this old hoss hev got to the bottom of.
Good-night, my Cockneys ; and don't forget to-
morrow to look out for Captain Willum."

I02 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

'The day broke bright and beautiful for the St.
Malo Steeplechases, which were held at Parame, a
small bourg about a mile from the town. Debenham
and myself went over early in the morning to look
at the ground, which was about the roughest bit I
had seen for some time. The course was to be oflS-
cially shown by the stewards at twelve o'clock ; but
we thought it better to go by ourselves, and take a
squint at the place.

' After breakfast we ran over to St. Malo to see
our friend Captain Willum, who was staying at the
Hotel de France. We found that worthy seated on
one of the benches in front of the house, smoking an
enormous cigar, and, as we had not much time to
spare, we begged him to let us know at once about
the stirrup-leathers, and what he meant about it.

" Look here, Britishers," he said, " this old coon
has knocked about a little, and I guess I am up to
a few things. iN'ow, you must know I can speak
French just as well as I can my own language, which
air the finest talk in creashun. Wall, I came down
here after a charterparty for the vessel, and, know-
ing that these races were about to take place,
thought I would have a cut in at the fun. I don't
let every one know I can speak French, and this
time it has served me, and I hope it will you. Per-
haps you don't know that all the bosses you ran
against yesterday, and most on 'em you will meet
to-day, are trained by Englishmen. You ain't got

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 103

an idea what a lot of these fellows come over here from
your island. They gits warned off the course there
for some little game — foul riding, nobbling, or some-
thing of that sort ; then they puts an advertisement
into one of your sporting papers, saying their lowest
riding-weight is so much, and that they have no
objection to go abroad — which is very kind and con-
siderate of them, seeing they can git nothing to do
at home. Some of these Trenchers hears of this,
and gits 'em over. They'll only do for down in the
country here ; for they are too wide awake to hev
such characters up around Paris, where I calculate
the racing is pretty considerably different, and it
takes a good hoss to whip 'em there. Nothing
makes a Trencher — I mean these country fellows —
more proud than to hev ajocJcey Anglais. The long
and short of it is this : there are a lot of these
blackguards here, and when you whipped 'em all
yesterday, I heard some two or three say that if they
could get at the saddles, they should jist give your
stirrup-leathers a cut with a razor, and rub in a
little strong oxalic acid. That's all I know ; look to
it. Alid now let's hev a liquor-up."

' We thanked our Yankee friend, and got back
to St. Servan as quick as we could. We found the
stables locked, but on looking at the saddles, which
were in a room close by, we discovered that the
stirrup-leathers of both had been finely cut.

" Don't say a word about this at present," said

I04 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Debenliam; "it is a clumsily arranged thing", and
does not matter a button, as I have two or three
sets by me. Now let us go down to the Union, and
have a pipe before we start."

' On entering the smoking-room we found a good
many English gentlemen there, talking over the
coming steeplechase — our chances, &c. One Irish
gentleman told us he had lived at St. Servan for
some years, and had been in the habit of attending
most of the race-meetings about. " You will find,"
said he, " several English jocks up against you to-
day, and some of them nice ruffians. They will try
and ride you out, and are up to all sorts of dodges.
If I were you I should mention this to the stewards,
so that they may be on the qxii vive."

" I'll do so," said Debenham significantly, " and
you will hear a little more of these blackguards ;
but as you seem to know the tricks of these fellows,
it will probably not surprise you. I can assure you
we are much obliged for your friendly hint."

" May I ask," said one of the gentlemen to me,
*' why you call your horse Saltfish? "

" Why," interposed Debenham, " because he is
a good one for a fast day. His first owner, a most
capital sportsman, lived near Bath, and both he and
Saltfish were well known. The horse was in those

days a hard puller, and often took old B into grief.

One day, so the story goes, though I will not vouch
for the fact, he went slap into the hounds, and the

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 105

Marquis of W was exceedingly wroth. ' Good

God, Mr. B ,' he exclaimed, 'pray spare my

hounds, and ride a little wide of the pack ! ' Old

B at the kill happened to be up first. ' Bravo,

B and Saltfish ! ' some one exclaimed on coming

up. ' Damn Saltfish ! ' exclaimed B pettishly,

* I've changed his name.' ' Changed his name ! '
they replied ; ' why, what the deuce do you call him

now?' 'What do I call him?' retorted B ,

looking hard at the Marquis, who was a few paces
ofi" — ' what do I call him ? Why, Worcester Sauce,
to be sure ! ' His love for a joke he could not let
pass by. I bought Saltfish for Millard some two
years ago, and a better or more honest animal never
had a saddle put on him."

* At twelve o'clock we had a voiture at the door.
The first steeplechase was for horses of the depart-
ment. There were nine horses for this race, and
four of them were ridden by Bretons. One of these
curious-looking fellows was mounted on a nice spicy
little nag ; no saddle, only a bit of rug and an old
roller on him. And the rider's costume ! A pair of
the canvas trousers such as are worn by the country-
men, and enormous wooden sahots, with a nail sent
into each heel to serve as a spur. The large hat had
been taken oflP, and replaced with a handkerchief
passed over his head and tied under his chin. The
sporting public was much in favour of this horse
and rider, and I was told confidentially he must win.

io6 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

"Mon cher," said one to me, "c'est un cavalier
intrepide, effrayant. II est sur de gagner."

"Wall, I calkerlate, Britishers," said tlie Yan-
kee, coming up, " this air an exhibition yer never
seed before. It licks all creashun holler, this do.
There they air, a-ringing up the play. We'll just
git by the stand, and see this amoosement."

' It certainly was a ludicrous sight. There v^ere
one or two Bretons nearly as bad off as our friend
of the sabots, but they had saddles of some sort.
Amongst them, mounted on a nice gray, was our
blue-and- white- stocking friend of the day before ;
and as he stopped his horse to speak to us, he
said:

" Ah, it's a farce to let those Bretons go. I
must win to-day. I have the best horse in the
race."

" I don't know about that," observed our friend
the Irishman to us ; "it is not likely he will. In
the first place, these Bretons can ride, which Mossoo
can't. They will lick him, to a dead certainty."

' The bell for starting rings again, and away they
streak, the Bretons going to the fore, and cutting
out the pace. They are all in a cluster at the brook,
which is the first jump.

" Bravo, Sabots ! " Debenham shouts out, as the
Breton, closely followed by the others, takes the
water in splendid style. " Now, old Blue Stockings !
By jingo, he is over all safe ! Never mind the day-

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 107

light, old chap, cut away. Now look at them going
at that post and rails ; that's a floorer for some
of them. By Jupiter ! splendidly jumped ! " he ex-
claimed, as the Sabots again sent his horse at the
fence and cleared it. " That fellow can ride well ;
he wins, for a hundred ! "

* I never saw better riding in my life than these
Bretons showed us. They sent their horses along
at a tremendous pace, and sat them well. They
were now out of sight.

" Hang it, what a pity," remarked the Irishman,
" we are not upon the hill-side ! we could see it all.
There's the bell ringing again ; they are coming
home. There they are; and, by the powers. Blue
Stockings is leading the lot. Where the blazes is
Sabots P "

' But Sabots was not far behind.

" Now, my boys, there they come at the big water-
jump. Holy Moses ! Blue Stockings is in it ! " And
so it was. His bolt was shot, and he was plunging
in about seven feet of water.

" I hope that won't be our fate," said Debenham
to me. " Look at Sabots again ; there he comes —
jumped like a bird. Hang me if all the Bretons are
not together : it is a splendid race."

' On they came at a tremendous pace, whipping,
spurring, and screaming out their " Hi, hi ! " But
Sabots is too much for them, and he lands his horse
a winner by three lengths. The victor is weighed

io8 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

out, a bunch of flowers is stuck in tlie horse's bridle,
and he is led away.

"Now, Debenham," said I, taking my friend's
arm, " it is our turn. There will be a jolly row over
our affair, and, true to his word, here comes Captain
Willum. Now, Captain, are you coming with us ? "

"I rather guess I air a-coming with you," he
replied ; " this old hoss ain't a-going to leave you.
I can explain all matters for you. Look at them low
cusses a-larfing and giggling. I guess, my coons,
you don't know your little game is up a tree. Don't
try to play 'possum with me."

' On mentioning we had something to say to the
stewards, we were politely invited to step up on the
stand. Our friend came out well, and explained
all to them. They seemed rather astonished, and
ordered the saddles to be brought up. The horses
were walked up, and the saddles taken off. They
were soon satisfied as to the truth of our statement,
and the culprits, being pointed out by our American
friend, were immediately taken into custody by a
couple of gendarmes. Fresh leathers were put in,
and all in readiness. There were nine starters for
this, and some five or six were ridden by Englishmen.

" Gentlemen," said one of the stewards, " we are
watching you ; mind there is no foul riding : I warn

you."

"Never mind that old buffer," said one of the
helpers to a jockey, who was leaning over his saddle.

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE icg

listening to some instructions. " There's four on ye
all right ; so ride 'em out, and bust 'em."

' I heard no more, for we were off.

'- The steeplechase was like most others, with the
usual amount of mishaps and falls. However, we
got off pretty well, and managed, as my friend fore-
told, to *' pull it off," running first and second. As
to the other fellows riding us out, they never had a
chance ; for we came away, and beat them as we
liked in both heats.'

The French officers serving in Algeria have had
chances of seeing a little more of horse-racing than
falls to the lot of most of their countrymen \ for, as
has been said, the Arabs are fond of horse-racing,
and often practise the sport, though their notions of
jockeyship differ from those prevailing at Epsom. A
Derby Day with the Arabs has been humorously
described by John Ormsby, Esq., of the Middle
Temple in his book entitled Autumn Rambles in
North Africa. ' Gathered together to witness the
sport and make a harvest of the spectators were to
be seen,' he tells us, ' the analogues of the Ethiopian
serenader, the barrel-organ, the comic orator, and
the other humorous features of our Derby Day. It
must be confessed, however, that any comparison
between our nigger melodist and the gentlemen who
perform the corresponding services for the Bedouin
sporting world would be very much to the disadvan-
tage of the London Arab. Owing, perhaps, to the

no THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

fact that the Moslem mind has not a keen sense of
humour, the performer is not a poor creature with a
smudged face, limp white hat, and enormous shirt
collar ; but a grave, decorous, almost venerable — at
any rate, highly picturesque — individual ; and round
him is a circle, from one to four deep, according to
his merits, of cross-legged listeners, whose demeanour
and attitude of respectful attention would make a
street-preacher envious. ... In nine cases out of
ten the theme of the Arab lyrist is the " Sally of his
Alley," her attractions and his affection for her, — a
subject which has been rather frequently treated
of by lyrical poets. But the mode in which it is
administered to a listening public is at least peculiar.
The singer (generally a grave gray -bearded old fellow,
who ought to know better than sing amatory ditties),
io-norinsf his audience, and lookino^ into his tambourine
for encouragement, sings :

" Among the maidens of the tribe there's none like little Sara."

Here the flutes repeat the notes of the air — if air it
can be called — while he beats time on the tambourine.

" She is the darling of my heart, and she dwells in the Sahara."

Mutes and tambourine as before.

" Her mother is a skilful weaver of haiks,
Her father makes horseshoes for the warriors of the tribe."

riutes and tambourine again.

" But these persons are not really the parents of Sara.
I cannot believe it.
She is the darling of my heart, and she dwells in the Sahara."

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE iii

Here comes in a double allowance of flutes and
tambourines ; and so on to the end, when he declares
that as soon as Rhamadan is over, and he has money
enough, he will marry Sara, and take her to his tent,
but not in the Sahara.

' On the south side of Constantina rise the heights
of Mansourah ; and beyond them is a great plain,
watered by the Rummel, and crossed by the road to
Batna and the Sahara. The racecourse was on this
plain, and as the distance by path was half that by
the road, we elected to go on foot. I think the
appearance of the vehicles and their occupants for-
tified us in this determination. In either case we
were sure of heat ; but heat in the open air is more
endurable than heat in a box on wheels, by courtesy
called an omnibus, plus dust and Arab society. For
although the shore of " Araby the blest " may have
once diffused Sabean odours of a refreshing sort, the
property has not been transmitted to the garments
of the children of Araby of the lower and middle
classes, and they cannot be described as " spicy " in
any sense of the word.

' The first view of the course on coming down on
it from the Mansourah was very striking. On a race-
course in any other part of the world the great bulk
of the spectators would have been on foot. Here,
except a comparatively small knot of people about
the grand stand, every one was on horseback. The
course itself was in the form of a circle, about a mile

112 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

in circumference ; and it was hedged in everywhere,
with scarcely even a gap, by mounted Arabs, each
with his long gun slung over his shoulder or held
upright before him. These were the goums, or fight-
ing forces, of the tribes in the neighbourhood, a wild-
looking set of warriors, to some extent in the French
service. Mixed up with these, or galloping fussily
about the plain, were the spahis, looking in their
scarlet burnouses like fox-hunting Arabs at a meet.
These form another military force, a highly organised
and ef6.cient body. Away to the left a great mass of
red breeches indicated the presence of the irrepressible
soldier, always conspicuous at a French ceremony,
doubly so when the ceremony takes place in French
Africa. The centre of the circle was evidently being
kept sacred for some special persons or purpose, and
was occupied by only a few soldiers and some dozen
mounted Arabs. The grand stand was a creditable
affair, all things considered ; at any rate, it had the
great merit of offering shelter from the beams of an
African sun, for which reason we sought its protection
speedily.

' According to the '' correct card," there was
certainly no lack of excitement in store for us.
Instead of the paltry four or five races that Mr.
Dorling promises at Epsom, there were at least
twenty. There were races for poulains et i)oidiclies,
colts and fillies, bred in the province, and for horses
the property of heads of tents, and for horses of

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 113

European breeding, and for all comers, Arab or
European, not to mention a race a la haie, or hurdle-
race, to which I looked forward with great interest.
Besides this, there was to be a defile des etalons of the
government stnd, a march-past of the troops, and a
grand fantasia by the goums. While studying the
programme, there arose on the right a sound as if a
lunatic piper, who had escaped from his keepers, was
striking up the most insane piece in his repertoire. It
was only the band of one of the goums, who thought
to enliven the proceedings with a little music ; and
to that end played an air, which, like Arab music in
general, was well calculated to make a man do some-
thing desperate. The effect of this on the knot of
mounted Arabs opposite was precisely that which the
untimely crow of a restless cock produces on his
rival in a neighbouring yard. A stately old fellow,
whom I had been respecting as a possible sheikh, or
shereef, or something of that sort, owing to his impos-
ing appearance, suddenly whipped a flageolet out of
the hood of his burnous ; his next neighbour disclosed
a pair of small kettledrums ; three or four more
produced musical instruments in an equally unex-
pected manner ; and the moment the opposition band
had blown itself breathless, they crowed defiance to
it in a tune that was, if possible, a trifle more exas-
perating. The contest was kept np with a great
deal of spirit and pretty equal success during the
day. ...

I

114 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' Punctual to the announced time the command-
ant, superior officers of the garrison, and some of
the civil authorities of Constantina rode across the
course and took up their position opposite the stand.
With them came a body of Arab grandees of suffi-
cient importance to be admitted within the sacred
circle : imposing figures in burnouses of every colour
— white, black, blue, scarlet, puce — and some of
them — magnates from the Sahara these — in enor-
mous straw hats, three or four feet in diameter,
covered with black ostrich feathers, and screening
the head and shoulders as completely as an umbrella.
Thanks to French organisation, there was no time
lost in clearing the course — it had been kept clear
the whole time : even the usual dog had not been
allowed to set foot on it ; and immediately on the
arrival of the great people the starters for the first
race took their places at the post. They were five
Arabs of the ordinary stamp ; four of them dappled
or silver-gray, the fifth dark bay. To an eye accus-
tomed to European horseflesh they would have looked,
perhaps, at the first glance like a lot of screws ;
but when you came to examine them closely you
found undeniable points about them, and a look of
gameness that showed it was at any rate no plebeian
animal you had before you. If the horses were un-
like what one sees on an English course, the riders
where still more so. Most of them were bareheaded
and barefooted, and had nothing on except a shirt

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 115

and a pair of short baggy trousers. One venerable-
looking old fellow, however, sported a very fine
plum-coloured silk waistcoat. At the word " Go ! "
off they went in a wild spluttering gallop, every one
of them going his hardest, without an idea of hold-
ing, or nursing, or waiting, in a mad tangle of men
and horses. But before they had got half-way
round they were in Indian file, old Plum-colour lead-
ing by a good length, which he afterwards increased
to two, coming in an easy winner. He seemed to be
a kind of Arab Fordham or Wells, for he rode in
about a dozen races that day. He certainly won six
or seven. The moment the race was over, the next
starters were put up, and so on with breathless
rapidity, until at last we came to a race which I was
particularly anxious to see — a race for all-comers,
and I was curious to see how the Arab would come
out against the European. As far as the issue went
it was a very hollow affair. Three French horses
started and two Arabs. But though the Arabs made
all the running at first, they were soon collared and
passed, and came in, one of them " nowhere," the
other several lengths behind the last of the French-
men. In fact, the popular notion about the speed
of the Arab courser is, I think, erroneous. Great
speed is not his strong point ; the chances are that
on any ordinary racecourse the best Arab in the
world would be beaten by a second-rate English race-
horse. These Arabs were not, of course, firsts-rate

1 2

Ii6 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

specimens of tlie race, but they were certainly not
bad ones. A fortnight or so afterwards, when I was
at Tebessa, the commandant showed me an English
thoroughbred, which, he said, had easily run away
from every Arab he had ever tried him against. But
what was far more remarkable about this horse was
that, once acclimatised, and accustomed to the hard
life and hard fare of the Arab horses, he quite
equalled them in hardiness and endurance, as had
been proved in the course of many expeditions and
tours of inspection among the tribes of the district.

' The course a la haie was also open to all com-
petitors, and here again the indigenes did not cover
themselves with glory. The haie consisted simply of
an obstruction about two feet high, and composed of
rushes. The French horses knew what a sham it
was, and brushed through it Avithout taking the
trouble of even going through the form of rising ;
but the Arabs were puzzled, and one — ridden, I
think, by old Plum-colour — rose straight into the air,
and descended on the obstacle as if out of a balloon,
after which he demolished it. The defile des etalons,
which followed the last race, produced one or two
magnificent animals, and several very commonjDlace
ones ; and then came the great event of the day — the
fantasia by the goums.

' In preparation for this the crowd of mounted
Arabs concentrated itself gradually on one side of
the course, and the swells withdrew from the centre

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 117

to leave tlie S23ace clear. There was a pause for a
moment, and then an Arab was seen to dash suddenly
out of the crowd, and gallop madly across the open,
standing high in his stirrups, his burnous fluttering
in the breeze, and the gaudy shelil, or cloth with
which on great occasions the Arab always covers the
croup of his horse, streaming out like a banner
behind him. When he reached the middle of the
open space, still galloping furiously, he fired his long
gun, and, waving it over his head, sped away over
the plain as if his life depended on it. Then came
another; then came three or four; then came a
dozen, until at length the whole plain was alive with
galloping, firing Bedouins. Then as soon as there
was a strong body mustered on the opposite side,
they began to gallop and fire in the reverse direction,
and we fancied it was all over ; but two or three
enthusiasts would .always break out, let fly, and com-
municate the infection to the rest.

' In spite of the excellence of Arab horsemanship,
the display was not free from accidents. First one
poor fellow, apparently from his girth breaking,
came to grief; then another got an ugly purl just in
front of the stand, and was helped off the ground ;
but the worse case was that of an unfortunate
fantasiast, whose horse made a mistake somehow in
mid-career, and over and over rolled horse and rider
in a horrible confused mass. After a struggle or
two the horse kicked himself loose, and made off,

Il8 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

leaving on the middle of the plain a white motionless
lump ; but whether it was a man, or only tvliat liad
teen a man, that was carried past us, we were unable
to ascertain.

' This was not the only tragical incident of the
day. As we were returning up the slopes of the
Mansourah there was a sudden halt, and then a rush
to a ravine on the left. We joined the crowd, and
found the attraction was the dead body of an Arab.
While we had been enjoying ourselves at the races
there had been foul murder committed on the hill-
side not a mile from us, and the blood was hardly
dry on the stones which had been used to beat the
victim's brains out,'

The practice of horse-racing among the Patago-
nian Indians is thus described by George Chaworth
Musters, Commander R.N., in his book. At Home
with the Patago7iians. Mr. Musters spent a long
time with the big men, adopted their dress, spoke
their language, and lived after their fashion.

'The manner of racing is something similar to
that in vogue among the Guachos in the provinces
of Rio de la Plata, except that it is generally conducted
on principles of fair play. The stakes are always
deposited before the race comes off; if horses, they
are tied out handy ; if ornaments, bolas, weapons,
&c., they are placed in a heap, the winners removing
them directly the race is decided. The horses are
run barebacked, the two riders starting themselves

THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 119

after cantering side by side for a few yards. Owing
to the great care taken in training horses, very few
false starts occur. The races are very often for long
distances, four miles or a league being the average,
although of course with young horses the distance
is shorter. The Indian method of breaking colts is
similar to that of the Guachos ; they are, however,
more gentle with their horses, and consequently
break them better.

120 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER X.

THE HUNTING-FIELD : ITS HEROES AND THEIE
EXPLOITS.

Fox-hunting is a sport peculiarly English. There
is nothing like it anywhere else. The French, in-
deed, hunt the stag, the boar, and the wolf on horse-
back with hounds, the huntsman being bound up in
the coils of a brass instrument, which completely
encircles his body, and from which he produces notes
of encouragement to hounds and hunters. Grand,
stately, and costly affairs were the hunts in which
the late Emperor Napoleon and the Bourbon mon-
archs who preceded him indulged; but these were
mere mockeries of sport compared with the exciting
incidents of a good run with the Pytchley or the
Quorn.

The hunting-field has always been a nursery of
brave men. The most desperate and daring riders
in the world have been bred there, and the object of
this chapter is to chronicle the names and noted
deeds of some of those worthies who well deserve to
be styled the ' Heroes of the Hunting-field.'

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 121

First on the list is Asslieton Smith, a man whose
name and memory will be respected as long as fox-
hunting flourishes in the British Isles.

' Nimrod,' speaking of the excellence of Thomas
Assheton Smith as a horseman, says : ' From the
first day of the season to the last he was always the
same man, the same desperate fellow over a country,
and unquestionably possessing on every occasion and
at every hour of the day the most bulldog-like nerve
ever exhibited in the saddle. His motto was, " I'll
be with the hounds," and all those who have seen
him in the field must acknowledge he made no vain
boast of his powers. His falls were countless ; and
no wonder, for he rode at places which he knew no
horse could leap over. In addition to his powerful
seat, his hand is equal to Chifney's, and the advan-
tage he experiences from it may be gleaned from the
following expression : Being seen one day hunting
his hounds on Radical, always a difiicult, but at
that time a more than commonly difficult, horse to
ride, he was asked by a friend why he did not put a
martingale on him, to give him more power over his
mouth. His answer was cool and laconic : " Thank
ye, but my left hand shall be my martingale." '

From the same authority also come the following
anecdotes of Assheton Smith and his parent :

' Mr. Smith (the father of the Tedworth squire)
once went on a visit to his son, then residing at
Quorndon, and keeping the hounds. He was mounted

122 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

on a splendid horse belonging to " Tom Smith/' as
the old gentleman always called the yonng one, and
they had a splendid burst over the cream of the
country, with a whoop at the end. While Tom
Smith was holding up the fox before throwing it to
the hounds. Lord Alvanley observed, " How I wish
your father had seen this finish ! " " Depend upon
it, he has," replied Tom Smith, without looking up ;
" and I advanced," related the old gentleman, who
told the anecdote himself, "and made his lordship a
bow."

' " Was your father a good rider ? " a neighbour
once asked of the son. " He was what was ilien
considered such," was the reply ; " but on a very
different principle to what I have adopted, and
simply this — he clung on by his hands, and I by my
legs." This is what he always termed his ^ri'pe on
a horse.'

Old Squire Smith of Tedworth was still alive
when his famous son established himself and pack
first of all at Penton, near Andover. The old gentle-
man was strongly opposed to his son's leaving the
grass country to establish a pack of hounds for the
purpose of hunting the bleak downs and intermin-
able copses of Hants and Wilts. For this reason,
extraordinary as it may appear, he was the only
landowner, when Tom Smith came in the year 1826
to reside at Penton, who refused his son permission
to draw his coverts. ' Where does Tom Smith meet

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 123

next week ? ' said lie one evening to a neighbour,
when dining with him at Tedworth. ' I think,' was
the guest's reply, ' that he will bring his hounds to
Ashdown Copse on Monday.' 'Then if he does, I
will bring an action against him, by Jove ! ' ex-
claimed the wrathful old squire. 'And pray, sir,
what makes you smile, may I ask ? ' he added, ob-
serving his friend slightly amused at the threat; 'it
is no joke, I promise you.' ' Excuse me, sir,' replied
the guest, ' but I was thinking if Tom Smith were
cast for damages, who would have to pay the bill.'
The prohibition was withdrawn.

Assheton Smith would not allow himself to be
beaten at anything. It of course often happened
that there were men in the field who fancied them-
selves his equal in horsemanship and daring, but he
generally contrived to ride away from them.

Mr. Smith was once riding his famous horse
Eadical in the Market Harborough country, when he
observed, even while the hounds were drawing, a
fellow, dressed like a horse-jockey at a fair, following
close after him over every leap he took. On inquiry he
ascertained that the said fellow was a horse-doctor, who
had made a bet that his horse would jump anything
that should be cleared by Radical. Matters went on
pretty smoothly till they found, when the squire's
rival for some time followed close, until they arrived
at a hog-backed foot-style with a tremendous drop,
and foot-steps into the road. This Radical cleared ;

124 ^-^^ nORSE AND HIS RIDER

but his unfortunate follower's horse, striking the top
bar with his knee, came headlong into the road with
his rider, who was carried home senseless. The next
day, as the squire was riding through the village, he
was mobbed and hooted by the old women, as being
the man who had nearly killed their hard-riding
farrier.

This anecdote is not unlike that told of Burton,
the Nuneaton tanner, who always made a dead set
at Mr. Smith in a similar way. The tanner was
habitually attired in a light-green coat, from which
lie received the name of the Paroquet, and he rode
remarkably well. The squire at last, being deter-
mined to shake him off, sent Jack o' Lantern at an
almost impracticable flight of stiff rails, the top bar
of which he broke, and, to his dismay, made the
passage easy for the tough man of hides, who was
soon once more at his side, and was not destined to
receive his tanning, at all events that time.

Of course such desperate horsemanship brought
a fair share of accidents. In the words of a popular
sporting author, 'Mr. Smith got a many falls. He
always seemed to ride loose, quite by balance, not
sticking with his knees very much. He always went
slantways at his jumps; it is a capital plan. The
horse gets his measure better — he can give himself
more room. If you put his head straight it is
measured for him ; if you put him slantish he
measures it for himself; you always see Mr. Greene

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 125

ride that way. He was first coming out when Mr.
Sniitli was master, and he put him up to many a
clever thing in riding*. He had another dodge when
he rode at timber ; he always went slap at the post;
he said it made the horse fancy he had more to do,
and put more powder on.'

The spirit in which Mr. Smith rode to his hounds
seemed to infuse itself into the bosoms of those who
hunted with him, and after a time the Tedworth
country became noted for hard and daring riders.

Although the country around Tedworth was
mostly so open that an old woman on a broom might
ride across it, still there were j)arts of it that showed
off good riding, particularly in the Pewsey vale.
On such occasions as these, when fine horsemanship
was required, there was no man who rode better or
straighter than Mr. John Rowden of Durrington, a
wealthy yeoman, with a hand as light as a lady's, a
heart as bold as a lion, and a frame fit to contend
for the championship.

He was invariably selected by T. Assheton Smith
to purchase his horses, generally at that time bought
of Mr. Smart of Swindon ; or in case any horse was
heard of at a distance, Mr. Rowden was requested to
pass his judgment on it, and many hundred miles
has he ridden for that purpose. Nor did his labours
end there ; for if ever there happened, as was often
the case, to be a violent fractious animal that re-
quired hand and temper, he was also requested to be

126 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

his private tutor ; and so highly did the squire of
Tedworth think of his riding and judgment, that he
was often heard to say he would rather trust a young
horse to Rowden than any man he knew.

^I shall never forget his coming down a steep
plantation on a violent bay horse that had broken
away with him, crying, " Take ca-are, ge-entlemen,
take ca-are ; I don't know whe-ere I am coming " (he
had a little hitch in his speech), as his horse bounded
through and over the young trees. "No," said a
farmer, " I don't much think you do, for it appears
to me you be out a bird's-nesting." '

On another occasion, when his horse reared up
bolt on end, and there stood, he coolly remarked, ' I
suppose he will come down again once to-day.'

Orator Hunt was a bold rider, and, like Thomas
Assheton Smith, well able to use his fists. Mr.
Warde's hounds were once drawing South Grove,
when some remark of Mr, Hunt's provoked a sneer
from Tom Smith. Tierce words ensued on both
sides, and they were in the very act of dismounting
to settle it when fortunately a fox was halloed away,
an attraction which neither could resist. ' I always
regretted this interruption,' said an eye-witness of
the scene, ' for depend upon it this fight would have
been well worth seeing, although Hunt had the
advantage in weight and height ; but for all that,'
he added, ' I would have backed the squire.'

Every hunt has its finish ; so has the career of

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 127

every liard-riding sportsman — a broken neck to one,
a gradual decline from old age for another. The
career of Thomas Assheton Smith was long and
glorious, and its finish cannot be better described
than in the account given by Sir J. E. E. Wilmot of
^ Assheton Smith's Last Hunt ' : ' He had been very
ill all the morning, and was threatened with one of
his fainting attacks, when, looking up in agony into
his wife's face, he gasped out, " I am going."
Nevertheless, brandy, ether, and other stimulants
revived him. About an hour after, the hounds
arrived, Colonel Douglas Pennant's beagles, and,
much to the astonishment and dismay of all about
him, he crawled, with the help of his valet and
butler, to the hall-door, and was soon in the saddle.
Once there he looked ten years younger. Observing
a horse belonging to Colonel Pennant which he
fancied, he dismounted from his own, and, though
told the other was rather restive, he determined to
mount it and follow the hounds. His groom had
strict orders to keep very close to him with a vial
of brandy in his pocket. Some anxious friends
followed on foot, and from a piece of high ground
watched his movements. They were soon terrified
by seeing him thrown off. He was not hurt, and
wished to continue the chase, saying " it was curious
how he had lost his gripe on a horse," which he
always said was the secret of his riding ; but at last
was persuaded to return home in the carriage.

128 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

There is great reason to believe that stimulants pro-
longed his life, but his sufiPerings were very great.'

There was another Tom Smith who figured as
M.F.H. besides the great Thomas Assheton Smith
of Tedworth. This gentleman was born at Shaldon
Lodge, near Alton, Hants, in 1790, and during his
lonsf career was twice master of the Hambledon
Hounds, also master of the Craven and of the Pjtch-
lej. His biographer says of him (in Sporting Inci-
dents in the Life of another Tom Smith) : ' During his
sporting career Mr. Smith has performed feats and
met with adventures that probably no other man has
equalled. And this is not my opinion alone. Mr.
Nichol, who kept the New Forest Hounds, usually
spoke of him as " the heaven-born huntsman ; " and
Mr. Codrington, who hunted the same pack, said,
" Were I a fox, I would rather have a pack of
hounds behind me than Tom Smith with a stick in
his hand." '

This remark conveys the idea that he was not
only a good rider, but one who knew how to work
his hounds, and how to keep them at their work.
Fox-hunting does not consist of hard riding alone.

When ' another Tom Smith ' left the Hamble-
don and went to hunt the Craven country, he was
shown round the country by Mr. F. Villebois. They
passed the wall of Elcot Park, which Mr. Villebois
said was a great obstacle when hounds ran through
the park. Mr. Smith pulled up, as if measuring the

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 129

lieig'lit, whicli 'svas six feet two inches ; and being
seen to smile, he was told that it was impossible for
a horse to jump it, neither was it necessary, as there
were doors in different places. He said nothing
then, but bore it in mind. It happened, however,
in the second year of his mastership, the fox led the
hounds through this park, and they followed through
the holes left at the bottom of the wall for game
to pass through. The horsemen made for a door,
but found it locked. Mr. Smith, who was mounted
on the General, rode at the wall ; but the horse ran
his head up to it and then stopped short. He was
then taken back about forty yards, and again put at
it, and being well spurred, accompanied with a touch
of the whip on the shoulder, he sprang over, to the
surprise, and, indeed, horror, of the whole field, who
thought it an act of madness. On reaching the
ground the horse's forefeet gave way, and he came
down on his chest, the rider's feet being dashed on
the ground in a way that gave an awful shock ; but
the horse rose with him on his back, and he kept his
seat for a short time, but long enough to allow him
to stop the hounds. The men in the meantime had
forced the door ; when they reached him he was un-
conscious, but they held him on his horse till he got
home, when he was bled and carried insensible to
bed. In three weeks he was again in the saddle.
This was certainly a most remarkable leap ; but Mr.
Smith was afterwards far from being proud of it, and

130 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

condemned it as an act of wanton folly, whicli lie
would be sorry that any one should imitate.

' " The other Tom Smith " was himself once
hunted, and it happened in this way. He had pur-
chased a new horse in London, and, as he wanted to
be back in Hungerford as soon as possible, he de-
termined to ride the horse part of the way home,
his groom being told to come on by coach and take
charge of it the next day. He had ridden nearly
to Staines, when he fell in with a mob of London
roughs, who had come out to see a prize-fight, and,
having been baulked by the magistrates, were ripe for
any kind of mischief. Two of these fellows were in
a gig, whipping and galloping like mad ; and when
they came near him, though he had drawn up on the
side of the road, they pulled the reins and attempted
wantonly to drive over him. To save his leg, he
struck at the horse's head to turn it away ; but the
blow caught one of the vagabonds on the nose, and
covered his face with blood. They were in the act
of jumping out to seize him, when he put spurs to
his horse and galloped off. The whole rabble rout
— horse, foot, and drags of every description — gave
chase, and it looked something very like a race for
life. Finding his pursuers gain on him, he rode at a
fence, but his horse fell at the ditch. The mob were
almost on him ere he could force his horse over, and
then many got into the field at a gate near the spot,
and chased him with cries of "Stop thief!" and

. HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 131

choicer exclamations. Luckily the horse cleared the
next hedge and ditch, which some of the fellows rode
at, but only to fall head over heels. Mr. Smith rode
off, laughing at them floundering in the mud, cleared
the next fence into the road near Staines, and stopped
at the inn to refresh both himself and his horse.
Soon after the ostler came to say that the horse was
very lame. Mr. Smith went to the stable, and then
sent for a farrier, who pronounced the horse unsound,
and pointed out the marks of its having been lately
blistered on the lame leg. Mr. Smith sent the
horse back to the dealer, stopped the cheque (which
was dated forward) at the bank, and heard no more
of the matter.'

Another worthy of the hunting - field, who
flourished in the first half of the present century,
was Squire Chute, who for many years hunted the
Vine hounds. 'Nimrod ' and other sporting authors
have recorded some of the sayings and doing of this
hunting hero.

' I remember the first day I was out with him
(Squire Chute). "We are going cub-hunting to-
morrow," said he to me ; "will you come ? " "Thank
ye," said I ; " I am not very fond of cub-hunting in
September ; it is only a pastime for you masters of
hounds. Rushing through wet nut-bushes without
seeing a hound, one's breeches all green, with leaves
sticking to the buttons, one's horse half-mad from
the flies, and the odds in favour of his being lamed,

K 2

132 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

does not suit mj taste." However, I went to the
place of meeting — a large cover of his own — and
there I found the squire. " But what are you going
to do with the spade ? " said I, seeing one in his
butler's hand ; "you are not going to dig a fox, are
you ? " " Why, no," he replied ; " but to tell you
the truth, as the ditches are very blind and my butler
is getting very fat, I thought he might as well walk
after us with a spade, and then, if we come to an
awkward place, he can throw the bank into the ditch
in a minute, and we can walk through." He had a
mortal aversion to a ditch, and on my once asking
him why he did not hunt his woodlands oftener, he
answered he did not like the deep ditches. " They
tell me," said he, " my horses will not put their feet
into them, but I can't help thinking they will, and
that's the same thing." '

The same writer records a little dispute between
Squire Chute and one of his servants, arising from
what the squire called ' a short answer.'

' The squire sent for me one morning, as he
was often wont to do, and told me he wanted my
assistance — sometimes he would say, " I want your
advice," but in no one instance did he ever take it.
Well, when I got there, " I want a whipper-in," said
he. "Impossible!" said I; "you and John can
never part." " Why, yes, I think we must," was his
reply ; " he is got rather short in his answers lately."
Now, it so happened that I knew what one of these

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD [33

short answers liad been, so I could scarcely keep my
countenance. It was this : A day or two before, the
hounds had run their fox up to the palings of a park
which the squire did not wish them to enter. John,
however, being ignorant of this, was on his knees on
the ground in the act of pulling out a pale, when his
worthy old master came up. " Leave it alone, John,"
said he. " Come away, John ; I tell you, I don't
want them to go in there, John." But as every
hound in the pack was at bay close to the said John's
back, he might just as well have halloed to the
pale itself ; so, raising his hunting-whip (one of the
old-fashioned sort, mind ye), he let the top of it drop
on John's right ear, just peeping out from under his
old buck cap. Now, on a cold morning in January,
or indeed at any time, this was beyond a joke, and
it must have been admitted to have been a stinging
reproof to an old and faithful servant, doing what he
thought was his duty to the hounds, and I question
whether Job himself would not have murmured at
it ; at all events, it was beyond John's endurance,
naturally a most civil fellow; so, turning sharp

round, he exclaimed, " D n your old eyes, I have

a good mind to pull you off your horse ! " It was
indeed a short answer, as Mr. Chute said, and John
lost his place in consequence. He afterwards went
to live with a noble duke, wlio used to declare he
couldn't bear the sight of him, he looked so like a
rat-catcher ! '

134 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

In this case the short answer did not have the
effect of a soft one. The hunt-servants all over the
country, as a rule, are civil and well-behaved fellows ;
but of course there are, were, and will be exceptions
to the rule. Quite an exception was the whipper-in
who rode behind Squire Leche's hounds.

' Squire Leche, of Garden in Cheshire, was nearly
the first gentleman who appeared in the character of
huntsman to his own foxhounds, and a sorry hand
he was. He had but one whipper-in, a drunken
fellow of the name of Sam. " I'll tell you what, Mr.
Sam,'' said he to him one day, on which he himself
had left his hounds that he might not be too late
for his dinner, " if ever you come home drunk with
the hounds again, I'll get a new whipper-in." " Very
well, sir," replied Sam ; '^ and perhaps if you was
to look out for a new huntsman at the same time, it
would be as well for the hounds." '

Of reiiowned riders, who, without being masters
of hounds, rode with any pack they could reach,
England has produced hundreds, ay, thousands. The
late Earl of Cardigan, the hero of the Balaclava
charge, was a noted fox-hunter ; so were many scores
of other brave cavalry officers. Some of those who
seemed effeminate dandies in the London parks were
dashing sportsmen when behind the hounds. The
Hon. Grantley Berkeley thus speaks of one :

' No one went harder than the late Lord Alvanley,
and no man caught more falls. One day he had

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 135

been hunting with me, and we ran over an unfor-
tunate line of country, the stag setting his head for
Isleworth, Twickenham, and Brentford. Lord Al-
vanley left us before I had taken the deer, in good
time to join his friends in the bay-window at White's.
They asked him " What sport ? " " Devilish good,"
he replied ; " but the asparagus-beds went awfully
heavy, and the glass all through w^as up to one's
hocks. The only thing wanting was a landing-net;
for the deer got into the Thames, and Berkeley had
not the means to get him ashore. They say garden-
stuff is riz since they saw us among 'em."

' Mr. Gunter, the renowned ice and pastrycook
in Berkeley Square, who was always one of my field,
was complimented by Lord Alvanley on the appear-
ance of his horse. " Yes, my lord," was the reply ;
" but he is so hot I can hardly ride him." " Why
the devil don't you ice him, then, Mr. Gunter?" was
the funny rejoinder.'

' Osbaldestone is a name dear to the lovers of
fox-hunting. ''•' The Squire," as he was called, is too
well known, and his sporting feats are too familiar
to every ear, to need any eulogium from our humble
pen. But there was another Osbaldestone, whose
name every lover of hunting should aid in rescuing
from oblivion. With half a dozen children, as many
couples of hounds, and two hunters, this Mr. Osbalde-
stone, clerk to an attorney, kept himself, family, and
these dogs and horses, upon a salary of 60/. per

136 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

annum. This also was effected in London, without
running into debt, and with always a good coat to
his back. To explain this seeming impossibility, it
should be observed that after the expiration of the
office hours Mr. Osbaldestone acted as an accountant
for the butchersof Clare Market, who paid him in offal^
the choicest morsels of which he selected for himself
and family, and with the rest he fed his hounds, which
were kept in the garret. His horses were lodged in
the cellar, and fed on grains from a neighbouring
brewhouse, and on damaged corn with which he was
supplied by a corn-chandler, whose books he kept in
order. In the season he hunted, and by giving a
hare now and then to the farmers over whose grounds
he sported, he secured their good-will ; and several
gentlemen, struck by the extraordinary economy of
his arrangements, winked at his going over their
manors. He was the younger son of a gentleman
of good family but small fortune in the north of
England, and having imprudently married one of his
father's servants, was turned out of doors with no
other fortune than a hound big with pup, whose off-
spring from that time became a source of amusement
to him.' ^

Of hunt servants known to fame, the following
anecdotes are recorded :

'Bob Williams was whipper-in to the Duke of

' Blaine's Encyclopcedia of Rural Sporti.

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 137

Cleveland, but he commenced liis sporting career as
whipper-in to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn's harriers.
I fancy I hear you say, " No doubt Bob was famously
mounted in the stables of the great Welsh baronet ! "
Not he, indeed; Bob's stud would have averaged
40?. a head, being for the most part cat-legged, light-
carcassed bits of blood, either turned out of the
racing stable as good for nothing, or bought from
some neighbouring farmer at the price above quoted.
But Bob soon made them fencers, if he could make
nothing else of them. On my asking him in York-
shire how he had come off as to broken bones, &c.,
he thus answered me, and I know he spoke the
truth : "I have broke three ribs on one side and two
on the other, both collar-bones, and I have been
scalped." I knew the horse that scalped him, by
kicking him on the head after throwing him ; but
Bob's description of the accident was rich. " He
tumbled me down as we were coming away with our
fox," said he, " and kicked me on the head till the
skin hung down all over my eyes and face ; and do
you know, sir, when I got to the doctor I fainted
from loss of hlood.'' This last sentence was given
in a tone indicative of its creating surprise that a
whipper-in could faint. Bob conceived that fainting
was the peculiar accomplishment of a lady.'

The riding of Dick Knight, huntsman to the
Pytchley at the time Mr. Smith had the Quorn, was
of the most daring character. 'An annual visitor

138 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

to Nortliamptonsliire was in the liabit of riding as
close to Dick as he could, but was invariably beaten
in a run. At the commencement of one season the
gentleman was on a new horse, a clipper. He said
to Knight, " You won't beat me to-day, Dick ! "
" Won't I, sir ? " was the reply. " If you do, I'll
give you the horse," said the gentleman. The one
rode for the horse, the other for his honour. At
last they came to an unjumpable place, which could
only be crossed by going between the twin stems of
a tree, barely wide enough to admit a horse. At it
went Dick, throwing his legs across his horse's
withers, and got through. The horse was sent to
him next morning^.'

A cool horseman was Jack Shirley, Mr. Smith's
first whip in Leicestershire.

'He was riding Gadsby, a celebrated hunter of
Mr. Smith's, but then a good deal the worse for
wear, over one of the worst fields in all Leicester-
shire for a blown horse, between Tilton and Somerby,
abounding with large ant-hills and deep holding
furrows. " The old horse," said my informant, " was
going along at a slapping pace, with his head quite
loose, down-hill at the time, whilst Jack was in the
act of putting a point of whipcord into his thong,
having a large open clasp-knife between his teeth at
the time." '

The hunting-field being open to all comers, of
course eccentrics are sometimes found there, and

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 139

also persons who would seem to be disabled from
riding. Of the latter class, ' Nimrod ' says :

' What credit can be given to a long-legged gentle-
man on a two-hundred-guinea mare, if I produce
another gentleman who rode nearly as hard, with
only one leg, and on very queer cattle ? Had I words
and images at my command, I might awaken the
sympathy of all sportsmen for the fate of a man who
could follow hounds, having only one leg, a disabled
shoulder, and who was obliged to let go his bridle
when he leaped a fence to hold on by the saddle,
being deprived of the natural clip from the thighs.
But what will not a British seaman do ? and such
was Captain Pell, whom I saw with the Oakley
hounds when I visited Lord Lynedoch. It appeared
he hunted every day on which he could reach hounds,
and I saw him take many good fences.'

A man who rides to hounds should possess a
cheerful temper as well as skill in horsemanship.
He should not be annoyed if a man, apparently not
so well mounted as himself, rides in front of him,
and at the same time he should be careful not to
give annoyance to others. However, people do lose
their tempers sometimes.

' I once had the misfortune to displease a first-
rate performer on horseback by getting a good start
with the hounds, which he did not. He came
rattling after us at a tremendous pace to recover his
place, as he considered it, as first man, and as we

I40 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

had been going very fast for about three miles, over
a stiffly enclosed country, his horse was blown in
making up leeway ; and the first thing I saw of my
furious friend was upon hearing a crash behind me,
to behold him on his back in the field, with his
horse's hind-legs in the ditch. I turned round and
asked him if he was hurt. " Hurt ! " said he, " I am
not often hurt." That was true enough, for no man
had more falls than himself without being hurt. He
was soon in the saddle, having held the rein in his
hand, as most men who ride for a fall do. A brook
being just then before us, he went down at it, a
hundred miles an hour pace, with a sneering cheer
to me — " Now, come along ; we are even again." I
merely laughed at his ill- humour, and was soon over
alongside of him. He then rode up-hill as hard as
he could go at some stiff posts and rails. Crash
Avent the top bar, and over rolled horse and rider
together. I thanked him for letting me through so
easil}^ He angrily replied that he was not yet
beaten, and mounting again, charged a five-barred
gate leading into a turnpike-road. This was a settler.
His horse fell over, and threw the rider with great
violence nearly across the road; and this time he
was really hurt, and obliged to confess it. Having
waited to ascertain that no bones were broken, al-
though he was most seriously bruised, I prevailed
upon him to go quietly home.'

It is not always the man who makes the most

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 141

dashing appearance at the meet who proves the best
performer across country. When the fox has gone
away, and the hounds are streaming out of the
covert to get on his trail, the most knowing ones
and the best goers are soon to be distinguished from
those who merely attend the meet to be admired.
Concerning a man who really meant business, though
he cared little for appearances while going to or
from the meet, ' Mmrod ' writes :

^ Some years ago I was in the habit of occasion-
ally meeting in the field with one of the best men
over a country that England ever produced, by the
humble title of "Mr. Morgan, ho^D-merchant, of
London." On one occasion, and the first, I stumbled
upon him in the most extraordinary manner, as the
following tale will unfold. It chanced that I was at
the turning out of a stag on the Ludlow racecourse
one fine day in October, in honour of the burgesses'
feast. A person appeared in the throng on such a
wretchedly bad hack, and of so mean an appearance
withal, that the person who collected the half-crowns
declined handing him the glove. All that denoted the
huntsman was a black velvet hunting-cap, his person
being enveloped in a threadbare brown surtout, but-
toned up to the throat. On the hounds being laid
on the scent, however, the scene changed, and much
after the fashion of a pantomime. On a signal being
given, a countryman rode up to Mr. Morgan with
his hunter ; the threadbare coat was thrown upon

142 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

the ground, and the sportsman appeared in the most
correct costume of the chase. But to be brief. We
had a very excellent run; and the riding of Mr.
Morgan, and the performance of his horse over a
very difficult country, were the admiration of a few
who could witness them — of which few I had the
good luck to make one. But now for another change
of the scene. " Who is this fine rider ? " said one.
" Where can he come from ? " said another. " Will
he sell his horse ? " asked a third. By accident it
was ascertained that it was the well-known Mr.
Morgan ; but he would not sell his horse, although
two hundred guineas were offered for him. I should
think the world never produced a more perfect
hunter ; and as a proof of his astonishing the natives,
the gentleman who offered the two hundred guineas
for him never before gave half that sum for a
horse.

' It afterwards transpired that Mr. Morgan was
"incog." for a short time in the neighbourhood,
and, sportsman-like, was accompanied by his two
favourite hunters, though he dispensed with the
attendance of his groom.'

Quite another kind of sportsman was the hero of
our next anecdote, though no one could have been a
more enthusiastic lover of the sport of fox-hunting.

The sporting chimney-sweep was a well-known
character with the Duke of Beaufort's hounds some
fifty years ago. A country newspaper of the period

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 143

gives the following description of his appearance at
a fashionable meet :

' On Saturday the favourite meet took place on
the lawn in front of Badminton House, and, as usual,
was quite a show day. There was a well-appointed
field of three hundred, including last, though not
least, our old friend " the hunting sweep," who was
received with warm congratulations by all present.
He was mounted on his old chestnut horse, with a
white face and long tail, a pad for a saddle, no stir-
rups, and a bridle with a new blue front — one of the
distinguishing characteristics of the hunt. The
sweep was in his sooty attire, a black jacket and
trousers, with his brush for a whip. This was his
first appearance for some time past, and he was
asked why he had so long absented himself. " Why,
gentlemen," said he, " I will explain to you the
cause. I have not hunted since the late Duke's
death. Peace to his memory ! He was a duke every
inch of him, and a great friend to me. He died just
a year ago, and I have been in mourning ever since,
I was so grieved at his loss that I had some idea of
giving up hunting altogether ; but folk speak so well
of the present Duke that I thought I would come
and pay my respects to him. Besides, I stood by .
him in days of yore, before he was a duke, and
seconded his nomination for the county, and got him
into the Parliament House too ; and I daresay he has
not forgotten me." Just at this moment the Duke

144 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

appeared at the liall-cloor to greet his sporting
friends, and the sweep immediately rode forward, re-
ceived the congratulations of his Grace, and returned
them by holding his brush horizontally in front of
his hat, (Jb la rnilitaire. This movement brought all
the ladies and other inmates in the house to the
windows, whereupon the sweep jumped up on his
nag, and stood erect upon one leg, extending the
other in the air, holding the reins in one hand, and
holding out the other like a flying Mercury. He
then showed his skill in horsemanship by galloping
round the circle in this attitude, amidst the waving
of handkerchiefs, and to the infinite amusement of
all present.'

Frenchmen are supposed to be not very partial to
fox-hunting in the English fashion; however, some
years ago, M. Alphonse Esquiros, a well-known
French author, being in England, participated in the
sport in a county ' whose name,' he says, ' I cannot
give, for reasons which will be presently understood ;
it is one of those most celebrated for fox-hunting.'
After describing the meet at the covert- side, the
master of the hounds appears upon the scene, and
the sport begins.

' At last appeared the squire ; he was a man of
about sixty, but still hale, and whose manners, at
once noble and affable, announced the pleasure him-
self felt in afiPording pleasure to others. My friend
the sportsman wished to introduce me to him. " He

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 145

is an eccentric," he said to me ; " but lie likes
foreigners, and reads the "Revue des Deux Mondes. He
will give yon a heartj reception." He, in fact,
offered me his hand with that English frankness
and cordiality which I prefer to all the ceremonies of
politeness. After exchanging the usual greetings,
and making a few of those jokes which only make
the English laugh, the squire assumed the command
of his army. At a sign and word addressed to the
huntsman, the hounds, which had up to this time
been checked by the authority of the lash, were sent
into the covert. The scene, however, did not at all
respond to the idea one forms of a covered spot ; it
was a quantity of fallow ground scarce covered by a
bed of dry withered grass, oa which asses and geese
had doubtless been turned out to graze ; it is true
that at certain distances there rose in the midst of
the plain clumps of shrubs, impenetrable brambles,
compact tufts of thistles, and, lastly, forests of thorny
broom, which grew to a certain height, though not
sufficient to offer protection. It was among these
shrubs. Hence the huntsman had given the signal
to the hounds by shouting, " Hark in, hark in there,
dogs ! " exclamations which answer to our old
hunting formula, Harlou ! Harlou ! ici, mes hellots I
They were thus urged to keep their ears open and
search.

' The covert at this moment presented an extra-
ordinary spectacle. Every shrub and almost every

L

146 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

leaf sliook as if it were animated by a mysterious
spirit. We might say with the EngHsh that the
whole dark heath was alive. This illusion is pro-
duced, as may be guessed, by the work of the dogs,
who have become almost invisible, but who make the
dead branches crack, the leaves rustle, and the very
blades of grass stir. From time to time, however,
they showed themselves, and their white coats,
marked with black spots, formed a contrast with the
colour of the dry stems and tawny shrubs. All the
dogs were admirably patient, and glided into the
narrowest passages : it is true that the huntsman
guided them by signs, voice, and example. He called
them all by name, and addressed them in a language
quite new to me, but which appeared perfectly
familiar to them. A profound silence prevailed
among: the hunters.

' All at once a bark, hoarse as that of a dreaming
dog, broke out from the centre of the brambles. To
ihis challenge other canine voices replied like so
many echoes, and were followed by more distinct
accents. The barking — the last especially — pro-
claimed that the fox was found. The point was now
io compel it to leave its entrenchments ; this was a
matter of several minutes. " Tally-ho ! tally-ho !
gone away ! " {Voi-h ci alle ! s'en va, cliiens, s'enva!)
the first whipper-in shouted, in a tone impossible to
note ; the huntsman blew his horn ; the scattered
dogs came together in a compact body ; and all the

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD i^-j

hunters, digging in tlieir sj^urs, started at a wild
gallop. Here, in fact, the run began.

'^ There were shouts, a medley, a whirlwind of
men, horses, and dogs dashing along with a fury that
produced a dizziness. The pack especially proved
itself admirable through its impetuosity, discipline,
and courao^e. It was curious to see the la^-ofard doo"s
regaining their place even under the horses' hoofs,
and frequently at the risk of being crushed. Soon,
however, order was established — a perfect order — in
spite of the impetuosity of the run. This order was
slightly relaxed by the advice of the squire; but
here another sort of difficulty presented itself. I
had hoped that the fox would lead us across a fine
23lain which stretched out peacefully on our rio-ht.
In its malice it carefully avoided doing so, and led
us, on the contrary, to irregular ground, intersected
at every instant by hedges, ditches, and brambles,
where it expected to reach the skirt of a wood.
These obstacles were cleared at one bound by the
dogs, several of which, however, rolled on the top of
each other at the bottom of a ditch : they were
up again directly, though, and dashed on. Their
example was valiantly followed by the horses and
riders, who leaped like squirrels over all the fences.
Any one unaccustomed to this exercise had a chance
of breaking his neck every moment. Fortunately a
few lads, induced by a chance of gain, ojDened tlie
gates that divid d the fields, in order to let the rear

L 2

148 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

guard of awkward riders pass. I at once ranged
myself, I confess it, among the latter, for it was all
I could do to keep my saddle on such ground, and
while going at such a headlong pace. The horse
my friend had lent me for the occasion was, to listen
to him, as gentle as a lamb — it may be so ; but it

. had too much the nature of the sheep of Panurge,
for, seeing the others leap, it constantly wished to
lea23 too.

, ' I had, it is true, before my eyes, to encourage
me, the example of a fat farmer, who, in spite of his
weight, appeared to fear nothing. He bounded on
his saddle in a fearful manner at each leap his horse
attempted, and then, like a mountain upheaved by
an earthquake, he invariably fell on his base.
Though distanced by the vanguard of hunters, I
followed the chase sufficiently close to notice the
principal details. I saw the hounds run up a hill 5
their tongues, which floated in the breeze like red
rags, announced at the same time fatigue, ardour,
and a tliirst for blood. All at once they stojDped ;
the movement of their tails betrayed the anxiety
of having lost the fox. The huntsman, after con-
sulting the Avind, slightly changed the direction of
the jDa^ck, which brought it back towards me. At
the moment when the men were leaping over the
obstacles they had cleared just before, I distinctly
saw in the distance one of the sportsmen fall from
his horse while leaping a ditch, and as I did not see

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 149

liim get up again there was reason to believe that he
had received a serious injury. I told one of my
neighbours of it, but he did not seem io hear me.
The fox-hunting men do not stop for such trifles.

' As the ground on which we now found ourselves
was a large level plain, I gave more liberty to my
horse, which started like an arrow, and rejoined the
group of other horses, with which it seemed anxious
to measure its strength. The country thus seen on
the back of a galloping hunter assumes a singular
aspect, with the large bare trees that pass before
you like phantoms, the groups of gipsies calling to
each other from the heights, and pointing out the
direction of the fox ; then every now and then a
landlord running to the side of the road with a
radiant face, as if he hoped that the fox would be
killed in his neighbourhood (which would cause a
demand for his ale and spirits), or else that one of
the hunters would break a rib in the adjacent ravine
— after all, as well there as elsewhere. His hopes
passed away with the cavalcade.

' *' Forward ! forward ! " I heard shouted close to
my ear ; " the fox will be lucky this time if he
escapes, for the dogs have him. Courage, hounds,
courage ! " The pack, in fact, seemed to redouble
its vigour and resolution ; it might be said that
it felt the destruction of its foe. The hunters, on
their side, pressed the flanks of their steeds, whips
clacked, the horses perspired and panted, leaving

150 THE HORSE AND 'HIS RIDER

beliind tliem in the sharp fresh air a cloud of smoke.
Here the plain suddenly broke off, and I found my-
self facing a ruined wall, behind which there was a
sort of orchard. The whole band of hunters had
disappeared ; still I heard a great noise of voices
and the rustling of branches, whence I concluded
that the horses had leaped in a twinkling over
the ruined parts of the old wall. As I did not
feel capable of such a feat, I sought a by-road to
reach the scene of action. When I arrived the
fox had just been killed by the dogs, and the
death-cry of " Who- whoop ! " was being raised on
all sides.

' The huntsman had dismounted. After cutting
off the brush, which is kept as an ornament, he
raised above his head the corpse of the animal,
which he held in both hands. At the sio-ht of this
trophy applause and shouts of joy broke out among
the hunters, but it was ver^^ different with the dogs.
Assembled in a circle round the huntsman, they
made the air ring with the wildest barking. After
balanciug the fox, the huntsman hurled it among
the dogs, who devoured it in an instant — every one
wanted to have a share. The avidity which fox-
hounds display for the flesh of an animal which
belongs to their family (canis vulpes) is a matter
of surprise to naturalists. Perhaps they resemble
certain cannibals, who, without making man their
ordinary food, find, after battle, a delicious taste in

HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 151

the flesh of their enemy — the taste of vengeance.
The war was now terminated ; the squire dismissed
the farmers and a part of the hunters with a gesture
of paternal authority which seemed to say, "Every-
body has done his duty." '

152 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER XI.

ADVENTUEES WITH THE HOUNDS.

Boldness is essential to good riding, and a really
nervous man should never attempt fox-hunting. If
he does not find every timid emotion banished by
the voice of the hounds and the music of the horn,
he is certainly out of place, and had better quietly
ride home ; for the man who speculates on the con-
sequences of a leap is very apt to come to grief.
But on the other hand, foolish recklessness is not to
be advocated, and can only be excused in that man
who knows that his life is of little value either to
himself or others.

Some imagine that the object of fox-hunting is
to ride as hard as possible, and leap all the most
difficult fences that can be found; but the true
sportsman, while he never refuses any obstacle it is
necessary to cross, does not go out of his way to
seek sensation leaps. In fact, he rides to hounds —
does not head them, or gallop wildly through the
pack, perhaps laming or killing some of the best
of the dogs. Indeed, there have been hunting-men.

ADVENTURES WITH THE HOUNDS 153

and good ones too, wlio seldom put their horses at a
fence, and of such a one the following anecdote is
related by a distinguished novelist, who also rode
well to hounds :

' There was an old Duke of Beaufort who was a
keen and practical sportsman, a master of hounds,
and a known Nimrod on the face of the earth ; but
he was a man who hunted and never jumped. His
experience was perfect, and he was always true to
his resolution. Nothing ever tempted him to cross
the smallest fence. He used to say of a neighbour
of his who was not so constant, " Jones is an ass !
Look at him now ; there he is, and he can't get out.
Jones doesn't like jumping, but he jumps a little,
and I see him pounded every day. I never jump at
all, and I am always free to go where I like." The
Duke was certainly right, and Jones was certainly
wrong.'

Of course the huntsman and whips, having the
care of the pack and the direction of the sport,
cannot afford to be very particular, and have to go
as straight as possible. One of these straight-goers
was the Hon. Grantley Berkeley, who hunted his own
staghounds, and has recorded many of his hunting
experiences. Here is one — a case in point, as the
lawyers say :

' I purchased for one hundred and forty guineas
a bay horse, Brutus, of Elmore, whose stables were
then in Duke Street, Manchester Square. He was

154 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

not a very fast horse, but his extraordinary jump-
ing and powers of endurance made up for it. He
was as perfect at a brook as he was at timber or
hedge and ditch, double and single, and I rode him
over all the timber divisions of the Home Park at
Windsor Castle, the stag and the hounds gaining an
- entrance over the river at Datchet, where a portion
of the park wall had fallen down. Running round
the park, after a very sharp run, I secured the stag
with my whip under the walls of the Castle, the
Prince Regent or his Majesty witnessing the conclu-
sion of the run from the Castle windows.

' Brutus had more than once set the field over
park pales, and once by jumping the Brent, on
the other side of which I stopped the hounds
while the field went round, feeling no pleasure in
riding to the hounds alone. Another remarkable
jump made by him was over a gravel-pit on the
powder-mill stream. It was the first day of the
season, before advertising the meets, and I had
a good many young hounds out, one of which
hesitated to swim the stream. Knowing the fact
that there ous^ht to be nothino- before me but a
little bank and young quickset after I had ascended
the bank of the river, I had therefore turned my
head round to cheer the hounds across, when after
his little spring over the young quick I felt my horse
make a momentary pause, and an immense effort
between my knees to get himself together. Turning

ADVENTURES WITH THE HOUNDS 155

to see the cause of this, I found a large gravel-pit
with two men at work in it, immediately beneath
Brutus's fore-feet. There was no power of stopping
and no room to turn ; so with a touch of the spur
and a lift I stimulated the amount of exertion to
which the dear horse had already made up his mind,
when, with a bound that I shall never cease to be
thankful for, we flew over the danger and landed
safe on the other side, with several feet to spare. I
had jumped a yawner, but should have thought no
more of it, if on my return I had not found the two
men whose heads I had gone over waiting in the
servants' hall with the string with which they of
themselves had measured the leap. The pit from
brink to brink was twenty-three feet wide ; and
standing with no vantage ground in his favour, my
clever horse had cleared it considerably even with
his hind feet.'

The celebrated Marquis of Waterford was a bold
rider, and never refused any fence. An intimate
friend of his writes :

' I remember once riding with him (the Marquis
of Waterford) from Melton to John o' Gaunt's Gorse,
where the hounds were to meet. His groom was
mounted on a young horse, whose " manners," to
adopt the language of West End horse-dealers, were
evidently not very good.

' " Put him at that fence," said Waterford.

' The groom proceeded to obey orders, but with-

156 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

out tliat dasli that was requisite with an unbroken
animal.

' " Try him once more," continued the Marquis.

' Again he refused, and the rider seemed as much
scared as the steed.

' " There, jump off," said the noble owner. " I
never ask a man to do what I would not do myself."

' In a second he was in the saddle. He paused
not to have the stirrups lengthened, but patting the
horse on the neck, he took him back some twenty
yards, and went at the fence in good earnest, clearing
it in sportsman-like style.

' '^ Wait where you are," he exclaimed to the
groom ; then turning the animal short round, again
charged the fence, and, to adopt a Meltonian phrase,
negotiated it in a first-rate style.'

The Marquis eventually lost his life through a
fall from his horse. Another hunting hero who
flourished about the same period as Lord Water ford
was the hero of the following anecdote :

' Fenton Scott of Woodhall was a remarkable
man early in the present century — six feet four
inches, very thin, very strong, very handsome, but
had a club-foot, from an injury when a child. He
began life in a dragoon regiment, and was not to be
beaten over a country. Once, travelling down from
London by the mail, whilst eating his breakfast at
Grantham, he asked the waiter if the Belvoir hounds
met near, and if he could hire a horse in the

ADVENTURES WITH THE HOUNDS 157

town. The waiter said, " Yes, sir ; certainly, sir."
He gave up his place on the mail, hired a horse, and
met the hounds. They had a capital run. Towards
the end the field turned from hounds to avoid a well-
known awkward place ; Fenton Scott never turned ;
the hounds pulled down the fox. When the hunts-
man arrived he found this curious man sitting on a
gate, the pads and brush cut off. " Who- whoop ! "
he cried, and chucked up the fox, handing the pads
and nose to the huntsman, said, " Good run ; hounds
worked well ; " got on his horse, and trotted ofiP.
The Duke, Lord Forester, &c., w^ere anxious to know
who this was, sent to Grantham, found that the
Yorkshire gentleman had bought the horse, and
gone on to the north by coach that afternoon.'

A bold rider and merely a hard rider are two
very different people. The first, in a fair and sports-
man-like way, shares the danger with his horse — in
fact, risks both their lives and limbs together like
an honest fellow; the other merely takes it out of
his unfortunate horse where his own dearly and well-
beloved neck is in no danger.

' I hate such a self-loving devil, though I value
my neck as much as others, and think a boy of mine
was not far out in an observation he made, some-
thing like the one made by Abernethy when a patient
remarked that it gave him great pain to raise his
arm : " What a fool you must be, then, to raise it ! "
said he. My boy said nearly the same in effect. T

158 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

was hunting with Ward: this boy was on a five-
year-old, quieting him to hounds. Will, the whip,
was on a beast of a mare they called Long Jane, and
long enough, high enough, and lanky enough Long
Jane was ; in short, as one of the machines for boys
to practise gymnastics on, she would have been in-
valuable. Poor Will put her at a ditch, and in she

went. " D n thy eyes," says Will, " I knew thee

would stumble in when I put thee at it." " Then

what a d n fool you must have been to have done

it ! " says the boy, who, by the bye, would ride at
anything, the only difference being that he never
thought he should fall, or rather his horse.'

A wonderful lover of sport must be the man who
leaves his donkey and its burden in the road to
follow hounds on foot, and a large-hearted sportsman
is he who takes the footman u^) behind him ; yet
such a thing has happened .

' Mr. Russell, a famous M.F.H. in the west of
England, was on one occasion running a fox hard
in a wild and unfrequented part of his country, when
on account of a strong wind and deep cover he
had for a short time lost all sound of the pack.
Suddenly he overtook a miller, who, having tied
his donkey, with its sack of flour, to a hedge, was
joining the chase and running for his life. " Have
you seen or heard the hounds ? " said Russell in a
hurry. " Yes, sir," said the miller ; " they're just
afore, running like hell's bells ; doan't ye hear 'era ? "

ADVENTURES WITH THE HOUNDS 159

"Jump np," said Eussell; "my horse shall carry
■QS both as far as he can ; " and he actually carried
the miller behind him till the fox was killed. Mr.
Russell would rather have one sportsman out with
him than twenty fine gentlemen who put on the
scarlet coat merely for the love of fashion.'

The love of hunting is not confined, as some
imagine, to persons who have nothing else to do.
Some of England's most illustrious sons have taken
delight in the sport. The late Duke of Wellington
was a keen fox-hunter, and the late Lord Palmerston
sometimes had a day with the Hambledon hounds.
' His lordship was in the field one day when a fox
was found at Bittern. Reynard ran to the water at
Bursledon, but did not cross; instead he turned
short back to Bittern, where he ran to earth with
the hounds close to his brush. All the horses had
had enough, and all the field left immediately except
Lord Palmerston, who appeared anxious that the
fox should be got out, saying that the hounds de-
served to have him. He was told that it would be a
long job, as the soil was sandy, and the fox could dig
as fast as the men. " Never mind," was the reply ;
" I will stay and help to the end." All hands ac-
cordingly dug away as long as daylight lasted ; then
lanterns we regot, and at a quarter to eleven the fox
was got at, after which Lord Palmerston had a ride
of fourteen miles in the dark to Broadlands. The
explanation of his anxiety was that his horse was

i6o THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

entered for tlie Hampshire Hunt Cup, to qualify for
whicli it was necessary that he should have been
in at the death of three foxes, and this made the
third.'

No doubt Lord Palmerston then rode home
quietly, not after the fashion of some gentlemen
who perform all manner of pranks on the return
from the chase. Larking after a good day's run
with the hounds sometimes leads to unpleasant
results.

' Some years ago (in 1830) a townsman of Don-
caster went to meet the Badsworth hounds at
Eossington toll-bar ; they had a quick find, and a
good run of twelve miles or so, ending with a kill
at Thornwater side. And then, of course, the day's
sport was over ? Not a bit of it. At Hatfield there
was another find — at the table of an open-hearted
friend, and he went through the run again, with
many a pull to freshen his memory. The best of
stories and the best of friends must part, however,
and at length came the hour when he must ride.
By the favour of the Lady Moon he at once took a
short cut for home, sailing away for some time with-
out any mishap. An easy-looking post and rail was
of course charged without a moment's hesitation,
little dreaming what it led to. The drop on the
other side was into an old unused stone quarry, half
full of water, and some eighteen feet down ! Strange

ADVENTURES WITH THE HOUNDS i6l

to say, tlie rider never lost his seat, while his old
gray in his swim round came to a cart-track, by
following which he brought his now sobered master
to the turnpike-road. Neither of the adventurous
pair were in the least hurt.'

M

i62 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTEE XII.

COMICALITIES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD.

Of course fox-hunting, like every other pursuit (no
pun intended), has its comic side. When two or three
hundred men assemble there is sure to be some odd
character in the midst of them, and his oddity is
sure to be developed in the heat and excitement of
the chase. The regular hands are, as a rule, very
cool and business-like in their proceedings ; but
some of those who have not been trained to the
sport from infancy sometimes show an awkwardness
which proves amusing.

A gentleman, for instance, who has spent the
best part of his life — say from seventeen to seven-
and-forty — in a London office cannot be expected to
turn out a very first-class fox-hunter when he retires
from business to spend the balance of his life in the
country ; yet such men do occasionally take to hunt-
ing, and if they don't derive much amusement from it
themselves, they are at least the cause of amusement
in others. Concerning one of these gentlemen, the
following anecdote was related a few years ago in a
popular sporting periodical :

COMICALITIES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 163

' A story comes from the shires anent a gentle-
man now very well known in the hunting world, but
who took to the noble science rather late in life, and,
with a certain praiseworthy idea of making up for
lost time, rode accordingly. One of his first meets

was with the A hounds, and, determining to

choose a good leader, he followed old D., then the
huntsman, and, ere the hounds had gone three fields,
knocked the old man and his horse both down. He
was overwhelmed with grief, apologised profusely,
and gave D. a sovereign, the latter being perfectly
satisfied. Both got up and renewed the chase ; but
not very long afterwards the gentleman bowled over
the huntsman again ; the same apology and another
sovereign were produced, tendered, and accepted, old
D. simply observing, " Well, sir, I must say yours is
a most liberal style of riding." '

Of the excuses made use of to cover mishaps
there is no end. One of the best, however, was that
invented by an old Cumberland farmer to ex]3lain
his want of adhesiveness to the pigskin, and the
tale finds place in another sporting publication iu
the following form :

' A facetious old fox-hunting farmer I knew in the
iN'orth used to boast that he had followed hounds for
fifty years, and never had a fall. Those who know
Cumberland will agree with me that it requires a
good fencer to get across it, as the land is principally
enclosed by stones placed loose one upon another.

1 64 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

from four to six feet liigli. We had been running at
a good pace nearly two hours, with only one check
of about ten minutes, and the old boy's place was
as near the tail of the hounds as he could possibly
keep, when, pushing his horse a little too sharp at
one of these walls, down they came both together.
The old fellow not half an hour before had been
chaffing a neighbour who had been in the same
predicament, and, expecting a retort, slyly drew his
knife out of his pocket, and when asked by his
friend, who came to his assistance, whether he was
hurt, replied, " Nought at all, bairn, nought at all ;
I only stooped to pick up my knife." And for years
it was a by-word when any one had a fall, " What,
have you dropped your knife ? " However, the pro-
verb says, " Any excuse is better than none." '

The youngsters, as a rule, laugh at their own
misfortunes as well as those that happen to others.
Punch used to have splendid illustrations, by John
Leech, of fox-hunting boys, and one of them must
have been the youth next to be noticed :

' During the recent Christmas holidays a school-
boy was out with the North Pytchley, of which pack
Fred Percival, of hereditary fame, is the efficient
huntsman. Landing over an awkward fence, his
horse made a nasty "peck," shooting Fred out of
the saddle ; but, after frantic efforts, he struggled
back into the pigskin. The youngster looking on
laughed loud and long, upon which the huntsman

COMICALITIES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 165

asked, " Are you jeering at me, sir ? " " Of course,"
replied the boy. " Well, then, you keep your place?
and I'll keep mine." '' So I can," said the boy ;
'' but I didn't know yours was between your horse's
ears" That youth was evidently beginning to run
alone.'

A well-mounted man who hunts regularly takes
pride in keeping well up with the hounds. Some-
times little stratagems are used to gain or keep an
advantage, the result being the reverse of pleasant
to others. A noted practical joker in the hunting-
field was the late Lord Forester, of whom several
anecdotes have been handed down. Here are a few
of them.

Lord Forester was well known in Leicestershire
in the first half of the present century. " Nimrod "
says of him :

' All who knew this celebrated sportsman also
knew the natural gaiety of his disposition, and how
fond he was of what is called a joke, particularly
when he himself had the best of it. It ma}^ be
expected, then, that the chances and disasters of a
fox-chase frequently afforded him a theme. On one
occasion, it is told of him that, having the lead in a
quick thing, and no one else close on his heels, he
came to a park paling which no horse could leap.
His quick eye, however, espied a small bridle-gate,
in which the park-keeper had left his key ; so, pop-
ping through it quickly, his lordship turned the key

•166 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

after liim, put it in his pocket, and bade the fiehl
good-bje. On another occasion, when in the same
enviable situation — i.e. having the lead — he leaped
into a deep pit brimful of water. As he was in the
act of swimming out of it, he observed a man on
foot warning those who were following him of their
danger. " Hold your tongue ! " roared his lordship ;
" we shall have it full in a minute." But did Lord
Forester never press upon hounds ? Now and then,
I have reason to believe, which called forth the
following rebuke of Mr. Meynell : '*' We had a pretty
find to-day," said he ; " first came the fox, then
Cecil Forester, then my hounds.^' .... His splendid
hunter, Bernardo, I cannot forget, nor his leaping
the immense space of ten yards and some inches
with him over a brook, which space was measured
by some of the party visiting at Belvoir Castle at
the time.'

The sporting parson is a character not so often
met in the hunting-field now as in days gone by.
The hunting clergyman came in for a large share of
abuse which, in very many cases, he did not deserve.
The rector of a small country village can easil}-
perform all the duties required of him by either law
or gospel, and yet find time for healthful recreation
in the shape of two or three hours' gallop across
country — a thing very good for both parson and
horse. Of course a clergyman ought not to neglect
his duties for the hunt, nor, for the matter of that,

COMICALITIES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 167

sliould a doctor, a lawyer, or a inercliant. It Las
happened more than once that those making com-
plaint against a sporting parson have met with
well-deserved, though unexpected, rebuke.

' A well-known hunting poem, entitled " Billesdon
Coplow," was written by a clergyman who was fre-
quently seen with two or three of the Midland packs,
and the following anecdote is told of him : Some of
his brethren of the cloth were showing him up, on
account of his sporting propensities, to his diocesan,
who was inclined to wink at a few failings which
"leaned to virtue's side," and was satisfied with
the merits of his otherwise irreproachable character.
Amongst other enormities, they represented that

Mr. was actually going to ride a match at the

county races. " Is he indeed ? " said the amiable
and good-humoured old bishop — "is he indeed?
Then I will bet you half-a-crown he wins ! " '

The farmers who ride to hounds are many of
them keen sportsmen as well as bold riders. A man
who has been brought up from boyhood among
horses must be well accustomed to them, and horses
certainly get well accustomed to some very marked
peculiarities in their riders. Of one who used to
hunt in Essex the following tale is told :

^ A farmer in Essex, well known some years ago
in Lord Petre's hunt, had a horse which was a re-
markably clever jumper. I often tried to coax him
out of the horse at a strong price. " No," he would

i68 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

saj, " it is as mucli as my neck is worth to part with
him." The fact was, the farmer was a most deter-
mined goer in the field, but a much harder one in
a public-house, and frequently when it was so dark
the horse could hardly see, and the master not at
all, he used to start off across the fields ; somehow
he stuck on, and the horse went home as straight as
a gunshot. I once saw him take a gate, with his
master on the saddle, and his arms most lovingly
round the horse's neck. I told him he would be
found one night, horse and all, in one of the Essex
ditches. " Nay," said he, " there is not a ditch in
the country we were not in, the first year I had
him ; he knows them too well now to get in again." '

The typical fox-hunter of the novelist is apt to
be very unlike the real article, unless the novelist
himself happens to be a hunting-man. Sometimes
we find a good description of a real fox-hunter, who
hunts for pure fun — such a one as the sporting
writer, ' Sylvanus,' has portrayed in the following
sketch :

'Accompany us, then, reader, to the abode of
Joe Whitaker, Ramsdale House, on Nottingham
Forest, or the Duke of Limbs, as he was commonly
called from his immense size and strength. The
Duke kept a stud of four-legged friends, under the
guise of horseflesh, for his own and friends' especial
riding ; brutes seventeen hands high, rushing, hard-
mouthed, vicious devils, that no man durst mount

COMICALITIES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 169

but himself, were ever grinding corn at Ramsdale,
and most courteously at the service of any tranquil
gentleman staying in the house and desirous of
seeing the meet.

' My friend the Duke had long promised me a
mount on any horse I chose to select out of his very
amiable stud, premising that I should "go like a
shot " on whichever I should be lucky enough to
bestride myself. One evening, after dinner^ I decided,
in a reckless moment, to accompany him to Bunney
Park, the seat of Lord Eancliffe, to meet " the
Quorn." Hell-fire Jack and the Splasher were on
the lawn when we cantered up on our hacks, with
my old friend Will, the groom, in charge. After
a hasty mouthful at one of the very best spread
hunting breakfasts I ever saw, I slyly went out to
reconnoitre the cavalry, leaving the Duke soaking his
whiskers in a huge flagon of spiced ale, with roasted
crabs and rosemary floating in it, flanked by a cold
pork-pie, in which he had made an incision large
enough to put even his hand out of sight.

' I got quietly to the old groom, and, after putting
on a very resolute forty minutes' look, which, God
help me, I little felt, I said, " Well, Will, it seems
likely to be a fine day after all ; which of these two
animals would you advise me, now, as a stranger, to
select, as his Grace is kind enough to let me take
whichever I like?" Will scratched his head and
gave the most extraordinary twitch with his mouth,

I70 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

that denoted hilarity too hearty to be laughed at.
He hid his face under the flap of the Splasher's
saddle as he pretended to girth him up, and then
said :

i ii Why, his Grace is a kind gentleman, but, darn
it, he has not left you much choice this time. Hell-
fire Jack will run away with master hisself when he
likes, and he, you know, sir, could pull that there
tree up by the roots as easy as I could a stick of
celery; and, as for the Splasher, why he's the
devil ! "

' This was true comfort for a man whose leg had
been broken, only about a year before, '' all to pash,"
as Will said, and anything but a " bruiser " at the
best. I was in a " fix," as the Yankees say, but too
game to show it. " I'll take the chestnut," said I,
" to be going on with, and if I can't manage him, I'll
try the other."

i " Why, burn my breeches," said Will, '^ but
you have a good heart, sir ! " Very ! thought I, and
mounted.

' The Duke here made his appearance, licking his
lips, and cracking his whip, to make his cursed brutes
more wicked than ever, as I firmly believe. He also
mounted, and set off at a gallop over the park,
followed like anything mad by myself on Hell-fire
Jack, till we got to the covert, where my troubles
commenced in earnest. The horse I was on was,
without the least exaggeration, fully sixteen-three, of

COMICALITIES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 171

a fretful, wilful, spiteful temper as ever fiend was
blest with. ; he would not stand still an instant, and
was ever on the look-out for something to jump or
some animal to kick at.

< " D n you, keep your own line," was shouted

at me by every one alike. I seemed the equal terror
and amusement of the field, the Duke having made
them pretty well aware of my position and the
prowess to be looked for.

' We found, and I thought my hour was come.
'^ Give him his head ! " roared his Grace ; " he
doesn't pull an ounce, goes like a shot ! " and, by
the Lord Harry, I did go like a shot ! The horse was
a magnificent jumper, and no man breathing could
help sitting him, he was such a complete master of
his work ; but, Lord, how he pulled ! I was abso-
lutely sick, the muscles of my arms came in lumps,
my fingers closed hermetically, as the learned say,
and, if we had not fortunately come to a check, I
must have fallen to the ground from sheer fatigue.
His Grace of Limbs was close alongside, looming
like a clover-stack on fire. " Sweet nag, isn't he,"
remarked he.

i " y^fy I " said I, dismounting. " Now for your
promise, Duke; let us change."

' " With all my heart, old boy ! " said he ; " each
is so good that I never know till I have tried both
which I love best."

' After taking uj) about a dozen holes in the stirrup-

172 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

leathers in Mr. " Splasher's " saddle, I mounted that
most heavenly quadruped. I have often thought
since I must have been mad that morning. How-
ever, away we went over a vile, rotten, deep country,
apparently intersected with tremendous fences — for
a fixture they told me was " Cripple's Gorse " (true,
though ominous). Here I became quite a character,
and was approached by several of the Duke's friends,
who politely complimented me on my mount.

' " Splendid jumper ! " said one.

' " Swims like a shark," said another.

' " Never was known to refiise,^^ remarked a
third.

'"I'll lay you two glasses of ale at the next
public," said my friend Hieover, "that he spills you
at the first fence."

' " Done ! " said I, like a man (and a fool).

' The Splasher was a delightful contrast to his
stable companion from the infernal regions, being
with hounds in covert as placid, tractable, and —
curse him ! — as deceitful as Mr. Calcraft, who does
the last honours and loathsome of the Old Bailey !
He ambled about with his head between his legs,
though not pulling in the least, with one eye fixed
constantly on yourself and the other on the look-
out for a fence.

(■ " D n that hound ; he's going to find ! " I

uttered, in agony to myself, as I heard a whimper in
the gorse ' that sounded like gospel,' as Will Danby

COMICALITIES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 173

expressed himself when he heard the Archbishop
of York halloo away a fox, and prepared for
martyrdom.

' " Don't point him at anything you particularly
dislike, such as trees or houses," said the Duke,
rushing like a rocket at a double post and rail;
*'take at least a hundred yards to consider, or "

'I could hear no more, for I was within fifty
yards of a rasping stake and bound fence, with a
ditch like a canal on each side, at which the Splasher
went at the rate of ten thousand miles an hour, head
down, tail up. You might as well have pulled at the
Great Britain with Fanny Ellsler's garter ! We
crashed through, or over, I forget which, and then
came to a full stop, the Splasher thinking he had
finished the business after he had jumped the fence,
and pitched me at least twenty yards clean over his
head, amidst the roars of the Duke and a select
party he had invited to see the fun.

' " The nearest turnpike road to Nottingham ? "
said I to an interesting gentleman cutting turnips.
^' Please open that gate whilst I turn this brute's
head the other way, or he will take it at the posts
without asking your leave or mine."

' You will agree that I have reason to be grateful
that I was spared to write this, and so I am, but not
more so than I shall be at seeing my good friend the
Duke of Limbs once more, particularly as I hear he
has changed his stud.'

174 I^H^ HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTEE XIII.

COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN.

Just as Englishmen play cricket wherever turf can
be found, and soinetimes where turf is not, so they
take their love of fox-hunting into far-off lands, and
practise the sport when anything the least bit like a
fox can be found. In India and at the Cape of Good
Hope they hunt the jackal. Gibraltar has a fine
pack of hounds supported by the of&cers of our
garrison there, and Australia is a land of hunters.
Bush-riding is no joke ; the worst hunting country
in England is pleasant compared with some of the
half -broken land and wholly uncultivated bush ol
Australia. Nevertheless, the bush-farmer or settler
rides merrily along, and crosses, quite as a matter oi
course, districts that would make an English hunting-
man pull up and scratch his head in perplexity.

Anthony Trollope, the well-known novelist, had
some reputation as a hunting man in England. A
few years ago he paid a visit to Australia, and saw
what hunting is according to the ideas of the colonist.
Trollope's own words best describe the kind of enter-
tainment he was called upon to take part in.

COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN 175

' The following day there was a great liimt
breakfast or luncheon, and the opening meet of the
Melbourne staghounds. Of other sports I practically
know nothing ; in regard to hunting I have for many
years been striving to do something. So much was
known of me by certain kind friends ; and I was there-
fore invited to the entertainment, and provided with
a horse — as to which I was assured that, though
he was small, he was up to any weight, could go for
ever, and jumj) anything. The country would be
very rough — so much was acknowledged — and the
fences very big ; but it was suggested to me that if
I would only drink enough sherry I might see a
good deal of the run. I thought of my weight,
which is considerable ; of my eyesight, which is im-
perfect; of my inexperience in regard to timber
fences four feet six inches high, which up to that
moment was complete ; I thought also that my
informant in respect to the little horse, though
indubitably veracious in intention, might probably
be mistaken in his information, never having ridden
the horse himself. Wishing to return once more to
England, so that I might publish my book, I re-
solved that discretion would be, on this occasion, the
better part of valour, and that I Avould save my neck
at the expense of the ill-opinion of the Melbourne
hunting-field.

' Such a hunt-banquet I never saw before. The
spot was some eight or ten miles from Melbourne,

176 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

close upon the seor-shore, and with a railway station
within a quarter of a mile. It was a magnificent
day for a picnic, with a bright sun and a cool air, so
that tlie temptations to come, over and beyond that
of hunting, were great. About two hundred men
were assembled in a tent pitched behind the house
of the master of the festival, of whom perhaps a
quarter were dressed in scarlet. Nothing could have
been done better or in better taste. There was no
speaking, no drinking, so to be called, but a violent
clatter of knives and forks for about half an hour.
At about two we were out on a common, smoking
our cigars in front of the house, and remained there
talking to the ladies in carriages till nearly three,
when we started. I found the horse provided for
me to be a stout, easily-ridden, well-bitted cob ; but
when I remembered what posts and rails were in
this country I certainly thought that he was very
small. No doubt discretion would be the better part
of valour ! With such a crowed of horses as I saw
around me, there would probably be many discreet
besides myself, so that I might attain decent obscurity
amidst a multitude. I had not bedizened myself in
a scarlet coat.

' We were on a heath, and I calculated that there
were present about two hundred and fifty horsemen.
There was a fair sprinkling of ladies, and I was re-
quested to observe one or two of them, as they would
assuredly ride well. There is often a little mystery

COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN lyj

about hunting, especially in the early part of the
day, as all men know who ride to hounds at home.
, . . . I had been told that we were to hunt a dingo,
or wild dog ; and there was evidently an opinion
that turning down a dingo — shaking him, I suppose,
out of a bag— was good and genuine sport. We do
not like bagged foxes at home ; but I fancy that they
are unpopular chiefly because they will never run.
If a dingo will run, I do not see why he should not
be turned down as well as a deer out of a cart. But
on this occasion I heard whispers about a drag.
The asseverations about the dingo were, however,
louder than the whispers about a drag ; and I
went on believing the hounds would be put upon
the trail of the animal. The huntsman was crabbed
and uncommunicative. The master was soft as satin,
but as impregnable as plate-armour. I asked no
questions myself, knowing that time will unravel
most things ; but I heard questions asked the answers
to which gave no information whatever. At last the
hounds began to stir among the high heather, and
were hunting something. I cared little what it was,
if only there might be no posts and rails in that
country. I like to go, but I don't like to break my
neck ; and between the two I was uncomfortable.
The last fences I had seen were all wire, and I was
sure that a drag would not be laid among them.
But we had got clear of wire fences — wire all through
from top to bottom — before v/e began. We seemed

178 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

to be on an open lieatli, riding round a swamp, with-
out an obstacle in sight. As long as that lasted I
could go with the best.

' But it did not last. In some three minutes,
having ridden about half a mile, I found myself
approaching such an obstacle as in England would
stop a whole field. It was not only the height but
the obduracy of the wooden barrier, which seemed as
though it were built against ever-rushing herds of
wild bulls. At home we are not used to such fences,
and therefore they are terrible to us. A four-foot-
and-a-half wall a man with a good heart and a good
horse will ride ; and the animal, if he knows what
lie is about, will strike it sometimes with fore as well
as hind feet, and come down without any great
exertion. But the post and rail in Australia should
be taken with a clear flying leap. There are two
alternatives if this be not done. If the horse and
man be heavy enough, and the pace good enough,
the top bar may be broken. It is generally about
eight inches deep and four thick, is quite rough, and
apparently new ; but, as on this occasion, I saw re-
peatedly, it may be broken, and when broken, the
liorse and rider go through unscathed, carried by
their own impetus, as a candle may be fired through
a deal board. The other chance is to fall — which
^vent seemed to occur more often even than the
smashing of the rail. Now I was especially warned
that if I rode slowly at these fences, and fell, my

COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN 179

horse would certainly fall atop of me; whereas if
I went fast I should assuredly be launched so far
ahead that there would be room for my horse
between me and the fence that had upset me. It
was not a nice prospect for a man riding over
sixteen stone !

' But now had come the moment in which I must
make up my mind. Half a dozen men were over the
rail ; half a dozen baulked it ; two fell, escaping their
own horses by judicious impetus. One gentleman
got his horse half over, the four- quarters being on
one sidO;, and the hind on the other, so that the
animal was hung up. A lady rode at it with spirit,
but checked her horse with the curb, and he, rearing
back, fell on her. Another lady took it in gallant
style. For a moment it seemed as though the honour
of all the hunting-fields in England were entrusted
to my keeping, and I determined to dare greatly, let
the penalty be what it might. With firm hands and
legs, but with heart very low down, I crammed the
little brute at the mountain of woodwork. As I did
so I knew that he could not carry me over. Luckily
he knew as much about it as I did, and made not
the slightest attempt to rise with me. I don't know
that ever I felt so fond of a horse before.

' At that moment an interesting individual,
coming like a cannon-ball, crashed the top bar beside
me, and I, finding the lady comfortably arranging
her back hair with plenty of assistance, rode gallantly

X 2

l8o THE HORSE AXD HIS RIDER

over the second bar. For tlie next half-hour I took
care always to go over second bars, waiting patiently
till a top bar was broken. I had found my level, and
was resolved to keep it. On one occasion I thought
that a top bar never would be broken; and the cessation
was unpleasant, as successful horsemen disappeared
one after another. But I perceived that there was a
regular company of second-bar men, so that as long
as I could get over a rail three feet high I need not
fear that I should be left alone. And hitherto the
pace had not been quick enough to throw the second-
bar men out of the hunt. But soon there came a real
misfortune. There was a fence with only one bar,
with only one apparent obstacle. I am blind as well
as heavy, and I did not see the treacherous wire
beneath. A heavy philanthropist, just before me,
smashed the one, and I rode on at what I thought to
be a free course. My little horse, seeing no more
than I did, rushed upon the wire, and the two of us
rolled over in ignominious dismay. The horse was
quicker on his feet than I was, and liking the sport,
joined it at once single-handed, while I was left alone
and disconsolate. Men and horses, even the sound
of men and horses, disappeared from me, and I found
myself in solitude in a forest of gum-trees.

' And in that wild country I might^be wandering
about for a week without seeing anything but a
cockatoo or an Australian magpie. There does, how-
ever, always come some relief in these miserit s. I

COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN i8i

first encountered anotlier horseless man, then a second
companion in misery, and at last a groom with my
own little nag. As for the run, that, as regarded
me, was of course over ; but I had legs beside my
own to take me back twelve miles to the place at
which I was stopping. As far as I could learn, they
ran a drag for about seven miles, and then came upon
a turned-down dingo.'

Fox-hunting, according to English ideas, has not
made much way in the United States of America ;
yet many of the Americans are bold riders and keen
hunters ; therefore it will not be out of place to give
the thoughts and ideas of a celebrated American on
Enorlish fox-huntino^ :

' I am at Milton,' writes Charles Sumner, the
American statesman, 'passing my Christmas week
with Lord Fitzwilliam. Here I have been enjoying
fox-hunting to the imminent danger of my neck and
limbs. That they still remain intact is a miracle. I
think I have never participated in anything more
exciting than this exercise. After my arrival, I
mounted, at half-past nine o'clock, a beautiful hunter,
and rode with Lord Milton about six miles to the
place of meeting. There were the hounds and hunts-
men, and whippers-in, and about eighty horsemen —
the nobility and gentry and clergy of the neighbour-
hood, all beautifully mounted, and the greater part
in red coats, leather breeches, and white top-boots.
The hounds were sent into the cover, and it was a

iSz THE NORSE AND HIS RIDER

grand sight to see so many handsome dogs all of a
size, and all washed before coming out, rushing into
the underwood to start the fox. We did not get a
scent immediately, and rode from cover to cover ; but
soon the cry was raised — " Tally-ho ! " — the horn was
blown, the dogs barked, the horsemen rallied, the
hounds scented their way through the cover on the
trail of the fox, and then started in full run. I had
originally intended only to ride to cover to see them
throw ofiP, and then make my way home, believing
myself unequal to the probable run ; but the chase
commenced, and I was in the midst of it, and, being
excellently mounted, nearly at the head of it. Never
did I see such a scamper, and never did it enter my
head that horses could be pushed to such speed in
such places. We dashed through and over bushes,
leaping broad ditches, splashing in brooks and mud,
and passing over fences as so many imaginary lines.
My first fence I shall not readily forget. I was near
Lord Milton, who was mounted on a thoroughbred
horse. He cleared a fence before him. My horse
pawed the ground and neighed. I gave him the
rein, and he cleared the fence. As I was up in the
air for one moment how I was startled to look down
and see there was not only a fence hut a ditch ! He
cleared the ditch too. I have said it was my first
experiment. I lost my balance, was thrown to the
very ears of the horse, but in some way or other con-
trived to work my way back to the saddle without

COLONIAL AND AMERICAN HORSEMEN 183

toucliing tlie ground. How I got back I cannot tell,
but I did regain my seat, and my liorse was at a run
in a moment. All this you must understand took
place in less time by far tban it will take to read
this account. One moment we were in a scamper
through a ploughed field ; another, over a beautiful
pasture ; and another, winding through the devious
paths of a wood. I have said that I mounted at nine
and a half o'clock. It wanted twenty minutes to five
when I finally dismounted, not having been out of
the saddle for more than thirty seconds during all
this time, and then only to change my horse, taking
a fresh one from a groom who was in attendance.
Duringf much of this time we were on a full run.

' The next day had its incidents. The place of
meeting was about fourteen miles from the house.
Our horses were previously led thither by grooms,
and we rode there in a carriage and four, with out-
riders, and took our horses fresh. This day I met
with a fall. The country was very rough, and the
fences often quite stiff and high. I rode among the
foremost, and on going over a fence and a brook
together, came to the ground. My horse cleared
them both, and I cleared him, for I went directly
over his head. Of course he started off, but was
soon caught by Lord Milton and a parson, who had
already made the leap successfully. The best and
hardest rider in this part of the country is reputed
to be a clergyman, and there was not a day that I

i84 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

was out that I did not see three or four persons re-
joicing in the style of "Reverend," and distinguish-
able from the rest of the habitues by wearing a black,
instead of a red, coat. They were among the fore-
most in the field. Once we came to a very stiff rail
fence ; the hounds were not in full cry ; there was
a general stop to see how the different horses and
riders would take it. Many were afraid, and several
horses refused it. Soon, however, the Rev. Mr. Nash,
a clergyman of some fifty years, came across the
field, and the cry was raised : " Hurrah for Nash !
Now for Nash ! " I need not say he went over it
easily. It was the Rev. Mr. Nash who caught my
horse. None of the clergymen who were out were
young men; they were all more than forty-five, if
not fifty.

' Dinner was early because the sportsmen return
fatigued, and without having tasted a morsel of food

since an early breakfast We do not sit long

at table, but return to the library, which opens into
two or three drawing-rooms, and is itself used as the
principal one, where we find the ladies already at
their embroidery, and also coffee. Conversation goes
on languidly. The boys are sleepy, and Lord Fitz-
william is serious and melancholy ; and very soon I
am glad to kill off an hour or so by a game at
cards. About eleven o'clock I am glad to retire to
my chamber.'

i8s

CHAPTER XIY.

ANECDOTES OF HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING.

A DESCRIPTION of the ordinary methods of horse-
breaking would be out of place here. Those who
know anything about it are aware that the best way
of proceeding is to let the colt grow accustomed to
be handled by man from his infancy, to treat him
kindly, and teach him gradually, not punishing him
if at first he does not understand what is required of
him, or shows a desire to get rid of the burden on
his back.

Most horses can be subdued by kindness, but
there are some that seem regular born devils ; no
one can do anything with them except such men as
Earey, or his predecessor Dan Sullivan. These men
had some subtle way of subduing the most violent
brutes, which produced the most startling results,
the most inveterate savages becoming mild as lambs
after one or two interviews with the irresistible
horse-tamer.

' Dan Sullivan, who flourished early in the present
centuiy, was the first great horse-tamer of whom

1 86 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

there is any record in modern times. His triumpli
commenced by his purchasing for " an old song " a
dragoon's horse at Mallow, which was so savage
that he was obliged to be fed through a hole in the
wall. After one of Sullivan's lessons, the trooper
drew a car quietly through Mallow, and remained a
very proverb of gentleness for years after. In fact,
with mule or horse, one half-hour's lesson from
Sullivan was enough, but the horses relapsed in
other hands. Sullivan's own account of the secret
was that he originally acquired it from a wearied
soldier who had not money enough to pay for a pint
of porter he had drunk. The landlord of the ale-
house was retaining part of his kit, when Sullivan,
who sat in the bar, vowed he would never see a
hungry man want, and gave the soldier so good 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, so far as
I can learn, never attempted to train colts by his
method, although that is a more profitable and use-
ful branch of business than training vicious horses.
It is stated in an article in Hoiiseliold Words on
horse-tamers that he was so jealous of his gift that
even the priest of Ballyclough could not wring it
from him at the confessional. His son used to boast
how his reverence met his sire as they both rode
towards Mallow, and charged him with being a con-

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 187

federate of the Evil One, and how " the whisperer "
laid the priest's horse under a spell, and forthwith
led him a weary chase among the cross-roads, till he
promised in despair to let Sullivan alone for ever.
Sullivan left three sons : only one of them practised
his art with imperfect success till his death ; neither
of the others pretended to any knowledge of it. One
of them was till recently a horse-breaker at Mallow.'

Mr. John S. Earey, who came to this country from
America early in 1858, announced that he could not
only tame the wildest horses, but could teach others
to do so. He was willing to teach his system to five
hundred pupils, who were to pay ten guineas each
for the knowledge, and at the same time bind them-
selves to absolute secrecy as to the means employed.
He announced that his system was characterised by
a total absence of punishment or violent coercion,
neither did he use drugs or instruments ; he did not
subdue the spirit of the horse by starvation, but
employed only means consistent with the utmost
tenderness for the pupil under tuition. Mr. Rarey's
list of intending pupils was soon filled, the lessons
were given, and the results fully bore out his pro-
mises : animals which had been known as very bad
characters — stubborn or savage — after a short course
of Mr. Rarey's treatment, became perfectly quiet
and docile.

' One of the first horses operated upon by Mr.
Eare}^ was Cruiser, the most vicious stallion in

1 88 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Eng'land, " who could do more figliting in less time
than any horse in England."

' Cruiser was the projDerty of liord Dorchester,
and was a good favourite for the Derby in Wild
Dayrell's year, but broke down before the race. Like
all Venison horses, his temper was not of the mildest
kind, and John Day was delighted to get rid of him.
When started for Eawcliffe he told the man who led
him on no account to put him into a stable, as he
would never get him out. This injunction was of
course disregarded, for when the man wanted some
refreshment he put him into a country public-house
stable and left him ; and to get him out the roof of
the building had to be pulled off. At Eawcliffe he
was always exhibited by a groom with a ticket-of-
leave bludgeon in his hand, and few were bold
enough to venture into his yard.'

Mr. Rarey admitted that this animal, in compari-
son with others, gave him a great deal of trouble ;
yet in a short time Cruiser, who, by the united testi-
mony of trainers and horse-breakers, was pronounced
an untameable devil, became one of the best taught
and domestic of horses, would follow his teacher
lovingly and playfully, would lie down at command,
and, in fact, do everything required of him.

Mr. Rarey's great feat was the taming of that
hitherto untameable animal the zebra, a fine specimen
being placed at his disposal by the Royal Zoological
Society. Mr. Rarey gave him a private lesson first.

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 189

When publicly introduced to the arena his fury was
beyond description ; he yelled, screamed, threw him-
self on the ground, and lashed his heels with unin-
termitting fury. Finally, exhausted, but not subdued,
he was removed ; but after another course of private
instruction he was quietly ridden into the arena by
Mr. Rarey's groom and trotted about ' as tame as a
donkey,' as the great horse-tamer remarked.

There can be no doubt of the subduing power of
kindness on most animals, and Mr. Edward Mayhew
relates the following story of a ferocious horse being
tamed by him quite unintentionally :

' He (Mayhew) was of middle age when he entered
as a student at the Eoyal Veterinary College. His
mind became confused by the new sort of companions
he encountered ; by the novel objects which sur-
rounded him ; and by the strange kind of knowledge
he was expected to master. This confusion was the
greater because previous habit had not rendered him
familiar with horseflesh. An animal, therefore, was
needed so that reference might be made to its body,
for an explanation of the books which the pupil was
expected to comprehend. At length, in the corner
of a back yard was discovered a lonely loose-box ;
inside there was a quadruped, and to this place the
volume was daily taken with various morsels of bread
or vegetable. Thus between reading, feeding, exa-
mining, and caressing, many an afternoon was most
pleasantly whiled away.

I90 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' It was necessary to indulge in certain intimate
familiarities — sometimes to change the position of
the animal or to finger its lower extremities. When
doing this the student possessed no jockeyship to
protect himself, nor was he conscious that any pro-
tection was necessary. He used to shut himself up
with the companion of his studies.

' More than a fortnight's leisure had been plea-
santly occupied, when, as Mr. Mayhew was one
afternoon stealing to the being which lightened the
tedium of his studies, and was in the act of opening
the door, a number of fellow-students detected him so
engaged. " Mayhew ! Mayhew ! " the group shouted
as with one voice, " where are you going ? Don't open
that door ! Van Amburg is there — he's a kicker and
a biter ! You'll be killed ! Don't open the door ! "

' Van Amburg was the name of a thoroughbred
racer, which had been sent to the college " for opera-
tion," because of its supposed ferocity. Yet he, a
novice, had passed many an hour in its society and
could not have desired a more gentle companion.
" We have often," says Mr. Mayhew, " laid long
together side by side ; or, as I reclined upon the straw
reading, the head would rest upon my shoulder, while
a full stream of fragrant warmth would salute my
cheek. Still, such a creature, so open to advances, so
grateful for little kindnesses, was a reputed savage ! " '

It is possible that a horse may be reduced to a
state of quiet obedience through fear of the conse-

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 191

quences of rebellion, and here is an anecdote to the
point :

' Some years ago Captain , a well-known

steeplechase rider, bought at Tattersall's, for a very
small sum, a magnificent horse, that no stranger in
the yard dared approach, and which was, therefore,
honestly put up and sold as a ^' man-killer."

' On these propensities being explained by the
purchaser to his head-groom, the resolute fellow
bluntly replied that he would not at all object to take
care of the beast provided he were allowed, " in self-
defence, to kill or cure him ; " and, accordingly, as
soon as the homicide entered his stable, with a steady
step, but avoiding looking into his eye, he walked up
to him and then, not waiting for a declaration of
war, but with a short heavy bludgeon striking the
insides of his knees he knocked his forelegs from
under him, and, the instant he fell, belaboured his
head and body until the savage j)roprietor of both
became so completely terrified, that he ever after-
wards seemed almost to quail whenever his conqueror
walked up to him.'

But this system certainly should not be adopted
till the kindness that tamed the zebra has been tried.
It sometimes happens that a so-called vicious horse
has merely an antipathy to certain objects or indi-
viduals. A comic case is related of how a horse was
cured of his objection to pigs :

' A merchant of the name of Grant, of the Mile

192 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

End Road, being in want of a horse, inquired of a
friend if lie knew of a saddle-nag for sale. The reply
of the friend was that he had one himself to dispose
of, which he could recommend were it not for his
unconquerable dread of swine, which rendered him
dangerous either to ride or drive, and on which ac-
count alone he must part with him. Mr. Grant was
not a person to be dismayed at trifles, and was also
possessed of much quickness of perception, as the
sequel will prove. Under a conviction that he could
remedy this evil, he bought the horse, whose cure he
set about by the purchase of a sow and a large litter of
pigs. The horse, sow, and pigs were all then turned
together in a sort of barn stable, well littered down
with straw, where, with the exception of giving them
food, they were never disturbed. The snortings,
kickings, squeakings, and gruntings were, for two
or three days, great and continual; and the conse-
quence was that three or four of the younglings were
demolished ; but gradually the uproar ceased, and in
a fortnight's time the lady mother was seen under
the very belly of the horse, searching for the grains
of corn left in the straw, with her progeny actively
engaged around her.'

The ill-treatment a horse receives from stablemen
sometimes makes the animal behave in a way that
earns for it the character of vicious. A change of
attendants or a different rider will sometimes bring
a reform in the animal's manners.

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 193

* I had a mare that would always kick on first
being mounted, either with a saddle, or her clothing",
or bare-backed. She was very handsome, and a
beautiful goer. My wife took a fancy to have her
for her own riding, much to my alarm. However,
the side-saddle was put on, and two men and myself
were ready to hold her if necessary. My wife got on
her ; to our astonishment the mare walked off, and
never then or after attempted to kick with a side-
saddle on ; but was just the same as ever whenever
man or boy mounted her. No doubt she had been
ill-used or played tricks with by some one of the he
generation, but never by a woman. We must not
call this vice.'

The man who undertakes to break or tame a
vicious horse must not flinch from his task when
once begun, for if the brute once finds that he can
master the two-legged animal, man, he becomes a
worse brute than before. The quadruped must learn
that man is his master.

Major H. A. Leveson, better known as the ' Old
Shekarry,' was wounded and had his horse killed
at the battle of Inkerman. While an invalid at
Oonstantinople he endeavoured to purchase another
horse to replace his slain Arab, ' Desert Born,' and
the following is his account of how he purchased and
broke one that had proved a little too much for the
French cavalry. Here is his account of the aflPair :

' At last, through the kindness of my friend Lieut.-

0

194 THE HORSE AXD HIS RIDER

Colonel Magnan, of tlie Etat-Major of the French

Army, I was allowed to pick one from out of a batch

of Syrian horses intended for a regiment of dismounted

dragoons, and went to the Daud Pacha barracks (two

miles out of Stambonl), where the French cavalry

were quartered, for that purpose. I was turning

away, not at all satisfied with their appearance, as

they were too slight, and not of the required height

for my purpose, when I was accosted by an ofBcer of

hussars, who offered to show me a magnificent horse

that no one would buy on account of incurable vice.

He was a Saclaye Arab, bred near Blida in Algeria,

and bought by a colonel of cavalry for three thousand

francs in that country ; but since his arrival in

Turkey he had manifested such vicious habits that

his owner had never mounted him. He was said to

have killed one groom by jumping upon him after he

had knocked him down with his fore-feet, to have

bitten the chin off another, and to have half-eaten a

marechal-de-logis (sergeant-major), who had attempted

to ride him. I found him tied fore and aft by huge

cords, besides having his head fastened with a heavy

chain, in a small thatched mud hut about eight feet

by seven ; and even in this confined space no one

could approach him, for he lashed out with his heels,

and tried to seize any one going near him with his

teeth. He was a beautifully- shaped animal, with a

blood-like head, wide and deep chest, good shoulders,

and great length between the hi]D-bone and the hock.

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 195

but in woeful condition, for he liad not been groomed
for a couple of months. I saw at once that he would
be just the animal to suit me, if I could only gain
the mastery over him, so I went to his owner to
inquire the price.

'Although it was past mid-day, I found the gallant
Colonel still at breakfast, of which he cordially
invited me to partake ; and after having done justice
to his hospitality, I broached the subject. At first
he merely shrugged his shoulders in true Frenchman's
style, but finding I was really anxious to have the
animal, he told me that he would be glad to take
anything for him ; but that he did not like to dispose
of him to any of his friends, as he was worthless, and
people might accuse him of selling to another a horse
that he dared not mount himself. I soon quieted
his scruples on that score, and for the sum of six
hundred francs (barely the price of his freight from
Algeria), the chestnut was mine.

' It soon got wind in the French camp that an
English officer had bought le Diahle Rouge, as he
was commonly called, being a well-known desperate
character, who had proved to be more than a match
for all their maitres d'' equitation, and I had to stand
a good deal of badinage about my bargain ; some of
them asking me, in a rather supercilious manner,
when I was going to mount my new purchase, advis-
ing me when I did so to wear a couple of cuirasses,
taking care to place one so as to cover my " head's

o 2

196 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

antipodes," as that was the part where the poor
sergeant was principally bitten. As the Yankees
say, " My dander riz at thur chaff," and rather in-
considerately I told them that the nag had found its
master when I bought him, and that even if he had
thrown half the French army, and eaten them after-
wards, I should mount him on the morrow. " l^ous
verrons,^"^ was their reply, with sundry rather uncalled
for remarks relative to the foolhardiness of English-
men in general and myself in particular ; they ex-
pressed their belief that the equestrian performance
would end in my being killed comme ime mouche.

' I received an invitation to breakfast at the
cavalry mess the following morning, and being
determined to accomplish what I had undertaken,
I accepted it. " In for a penny in for a pound,"
thouo-ht I, as I went to examine the animal, not
exactly sure how I intended to begin, for Mr. Earey's
system had not then come out. He was in a vile
temper ; and notwithstanding I offered him food, and
endeavoured to coax him to allow me to pat his neck,
he put his ears back, drew up his lips, and attempted
to rush at me open-mouthed if I only made a motion
as if to approach him. I must confess that for a few
minutes I was quite at a nonplus, for there seemed
no probability of either getting a saddle on him or a
bridle in his mouth. At last a happy thought struck
me, and I went home to make preparations. I was ,
still weak, having hardly got over the effects of m^^

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 197

wounds ; still, after my tall talk, it would not do
to let the Frenchmen crow, and the next morning
saw me clad in leathers and boots, riding towards
the Daud Pacha Barracks, not very comfortable or
sanguine of success, but determined to try it on
coute qiie coute. A couple of Turkish soldiers, who
acted as my grooms, carried a couple of strong ropes,
a hoorgee, or Indian-felt saddle, and a bridle fitted
with an Arab bit, having a ring fastened to the end
of the curb, which goes over the lower jaw and gives
considerable additional purchase. Just before I sat
down to breakfast I sent my '' chaoush*' (Turkish
sergeant) to the commandant of the Turkish troops,
near at hand, with a request for a fatigue party of
twenty men, provided with spades and pickaxes, and
on their arrival I informed the company that I was
going to mount my new purchase, but that if any
gentleman would like to take precedence in the affair
I would be only too happy to cede him the honour.
"They were all backward in coming forward," as the
Game Chicken exclaimed when no one would try a
round with him, and two or three tried to dissuade
me from the attempt; but my mind was made up,
and after breakfast I went down to the stable, accom-
panied by a crowd of officers and men.

' I first directed the " Buono Johnnies " to take
off the roof, and then to break down the upper part
of the wall all round, until it was only four feet and
a half high, which operation was soon done. I then

198 THE HORSE AXD HIS RIDER

took two ropes, and throwing them lasso-fashion
over the horse's head, I fastened them right and left
to pickets strongly driven in the ground. When
this was done I threw a blanket over his eyes to
prevent him seeing what was going on, and then
passing a long strip of canvas over his loins and
pegging it down strongly on each side so as to pre-
vent his moving about, I quietly cut the hobbles
fastening his heels and fetlocks, and then made the
Turks fill up the whole stable with sand, covering
h.im up to the depth of nearly four feet. He was
extremely restive when the first few shovelfuls were
thrown in ; but finding his head securely fastened,
and perhaps feeling frightened at being blindfolded,
he remained tolerably passive, although he showed
his temper by continually grinding his teeth. When
I saw him so completely buried that there was no
chance of his being able to extricate himself, I took
the strip of canvas from off his loins and uncovered
his eyes, when he began to make violent efforts in
order to free himself, but it was all in vain ; like
Samson in the hands of the Philistines when his
head was shorn, his strength had dex^arted from
him, and after a few desperate struggles he became
exhausted, and lay still, bathed in perspiration.

' During his attempts to free himself I remained
by his side, caressing him whilst quiet, and rating
him when he showed temper ; and after some time
had elapsed he allowed me to handle his head as if

HORSE'TAMING AND BREAKING 199

lie had become more resigned to his fate. Round
his neck I fastened a collar formed of pieces of wood
tied together, so as to prevent him getting his head
round and laying hold of my legs when mounted, a
pleasant little pastime I heard he sometimes indulged
in. Then I put on the saddle and fastened the girths
and surcingle by scraping away the sand from under
his belly, after which, with a good deal of coaxing
and caressing, I managed to slip on the bridle, as
w^ell as a twitch over his nose, to use in case he asrain
became obstreperous, and arming myself with a foil
lent me by one of the ofl&cers present, no riding-whip
being at hand, I jumped upon his back, getting on
and off several times, to show that I had no in-
tention of hurting him. All was now ready, and I
gradually liberated his head from the cords which
fastened it on either side, caressing him as I did so,
and I was glad to see that he did not show any
wickedness further than putting back his ears.

' I again mounted him, and now gave orders to
the Turks to pick the walls down and clear away
the sand, which was soon done. It was an anxious
moment ; but at last he was free, and with a bound
like an antelope cleared the debris of the stable
and scoured across the plain amid the shouts of the
French soldiers and the ejaculations of the Turks.
Once firmly seated on his back, I did not care for
the issue, and felt at home in the matter. He tried
a few times to unseat me by rearing, plunging, and

200 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

buck-jumping ; but finding that he could not suc-
ceed, and only drew punishment upon himself, for I
gave him the spur pretty liberally, besides applying
the foil sharply to his flanks when he did not obey,
he gave up the contest, and I felt that I had obtained
the mastery over him.

'■ I gave him a brisk canter a few minutes just to
try his paces, and then pulled up and walked, as I
thought he went as if rather groggy from his late
violent exertions. I rode for a couple of hours
amongst the darl?: cypress-groves that overshadow
the Turkish cemeteries that extend for some miles out
of Stamboul, and he did not attempt to show any
temper ; so I rode him back to the French camp,
feeling rather proud of my conquest, for he was once
more rendered subservient to his master, man. Sub-
sequently, by dint of patience and kind treatment, he
forgot all his vice, and became extremely docile and
gentle, doing me good service, and ampl}^ repaying
the trouble I had taken with him.'

In Australia horses occasionally break away from
their owners and take to the bush, where they in-
crease and multiply. Of course as soon as it becomes
known that a ' mob ' of wild horses have established
themselves in any part of the Australian plains or
forests near a settlement, the settler endeavours to
catch them, not only for the sake of increasing his
stock, but because these wild ones decoy away the
tame ones. In the more settled parts wild horses

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 201

are rare, but in tlie wilder parts there are plenty of
wild and half-wild horses.

' From the mode of life the half-wild bush-horses
of Australia lead, unaccustomed to the hand of man,
and not dependent upon him for food, they learn to
look upon him with alarm and suspicion, and it re-
quires some manoeuvring to approach them without
creating a premature panic. On the approach of a
horseman one or two on the outside sound an alarm
and make off towards the rest, who thereupon rush
together and a general concentration takes place.
It is a fine sight to see a herd of these horses, of
every size, age, and colour, mustering in this manner
from hill and valley, as if by common consent.
Though physically very powerful, they assume no
threatening aspect ; their safety lies in their speed ;
and as they eye the suspicious object their meaning
is obvious. They say, as plainly as looks and ges-
tures can say, " Now, what do you want ? If you
are a stranger, pass on quietly ; but if you are for a
gallop we are quite ready to try of what mettle that
horse of vours is made." '

Occasionally the stallions become vicious, and
will not hesitate to attack a horseman if he ventures
too near their herd, laying back their ears and
charging him open-mouthed ; this, however, is of
rare occurrence. A more common thoucfh less
natural habit is that of destroying foals. This is a
ruinous vice and most unaccountable. Horses that

202 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

acquire it are removed at once from the pastures ;
but they cannot always be detected, the native dog
and other causes being often wrongfully suspected
in the first instance. I knew a stock-owner in one of
the southern districts who kept a numerous herd of
mares, amongst which he had latel}^ introduced a
promising horse ; some months afterwards he visited
his station, when he made the usual inquiries of his
stock-keeper concerning the state of his stud, and
was informed that, owing to a drought, they were all
rather thin, except the new horse, whose condition
was excellent ; ' and,' added the man, ' it's no
wonder, for he eats all the foals ; ' and, in short, it
.turned out, to the dismay of the proprietor, that,
although he had not actually eaten, yet he had
destroyed, all that he could lay hold of, which did
not except man3\

This extraordinary propensity is usually peculiar
to horses which have long been running at large;
but this is not always the case, for I remember a
remarkable instance of it in an animal that was
constantly worked. Ee was tethered in his owner's
paddock, when a man, leading a large Clydesdale mare
and her young foal, passed within reach of his rope ;
the horse, seeing the young foal within the length of
his tether, immediately seized him, threw him down
and would have killed him in a very short time, had it
not been for a lucky thought which struck the groom,
who, guessing from the violent efforts made by the

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 203

inare to break away that she would best defend her
offspring, slipped the halter from her head, when she
attacked the enemy with such fury that she beat him
off and saved her foal from the jaws of destruction.

The wild horses of America, both North and
South, are descended from those imported by the
first Spanish settlers on the continent. Having en-
joyed freedom for generations, they are exceedingly
wild, and fly from the sight of man ; but, being fine
animals and very hardy, they are much sought after,
and, when caught, soon become docile. These wild
horses are found in Mexico and the southern of the
United States, as well as in Chili, Peru, and the vast
plains of Paraguay and Patagonia, the reputed land
of giants.

In Chili the wild horses are captured and broken
in the following manner :

^A party of four or ^^^^ horsemen, with about
twenty dogs, were seen formed in an extended cres-
cent, driving the wild horses towards the river with
shouts. All were armed with the lasso, which was
swinging over their heads to be in readiness to entrap
the first that attempted to break through the gra-
dually contracting segment ; the dogs serving with
the riders to head the horses in. They continued to
advance, when suddenly a horse with furious speed
broke the line, passing near one of the horsemen, and
for a moment it was thought he had escaped ; the
next he was jerked round with a force that seemed

204 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

sufficient to have broken liis neck, the horseman
having, the moment the lasso was thrown, turned
round, and braced himself for the shock. The
captured horse now began to rear and plunge furi-
ously to effect his escape. After becoming somewhat
worn out, he was suffered to run, and again suddenly
checked. This was repeated several times, when
another plan was adopted. The dogs were set on
him, and off he went at full run in the direction of
another horseman, who threw the lasso to entangle
his legs, and precipitate him to the ground. The
dogs again roused him, when he again started, and
was in like manner brought to a stand ; after several
trials he became completely exhausted and subdued,
when he stood perfectly still, and allowed his captors
to lay hands upon him. The shouts of the men, the
barking of the dogs, and the scampering of the
horses, made the whole scene quite exciting.'

The following account is given by Mr. Darwin of
the method of horse-breaking used by the Guachos
of Chili and adjoining countries of South America :

' A troop of young horses is driven into the corral,
or large enclosure of stakes, and the door is shut.
We will suppose that one man alone has to catch and
mount a horse which as yet had never felt bridle or
saddle. I conceive, except by a Guacho, such a feat
would be utterly impracticable. The Guacho picks
out a full-grown colt, and, as the beast rushes round
the circus, he throws his lasso so as to catch both the

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 205

fore-legs ; instantly tlie horse rolls over with a heavy
shock, and, whilst struggling on the ground, the
Guacho, holding the lasso tight, makes a circle, so as
to catch one of the hind-legs just beneath the fetlock,
and draws it close to the two front ; he then hitches
the lasso, so that the three legs are bound together ;
then, sitting on the horse's neck, he fixes a strong
bridle without a bit to the lower jaw ; this he does
by passing a narrow thong through the eyeholes at
the end of the reins, and several times round both
jaw and tongue. The two front legs are now tied
closely together with a strong leather thong fastened
by a slip-knot, the lasso which bound the three legs
together being then loosed ; the horse then rises with
difficulty. The Guacho, now holding fast the bridle
fixed to the lower jaw, leads the horse outside the
corral. If a second man is present (otherwise the
trouble is much greater) he holds the animal's head
whilst the other puts on the horse-cloths and saddle,
and girths the whole together. During this opera-
tion the horse, from dread and astonishment at beino-
thus bound round the waist, throws himself over and
over again on the ground, and, till beaten, is unwill-
ing to rise. At last, when the saddling is finished,
the poor animal can hardly breathe from fear, and is
white with foam and sweat. The man now prepares
to mount by pressing heavily on the stirrup, so that
the horse may not lose its balance ; and at the
moment he throws his leg over the animal's back he

2o6 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

pulls tlie slip-knot, and the beast is free. The horse,
wild with dread, gives a few most violent bounds,
and then starts off at full gallop : when quite ex-
hausted, the man, by patience, brings him back to the
corral, where, reeking hot and scarcely alive, the poor
beast is let free.'

The Patagonian Indians pride themselves on their
horsemanship, and, generally speaking, believe them-
selves the finest equestrians and horse-breakers in
the world ; and they are very good ones. But occa-
sionally a stranger gets among them, and shows them
that the art of riding is not confined to their country.
Captain Chaworth Musters, E.N., spent a consider-
able time among the Patagonians, and being a first-
class horseman, volunteered to break one of their
horses. His account is this :

' Conde's stepfather, generally known as Paliki,
had a three-year-old iron gray, a very fine animal,
tied up ready to be mounted for the first time.
Paliki entered our toldo (tent) to borrow my girth,
and chaflPed me, asking me if I would venture to
'^domar" (break) him. Orkeke (the chief with whom
Mr. Musters lived) seconded the proposal, and having
stripped off mantle and boots, I proceeded to take
the lazo and reins, and mount. The instant he felt
the unwonted encumbrance he buck-jumped for
several yards, finally jumping into the middle of the
brook, and nearly losing his footing. I spurred him
out, and once on tlie bank he commenced to whirl

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 207

round and round like a teetotum. At last I got his
head straight, and after a few more buck-jumps, he
went off at racing speed, urged by whip and spur.
After a stretching gallop of three miles, I rode him
quietly back, now and again turning him to accustom
him to the bridle-thong, but not venturing to feel
his mouth, and then brought him up to the toldo
amidst the shouts of the spectators. Orkeke ex-
pressed great surprise, and wanted to know where I
learned to "domar"; and the gratified owner in-
sisted on presenting me with a piece of tobacco.'

A very rough kind of discipline was that to which
the Hon. C. A. Murray subjected an unbroken horse
on the North American prairies :

'My companion V 's Pawnee horse was

brought up to him by an Indian leading it with a
strong laryette ; but as soon as he approached the
animal snorted, reared, kicked, and showed every

sign of spite and anger. If Y came near it in

front, it would run at him with its teeth; and if
behind, lashed the air with a pair of very active

heels. Not being a pi*actised horseman, V could

not creep behind the animal and spring on it, or
perform any similar equestrian manoeuvre; and I,
having already mounted my roan, could see that the
Indians were beginning to make signs to each other,
and to laugh at our predicament.

' Knowing how dangerous it is among these
people to allow yourself to be a subject of ridicule, I

2c8 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

told V to ride my liorse, and I would see wliat

I could make of his wild beast. Accordiugly, I took
mv cudgel in my hand, and walked towards him in
front, telling the Indian by signs to hold on to the
laryette. As I approached he snuffed and snorted

as he had done to V ; and when he thought I

was near enough, jumped forward to seize me with
his teeth ; but I saluted him with a heavy blow on
the head with my cudgel, and, finding that it checked
him, I repeated the application. He appeared
stunned and stupefied for a moment, so I jumped on
him, and telling the Indian to let go, gave the word
to march. For the first few minutes I continued to
bela-bour my unruly steed with the cudgel, and ac-
companied every blow with a loud, rough ejaculation,
in order that he might learn to know my voice.
Before I had long treated his ribs to the same whole-
some discipline that his head had undergone he
appeared to be quite humbled and docile, so I rode
quietly on with the party ; and whenever he showed
symptoms of resuming his pranks, I had only to call
to him in the same tone as before, and he returned
to a sense of duty.'

The horses of the Indians in America, of the
Ouachos, and of various other uncivilised or only
half- civilised people, are unshod. Shoeing in Eng-
land is sometimes a difficult matter, so here is a
sketch of how it is, or was, accomplished in the
German duchy of Nassau.

HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 209

' In passing the shop of a blacksmith, who lived
opposite to the Golden Kettle, the manner in which
he tackled and shod a vicious horse always amused
me. On the outside wall of the house two rings
were firmly fixed, to one of which the head of the
jDafcient was lashed close to the ground ; the hind
foot to be shod, stretched out to the utmost extent
of the leg, was then secured to the other ring about
five feet high by a cord which passed through a
cloven hitch fixed to the root of the poor creature's
tail. The hind foot was consequently higher than
the head ; indeed, it was exalted, and pulled so
heavily at the tail that the animal seemed to be quite
anxious to keep his other foot on terra firma. With
one hoof in the heavens it did not suit him to kick ;
with his nose pointing to the infernal regions he
could not conveniently rear ; and as the devil himself
was apparently pulling at his tail, the horse at last
gave up the point, and quietly submitted to be
shod.'

But, after all, this chapter cannot be better ended
than by reiterating that kindness and firmness com-
bined are the best qualifications for a horse-breaker.

2IO THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTEE XY.

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP : IN THE RIDING SCHOOL
AND OUT OF IT.

When one lias learned to ride well it is astonishing
to find how much can be done on the back of a
.•good, well-broken horse. Tur23in's ride to York is
often spoken of as an instance of good horsemanship
and of endurance on the part of the animal, but
modern researches have shown pretty conclusively
that Turpin never did anything of the kind. An-
other man did accomplish that great ride, however,
and the fact is thus related in All the Year Hound,
under the title of ' Old Stories Ee-told ' : —

' The myth is founded on a real incident. In
1676 one Nicks, a robber haunting the road between
Chatham and London, to rob sailors returning to
town with their pay and Kentish traders on their
way to London, plundered a traveller at four o'clock
in the morning on the slope of Gadshill, the spot
immortalised by Shakespeare, and for ever associated
with Falstaff's delightful poltroonery. Being on a
blood mare, a splendid bay, Nicks determined to

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 21 1

prove an alihi in case of danger. He rode off
straight to Gravesend; there, detained an hour
waiting for a boat, he prudently baited his horse ;
then, crossing the water, he dashed across Essex,
full tilt to Chelmsford, rested half-an-hour and gave
his horse some balls. Then he mounted, and flashed
on to Bramborough, Booking, and Wetherfield, fast
across the downs to Cambridge, quick, by by-roads
and across country, he slipped past Godmanchester
and Huntingdon to Fenny Stratford, where he baited
the good mare and took a quick half-hour's sleep.
Then once more along the north road till the cathe-
dral grew up over the horizon, larger — larger, and
whiz — he darted through York Gate. In an instant
he had led the jaded mare into an inn stable,
snapped up some food, tossed off some generous life-
giving wine, and in a fresh dress — say, green velvet
and gold lace — strolled out gay and calm to the
Bowling-green, then full of company. The lord
mayor of the city happening to be there, Nicks
sauntered up to him and asked him the hour. " A
quarter to eight." " Your most obedient." When
Nicks was apprehended and tried for the Gadsliill
robbery, the prosecutor swore to the man, the place,
and the hour ; but Nicks brought the Lord Mayor
of York to prove an alihi, and the jury, disbelieving
in Sir Boyle Eoche's bird anywhere out of Ireland,
acquitted the resolute and sagacious thief.'

But our object in this chapter is to present the

p 2

212 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

reader with anecdotes of skilful riding rather than
endurance on the part of either man or horse.
Circus-riders acquire a particular kind of skill, fox-
hunters acquire another kind, and soldiers are drilled
into a certain dexterity of riding- quite different from
the other two.

Circus-riders have to begin early in life, and out
of the youngsters who make a beginning there are
few that get beyond mediocrity, and many of them
gradually sink till they become tent men or stable-
men. Of course, circus horses must be carefully
trained as well as their riders ; but any one who has
been to the ' Military Tournaments ' of the last two
or three years, and seen the ' Musical Eide ' of the
Life Guards, and other feats of horsemanship per-
formed by non-commissioned ofi&cers and men of our
eavalry, must admit there are some splendid riders
in the army. The way the horse would lie down
and form a bulwark for the soldier to fire his carbine
and perform other military exercises over its body
has always excited a great deal of interest. But
the Trench are not far behind our men in the
riding school, if they are in the open, as the follow-
ing description of some of their evolutions will
show :

'In 1865, when present at the opening of a
French horse-show, in the Palace of Industry in the
Champs Elysees, a troop of pupils of the cavalry
school of Saumur appeared in the arena, dressed in

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 213

tlie style of Louis XY. with small three-cornered
hats with ostrich plumes, green and gold coats,
white leather breeches, and black boots, mounted on
well-bred horses. They commenced by drawing up
in a line, at foot-pace passaging (moving sideways)
in front of the Emperor's box, each man as he passed
saluting by raising his plumed hat; the horses
keeping an exact line, every foot rising along the
line at the same moment — a performance I had
often seen attempted at professional hippodromes,
but never with horses so fine or men so admirably
trained. Other feats followed, the least successful
of which was the leaping of low hurdles. After this
very pretty exhibition, the troop retired, and pre-
sently returned, mounted on fat Norman horses,
with buckskin demi-piqued saddles, without stirrups,
their manes plaited with ribbons, their tails plaited
and tied on one side ; in a word, an exact reproduc-
tion of the horses and pupils of the Marquis of
Newcastle. After saluting the Emperor they pro-
ceeded to execute hallotades, caprioles, and other
tricks. In a ballotade the horse jumps off the
ground bending both knees and houghs, and showing
his hind shoes without kicking out. In the capriole
the horse does the same, and kicks out with both
hind-legs.'

Hunting-men of course have not, as a general
rule, been through military schools; nevertheless
they can, on occasion, make a very pretty display of

214 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

riding. Tliey at all events know how to stick to
their saddles, how to fall off when necessary, and
how to guide and hnmour a high-spirited horse in
the midst of a crowd. As an instance of what de-
termined hunting-men can do the following anecdote
is related :

' When in the year 1815 Blucher arrived in
London and drove at once to Carlton House, I was
one of a few out of an immense concourse of horse-
men who accompanied his carriage from Shooter's
Hill, riding on each side. Spite of all obstacles we
forced our way through the Horse Guards gates and
the troop of guardsmen ; in like manner through the
light cavalry and the gate at Carlton House, as well
as the jjosse of constables in the court3"ard, and
drove our horses up the flight of stone steps into
the saloon, though the guards, beef-eaters and con-
stables arrayed themselves against the irruption of
Cossacks, and actually came to the charge. The
Prince, however, in the noblest manner waved his
hand, and we were allowed to form a circle round
the Eegent while Blucher had the blue ribbon placed
on his shoulders and was assisted to rise by the
Prince in the most dignified manner. His Royal
Highness then slightly acknowledged our presence,
we backed to the door and got down the steps again
with only one accident, that arising from a horse,
which, on being urged forward, took a leap down
the whole flight of stairs.'

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 215

Turning from civilised Europe to the semi-
barbarous people of the world we find that :

' The Mexicans and South Americans are all
good riders, and they constantly perform feats of
horsemanship which would do credit to the Bedouins
themselves. It is a common amusement for them to
turn a horse at full speed upon a point designated
by a blanket ; they will charge a solid rampart with
the rapidity of lightning, and stop so suddenly that
the feet of the horse will exactly touch the wall.
For a small wager some have been known to rush at
a cliff, rear their horse's fore-legs in the air, so that
they would for a moment tremble over the dread
precipice, and then whirl round into safety. The
Arabs, to show Layard (the explorer of Mneveh)
their great estimation of his person, on one occa-
sion amused themselves by similar equestrian feats.
They would gallop off to a distance, put their lances
at rest, and then make deliberately for his head.
The compliment consisted in stopping the charger
suddenly short so that the spear-point would iiist
touch his face. He naively adds that his life would
have been sacrificed if the well-trained steeds had
made the slightest false step, or by any inequality
in the ground disappointed the expectations of their
masters. But the feat which shows most completely
the high training of the horse is that which Darwin
saw performed in Chili many years ago. The rider
held the reins loosely in his left hand and dashed at

2i6 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

full speed up to a post previously prepared, and
made the horse execute a complete wheel round it,
while, with his right arm extended at full length,
he kept one finger just touching the post. Having
completed the circuit, a demi-volte was executed, the
reins were transferred to the right hand, and with-
out pause the horse wheeled round the post in the
opposite direction, the rider keeping a finger of the
other hand in contact with it.'

The Oriental nations. Moors, Turks, Egyptians
and Persians, are good horsemen, and once on the
back of a horse, it is not easy for the animal to dis-
lodge his rider if he chances to be tolerably well
schooled in riding. His late Majesty George TV.,
when Prince of Wales, witnessed a specimen of
Egyptian horsemanship, which is thus described by
one who was present : —

' On the 10th of November, 1803, a grand enter-
tainment was given to his Excellency Elfi Bey, and a
number of other distinguished visitors, by his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales. The conversation
turning upon the very excellent equestrian powers of
the Mamelukes and Turks, the Prince said : "I have
now in my stud an Egyptian horse so wild and un-
governable that he will dismount the best horseman
in Elfi Bey's retinue." The Bey replied in Italian
to the Prince : " I shall gratify your Royal High-
ness's curiosity to-morrow." An aj)pointment con-
sequently took place next day at two o'clock in the

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 217

Prince of Wales's riding-house, Pall Mall, when the
Bey, accompanied by Colonel Moore, his interpreter,
and Mahomet Aga, his principal officer, a young man
of apparently great agility, entered the riding-house
where the Prince and his royal brothers waited,
attended by several noblemen, to witness the man-
agement of the horse, which never before could be
ridden by anybody. One of the Mameluke's saddles
being fixed by the grooms, the animal was led out of
the stable into the riding-house, in so rampant and
unmanageable a state that every one present con-
cluded that no one would ever attempt to mount him.
There was never a greater model of equine beauty ;
he was spotted like a leopard, and his eyes. were so
fiery and enraged as to indicate the greatest danger
to any one who dared to mount him. Being led
round the boundary, Mahomet Aga made a spring,
seized him by the reins, and in an instant vaulted on
the back of the animal, which, finding itself encum-
bered by a burden that it had never before felt, and
goaded by the tightness of the Egyptian saddle, gave
loose to his passion, and in the height of his ferocity
plunged, but in vain, in every direction. The Mame-
luke kept his seat during this outbreak of temper for
more than twenty minutes, to the utter astonishment
of the Prince and every beholder: at last the ap-
parently ungovernable animal was reduced to so
tame a state as to yield to the control of the rider.
The Prince expressed himself highly gratified, and

2i8 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

greatly complimented tlie officer on his equestrian
skill.'

The wild and semi-wild horses of Australia have
already been mentioned. Their riders, the stock-
keepers, are good horsemen, though perhaps not up
to the tricks just described. They are fine rough-
riders, however ; and they had need be, for chasing the
wild horses in Australia is a most excitino- and dan-
gerous pastime, as the following account proves. A
wild black stallion that had coaxed away several
mares from a sheep-run was to be captured, and this
was the way in which it was done :

^ Our search commenced in a heavily-timbered
flat, which gradually sloped down to a running
stream, swollen by recent rains, beyond which, in a
succession of rocky ridges, rose a range of mountains,
with stony inaccessible peaks, where the winter snow
long rests, the sides by turns bare and dark with
forests and matted brush, divided by deep ravines,
carved out by floods. It was at a spring in this flat
that Long Peter, while cutting out some wild honey
with a black, had caught sight of the wild horse.

' It had been arranged that Charley, whose nag
was a fast but not a lasting one, should take up the
running as soon as he came in sight of our prey and
keep as close to the best horse — the black stallion, if
possible — as he could- John was to follow, keeping
Charley just in sight and pushing to the left or right,
as occasion might require. Robert and Philip were

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 219

to take up the running as soon as the first two were
blown, and I was to act under their orders. Three
distinct cracks of a whip were to be a signal for
pushing on, while the same signal was to be con-
tinually repeated when the thicket closed the view,
in order that we might follow the right track. " And
mind, Barnard," said Eobert to me, " keep sight of
us, but don't press your horse in going over difficult
ground, trust all to him ; and if you get lost, give
him his head, and he will take vou to some stockman's
hut, as he knows every one on these mountains. And
now look to your girths, and take up your stirrups
two holes, for if we find here we shall have to ride
like the devil."

' Having thus prepared, we spread in a half-circle
and paced slowly through the forest, with our eyes
on the ground. Huge trunks of fallen trees in
various stages of decay, and deep pits where the
roots had been torn up, crossed our path in every
direction. But my horse twisted by, or leaped over,
these obstacles with a perfection of instinct that left
me nothing to do but preserve my seat, and keep a
look-out worthy of my apprenticeship as a bushman.

' Half-an-hour elapsed and no sign of anything,
when a low whistle from Philip brought us to a halt.
We pressed towards him. He had dismounted, and
pointed to the fresh tracks of several unshod horses,
among which that of a foal was visible. With signs
he bade us follow, and marched on foot, leading his

220 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

horse, with his eyes on the ground, noting everj sign.
At some richer herbage he stopped, passed his hand
over it, and gathered np a tuft of grass. " They are
close by," he whispered ; '• this is fresh croj^ped, and
damp from a horse's mouth." " Mount, then," said
Dawood; "they will be drinking at the Black Swan
water-hole ; give them a few moments to fill them-
selves, and then, Charley, don't spare your old horse ;
the black is worth a hundred of him. Let's make a
circuit beyond Paddy Eyan's pool, and then ride up
the bed of the creek."

' Charley nodded without answering, for he was
just letting out his girths a hole, thinking he had
hauled them too tight. For my part, I was red and
pale by turns ; my teeth chattered as they used to at
the side of the gorse covers.

' We started, reached the running water, slid into
it at one of the cattle-runs, and rode up, splash,
splash, in Indian file. There had been a good deal
of rain the week before, and the snow had melted on
the top of the mountain range, so that the stream,
which since I have seen scarcely sufiicient to chain
the water-holes with a thin thread, rose to our horses'
bellies, and rattled past drowning the sound of our
cavalcade, until, rounding a miniature promontory
our leader halted and held up his hand. Looking
through a clump of bush, we could see the black
stallion standing up to his knees in a pool, drinking,
snorting, and pawing the water into foam — a splendid

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 221

picture of beauty and strength. As he was turned
from us we could just see his small ears peeping
above a mane that descended on both sides his mas-
sive, arching neck, down to his knees, as from time
to time he shook it, and plaj^ed with two mares, a
gray and a chestnut, which drank and meekly admired
their lord from a little distance, while another black
mare moved slowly up a cattle j)ath towards the
mountains, with a yearling colt trotting at her heels.
Charley had to get clear from the spreading branches
of a fallen tree before he could be seen. The stallion
looked up as a bough cracked loudly, and Charley's
horse appeared within twenty yards ; then, turning,
he stared for a moment with his fierce, fiery eyes
through his wet, hanging locks, and with a shrill
neigh of warning that re-echoed from the mountains
like the voices of a hundred horses, the steed of
steeds dashed up the breast of a precipitous mountain
track, followed by the black mare, the others flying
in an opposite direction. At the same moment
Charley's spurs were dashed into his horse's sides,
his head turned up a shorter and easier exit from
the stream, and quick as thought he was at speed,
thundering and rolling down stones and gravel upon
us. More leisurely we followed; the hunter and the
hunted disappeared behind the first hill, to reappear
almost immediately on a narrow path worn by wild
cattle along the mountain side — a glorious, frightful
sight. But we neither saw nor felt any danger.

222 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' " Hold hard, and sit back, Armorer," was all I
heard from Eobert, as we rushed away, our ejes
fixed on the flying stallion. Scarcely did I notice
then the broken chasms, the huge boulders, the
narrow, crumbling rocks, over which, goat-like, my
horse made his way. Mad with excitement, on we
bounded, where a stumble would have been certain
death. At length, at a wave of the hand from
Eobert, turning to a more circuitous and safer path,
I lost sight of my companions, and, pulling on my
horse at a slow trot, I crowned the heights and came
npon a low level green gorge of galloping ground,
where I rejoined Paginton and Robert, and could see
Charley and John just disappearing round a bend.
Pressing on steadily over turf, level as a bowling
green, no doubt the bed of some primaeval water-
course, we again caught sight of the stallion, Char-
ley's mare at his quarters, seemingly almost within
reach of the glorious beast. Presently the gorge
began to close up ; a solid wall of rock, higher than
a cathedral tower, loomed before us. " Hurrah,
hurrah ! " I shouted. " He's pounded ! "

' " Hold your tongue ! " cried Eobert. '' You'll
need breath before night. There's a road to the
bottom that will make us sweat before we've done."
Presently we saw the dark shadow of a horse and
horseman appear for an instant on a crag above us,
as he emerged from a narrow defile, which under the
wall of solid rock wound from the gorge along which

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 22

we had been racing. As we turned into tlie defile
the smooth ground ceased, and we rattled over a
mere sheep-track against the breast of the mountain.
We saw the stallion disappearing far above us over
the crest of the mountain, and could hear Charley's
signal of distress. Philip pushed on, crying, " Save
your horse. Armorer, till you get to good ground."
And in a few minutes I was alone, but soon overtook
Charley, whose horse had fallen at a tree, and did
not seem much inclined to get up again. He waved
his whip, and I trotted slowly on, doubting if I should
see anything more of the stallion or the party. At
length I reached the top, and hearing a " coo-ey-ing,"
I made towards a cattle-track, and found Robert
waiting for me.

' " I see," said he, " that the black horse will
make for the flats below ; at the next turn we can see
for miles, so you will be sure to hit him off if your
Wallaby's wind holds out, and Paginton does not
manage him before he gets down, which I don't think
he will without your help."

' This speech gave me new heart. I took a pull
at my little horse, touched him with the spur, and
found him strong and full of pace. At length we
crowned the crest of the dividing range, and paused
for a moment before descending the steep gulf that
offered the only path downwards. From below rose
through the silent air, from time to time, the distant
reports of the stock-whips, re-echoing from the

224 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

basalt rocks louder and louder, and then dying
away.

'These sounds, and the sight of the boundless
plain, half-maddened me. I dashed down the steep
watercourse, my horse bounding like a deer from
boulder to boulder. " On ! " I cried, " on, Eob ! "
" Steady, steady ! " shouted my Australian friend, in
a clear, calm voice of command, " or you'll kill your
horse if you don't break your neck.' We are sure of
him now, if you will only save up your impatience a
little longer. Pull up, Barnard, this moment, and
follow me." There was no disobeying common-sense
and command together. He then took the lead, and
leaning back on the saddle till my head nearly
touched the horse's counter, leaving the reins loose,
leaping, standing, now walking, now gently trotting,
I followed the best bushman in the colony.

' Robert's consummate bushmanship led him the
true course, even when we were going fastest ; every
cattle-track was familiar to him. At length we
cleared the broken path, and from a sort of green
plateau caught another glimpse of the plain below.

' '' Now," said Robert, " you can't miss your way;
keep to the left a little — I'll to the right, and we
shall have him between us, for Phil and John must
be beat by this time. Your path is short and easy,
give your horse a moment to wind, then don't spare
him." So saying, and with a wave of his whip, he
turned sliort to the right, and dashed down towards

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 225

the plain. Then I gave m j nag his head, and started
once more. Before I had cantered a hundred yards
Wallaby turned sharply, pushed through some thick
brushwood, tearing one leg of my trousers to tatters,
find came upon a cattle-track which soon brought me
to a road of nature's making. I then reached a belt
of forest that divided me from the plain, through
which my horse brought me on the glorious grassy
desert just in time to see in the horizon Philip
and John waving their hats to Eobert, who about a
quarter of a mile on my right was taking up the
running.

' " Hurrah, hurrah ! "

' " Yoicks ! Tally-ho ! Hark forward, away ! "
Standing up in my stirrups, my eyes fixed upon
the speck which instinct told me was our chase, I
bounded along over the sward. Yery soon the black
stallion showed nearer and nearer ; he still made a
good fight, and struggled bravely, but at three-
quarter speed I gained on him at every stride. IN'ow,
sure of my prey, I gave vent to my pent-up feelings.
I screamed, shouted, and waved my cap as though I
had been cheering on a pack of hounds, running in
view.

' Robert, sparing neither whip nor spur, ^vas
seeking to weary him out, by heading him again and
again ; but his own steed was done, and he beckoned
me on just as the good chestnut stumbled and rolled
over like a log. "All right," cried he, standing

Q

226 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

over liis beaten liorse, " push, on, Barnard ; now's
your time." So I left him. In five minutes I found
I could ride round the wild horse, so I pressed on
him constantly. At every wave of my whip he
doubled like a beaten hare, but showed his teeth
when I headed him, and glared with fiery eyes that
showed it would not be safe to come to close quar-
ters. Thus pressing and doubling we carried on for
some miles, until the stallion's pace became a trot,
and sometimes a walk, but still, whenever I n eared
him, he showed dangerous fight. "While doubting
how to end the conflict, I saw something looming in
the distance that proved to be a lot of tame stock
horses driven by a boy towards a neighbouring
station. The boy — a true cornstalk — saw how the
game stood, pushed on to join me, and together,
one on each side, we dashed, shouting and lashing
at the stallion. His tail shivering, his sides heaving
lie vainly tried to escape a fresh horse and rider ;
wherever he bounded we followed, and before he
knew where he was, had him entangled in the mob
of tame ones. This done, I shouted " Victory ! " —
young Cornstalk som.ething more homely and ener-
getic— and then, flogging, hurrying, trampling in a
cloud of dust, we drove the lot pell-mell into a stock-
yard. The slip rails were closed in an instant, and
the black stallion, after one fierce, despairing leap at
the lofty paling, sank exhausted to the ground.

FEATS OF HORSEMANSHIP 227

'I shall not spin out this adventure by telling
how we tamed the wild stallion, and drove in both
mares and cattle and made good profit by the trans-
action. It is enough to say that this rubbed off all
the remains of my nen) chummery ; from that time
I was received as a bushman.'

Q 2

228 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTEE XYI.

HORSE DEALING.

HoESE dealing is supposed to be a business in which
no mercy is shown to the greenhorn. Experience
purchased dearly is of greater value than that which
is otherwise acquired, and certainly some horse-
dealers do make their customers pay through the
nose for ascertaining the value of a horse. Of course
there are honest dealers to be found. Some of the
London men do so much business that it would not
pay them to be guilty of anything like trickery or
dishonesty, but the wanderers who journey from
fair to fair, and from town to town, with sti'ings of
*■ screws,' are oftentimes not quite so particular, and
will resort to any dodge to get the highest j)ossible
price for the worst kind of animal. Therefore, a man
who inwardly feels that he is not a thorough judge
of horseflesh should always purchase of a dealer of
good standing, with a well-known place of business.

'In purchasing of a regular dealer, a customer
must be prepared for a little close raillery. The only
way to receive it is with good humour, and if genius

HORSE DEALING 229

permits, with a repartee that may throw back the
laugh.

' One day, at a dealer's, some other gentlemen
were looking at the stables, and two of them at the
very horse I was minutely measuring. They ap-
peared to be a couple of schoolboys just escaped from
Eton, or perhaps freshmen who had spent a term at
Cambridge. The dealer was obviously speculating
on a purchaser in one of these youths, and seemed
nettled at my narrow scrutiny, which threatened to
disappoint his designs.

' " Tom," said he to his ostler, " go to the tailor
and borrow his measure and shears for the gentle-
man."

' '^ And stop at the saddler's on the way, Tom, to
buy a halter for your master," I added.

' The retort told, coarse and trite as it was, and I
was allowed to finish my scrutiny in peace.' ^

One good maxim in purchasing a horse is not to
expect too much for your money.

' We believe it was Lord Barrymore who, at New-
market, among a vast crowd of the sporting world,
mounted himself on a chair, and having made a
signal for silence, said aloud :

i a Who wants a horse that can gallop) twenty
miles an hour, trot seventeen, and walk six ? "

' Of course vociferations of " I do, I do," were

' Sir G. Stephens — Adcciitnrcs of a Gentleman in Search of a
Horse.

230 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

not wanting-, to wliicli the facetious nobleman re-
plied :

' " Well, gentlemen, when I meet with such a one
I will let you know." ' ^

The greenhorn had better always take with him
a friend experienced in horseflesh to see whether the
animal he intends purchasing has any blemish.

A veterinary surgeon's oi3inion as to soundness
of wind and limb should also be obtained, as well as
a warranty from the vendor that the animal sold is
sound and free from vice ; but even these precautions
sometimes are unavailing, for it occasionally happens
that dealers themselves are not always familiar with
their horses' defects.

' I once bought one in the country ; I rode him
to town — only a few miles, and he fell ; he was not
blemished, and I returned him. The man would not
believe my story ; he fancied, as they often pretend,
thaf I returned him from caprice, and was dissatisfied.
I off'ered to keep the horse on one condition — that
he should ride with me a mile over the stones at
my pace ; if he did not stumble I would have him.
He readily assented ; we mounted, and set off at a
moderate trot.

' " There never was a surer-footed horse in
England — stones or sward "

' But scarcely were the words out of his mouth
before the animal gave him the lie direct, blemished

* Blaine's Encyclojycpdia of Itnral Sjwrts.

HORSE DEALING 231

his own knees irretrievably, and as by way of appro-
priate rebuke caused his rider ahnost to bite his
tongue off in the fall ! The horse had a running
thrush.' 1

The following anecdote, related by the writer just
quoted, will show that public sales are dangerous
places for sellers as well as for buyers. 'A learned
barrister, w^ell known in the literary world for his
critical acumen, sent his horse to the Bazaar for sale
by auction. Being well aware of the tricks of such
markets, he attended the sale himself, and carefully
noted the number of his lot in his pocket-book. He
felt not a little pleased at the horse's spirited entree
when ushered up the ride, and still more gratified
at the auctioneer's ingenuity in painting his merits,
though utterly at a loss to guess where the deuce he
had learnt them. He had purchased the animal a
week before for forty guineas, and hitherto had not
discovered a single redeeming quality to compensate
for fifty faults. The biddings were slack however,
malgre the auctioneer. Five pounds — five ten — six
pounds — reluctantly dropped at long intervals. " This
will ne\er do," thought the learned gentleman, and
by way of stimulating competition, he jumped at
once to thirty guineas. The knowing ones stared,
and promptly took the hint : in less than a minute
the lot was knocked down to him at fifty guineas.
He regretted out-standing his market, but consoled

* Stephen — Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of a Horse.

232 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

himself with the comfortable reflection that, at least,
he had learnt his horse's value, and had not been
taken in by the dealer.

' " By your leave — make way there — stand aside^
gen'l'm'n," and two or three rough salutations of
sticks, whips, and voices warned him of the rapid
approach of the next lot. The learned counsel
awoke from his reverie — rubbed his eyes — adjusted
his glasses — gaped, and stared, and gaped again at
the new-comer with petrifying suspicion. He turned
with fumbling agitation to his pocket-book, and
found that, mistaking the lot, he had puffed and
purchased his neighbour's horse !

' Having two worthless animals thus unexpectedly
thrown upon his hands, he ventured no more on
puffing, but allowed his own to go at its just price,,
which proved exactly enough to buy him a new wig
for the circuit.' ^

If the barrister had been as learned in the rigs,
of the horse -mart as he doubtless was in the law,
he would probably not have made such a mistake*
However, if he is still alive he may console himself
with the reflection, that many others have made
equally grave mistakes. The following storj^ shows,
that dealers do not alwavs make the best market.
' I remember some years ago, one charming morn-
ing, we met at a favourite cover in the best part of

' Stephens — Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of a Horse.

HORSE DEALING 233

our country. Tom Duckett was then on a splendid
dark-brown horse which he had purchased some
short time back out of some racing stables. He was
too slow to become a plater. The horse had been
seen before in one or two remarkably good things ;
and he looked so well on this particular day, that he
attracted the attention of a gentleman who under-
stood to the full the value of blood. A fox was
soon halloed away, and the first ten minutes gave
no cause of complaint to the lovers of pace : there
was scarcely time to think, much less to talk, and
the only things that were clearly manifest were the
black skirts of Tom Duckett' s coat and the dark-
brown horse's quarters in front all the way. Under
the circumstances of the case, it is not extraordinary
that the hounds should have over-run the scent, and
the natural consequence, a slight check, ensued.

' " Three hundred, Mr. Duckett, for the brown
horse," said an eager customer, afraid of being too
late in the market. " Three hundred, and you may
ride my second horse if you can get him, and send
the brown horse home by my groom at once."

' " Thank you, my lord, for the ofPer ; but we
shall be down to the Styx in five minutes, and if he
jumps it I shall want more than that for him."

* The Styx is a brook not so easily crossed as its
namesake. Charon himself, on a thoroughbred one,
would have looked twice at it and turned awaj-.
Indeed I never saw anyone jump it that did look at

234 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

it; and I have seen it full of performers of the
liisrliest character that did not. Tom, however, had
a not undeserved opinion of his horse's merits, and
in a few minutes more he had a chance of pntting
them to the test. Down thej came ; and as the
leading hounds dragged their sterns after them up
the bank, one man, and one alone, about a hundred
yards to the right of them, was seen to be in the
right field; fonr were in the water a little to the
left, one on the top of Old Melody, and the rest
nowhere. Of course someone knew of a ford or a
bridge, and at the end of another twenty minutes
they caught the hounds ; when the first thing that
was seen worth notice, was poor Tom Duckett, lead-
ing the brown horse by the bridle, badly staked at
the very last fence before the hill. The brown horse
died that night, and poor Tom was a bankrupt within
twelve months from that day.' ^

Great fluctuation often happens in the price of
the same animal in a few months, which does not
arise from any diminution of his intrinsic value,
but depends on the situation in which he is placed
from being offered to different classes of persons.

'I went to see,' says a well-known sporting
writer, ' a stud of horses for sale at Tattersall's : I
perceived that one horse among the stud seemed to
attract very great attention, and this I thought was

^ Chas. Clarke — Crumls from a Siiorismaii' 8 Table.

HORSE DEALING 235

easily accounted for, from his being one of tlie finest
horses I think I ever saw. But I found another
cause for this general attraction, when I heard he
was not only beyond competition the widest jumper
in the stud, but known to be the widest brook, or
drain-jumper in Lincolnshire, where he had been
hunted. He was put up with the rest, and I bought
him at a hundred guineas. He was no sooner
knocked down to me than I felt I had done wrong.
Several others of the same stud were sold at far
higher prices, not one of which could any way be
compared with him as to looks, size, or breeding ;
in short, I felt certain he was too cheap to be good.
A couple of guineas to the head groom produced no
explanation, but that he was -a very good horse, the
fastest in the stud, and the biggest jumper in Lin-
colnshire. I hunted him; found him fast enough
to go at his ease up to any hounds with any scent ;
nothing too big for him in his stride, and a mistake
seemed impossible, so it was anything he chose to
try; but he seemed to think it beneath his dignity
to jump at any ordinary fence, and I should say,
during three times I rode him with hounds, he was
on his nose with me twenty times. He had another
pleasing propensity ; if there were twenty little
water-drains in the field, I would back him to put
his foot in every one of them. I was lucky enough,
however, to find a farmer who piqued himself on
being the boldest rider in the country where I was

236 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

liiinting, and had on more than one occasion pounded
the whole field. It struck me the widest jumper in
all Lincolnshire and my friend the dauntless farmer
would be well matched; it ended in my allowing
him to try ' Lincoln ' at a brook that had been con-
sidered in the hunt as impassable without a boat or
taking a cold bath. The price was agreed upon if
the horse did it : he did it and to spare. I drew
50/., taking in exchange decidedly one of the
cleverest hunters I ever had, and eventually sold
him at a hundred and fifty, when fourteen years

old.'i

And here is another story, showing how the price

of a horse may make a vast rise in a short time.

' Some summers ago, a horse found its way into the

stable of a celebrated dealer in Piccadilly, that, like

a young lady of great beauty and fortune on her

first appearance at Court, created quite a sensation

amongst a certain set, known for their exclusive

notions respecting women and horses. The West

End was in a state of excitement. Four hundred

pounds had been ofPered to, and refused by, this

sj)irited dealer in hard bargains, who himself had

given three hundred for him. The fame of the nag

sj)read even beyond Bow Bells, and a brother dealer

from the neighbourhood of Eomford found his business

stand still — nobody would come to his yard till the

' Harrj' Hieover — Stable Talk and Tahle Talk.

HORSE DEALING 237

wonder was disposed of. Eomford even caught the
mania, and was determined to have a peep at the
phenomenon, and quietly walked one fine morning
into the mews where the beauty was preserved.
The nag was paraded, and then the following short
colloquy passed : — " There, Eomford, is not he a top-
sawyer ? You complain I have not bought any horses
of you lately ; bring such a sort as that and I'll buy
a bundled." Romford picked up his ash-plant,
slapped it smartly on his boot-top, and walking
quietly out of the yard by his friend's side, said:
^' Well, Piccadilly, 'tis a nice horse and he looks fresh
and well, and I bought him eight months ago at
Hovv^den fair at thirty-five sovereigns." Such was
the fact.' 1

Smartness in horse dealing is not confined to
Great Britain. The Yankees are awfully ' cute ' at
making a bargain. The following is a picture of an
American horse-dealer :

' Just before the snow and ice disappeared, a
Yankee field officer, a horse-dealer by vocation, one
Major Slocombe, arrived in our garrison (Quebec)
from the States. He brought with him a strino- of
horses, one or two of which, according to the major's
account, would have distanced Eclipse. Give me an
American horse-dealer for hyperbole and gag; he
is the boy for metaphor. A friend of mine. Captain

' " Ringwood," in Sporting Magazine, February 1834.

238 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

J of the Engineers, and myself liad agreed to

purchase a good cocktail that could gallop a little,
with the intention of running him in the spring, as
it had been determined upon to establish something
in the shape of garrison races as soon as the weather
would permit. With this object in view we repaired
to the livery-stables, where " the Major " had put up
his batch of thoroughbreds. The loquacious owner
of this wonderful batch of high-bred cattle was in
the yard, smoking his Havannah, whip in hand, and
looking as ' cute ' as a thorough Kentuckian can look.
After enumerating the several estimable qualities of
every animal in the stud, he inquired what sort of a
'^ crittur " we wanted. Upon being informed that
we were in quest of a nag " wot could get over the
ground rather smartish," he replied :

' " ISTow, gentlemen, I'll be candid with you —
(mark the Yankee's candour, I i^ray you, good
reader) — if you want a slow horse he won't suit you,
for may I go to everlastin' smash if he ain't the
fastest galloper I ever clapt my eyes on — that 'ere
chestnut I mean, gentlemen — him as the boy's a lead-
ing up and down. May I be catamawpously chawed
iq) if there's his ekal in all Canada. You all know God
Almighty was employed six days a makin' the world ;
well, and on the seventh he put on that horse's fore-
hand. I say, you Hiram, run him down, and let the
British officer see what a genoowine American horse
is. He arn't got no vishiousness in him. Lord

HORSE DEALING 2^9

love ye ! he's as spry as a fiddler and as pleasant
as a tea-party. He's dirt cheap at four hundred
dollars."

' As we did not quite agree with our American
friend as to this fact, we took leave to express our
dissent, the surest and most comprehensive method
being to offer half the money. After a good deal of
swearing, lying, higgling and bargaining, the horse
was ours for two hundred and fifty dollars ; and
he did in part deserve the high eulogiums Major
Slocombe passed upon him; he was a good honest
horse, and ran gamely and well.' ^

There is some difference between selling and
giving a horse. The old proverb says you should not
look a gift horse in the mouth ; but among certain
American Indians it seems the custom for the giver
of a horse to give the recipient a good thrashing.

'When General Street and I arrived at Kee-o-
kuk's village, we were just in time to see an amusing
scene in the prairie a little back of his village. The
" Foxes " were making up a war party to go against
the " Sioux," and had not suitable horses enough by
twenty, had sent word to the " Sacs " the day before,
according to ancient custom, that they were coming
on that day at a certain time to smoJce that number
of horses, and they must not fail to have them ready.
On that day and at that hour the twenty young men

' The Sjjortitig Magazine, 1843.

2 40 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

who were beg^^ars for horses were on the spot, and
seated themselves on the ground in a circle, where
they went to smoking. The villagers flocked around
them in a dense crowd, and soon after there appeared
on the prairie at half-a-mile distance, an equal number
of young men of the " Sac " tribe, who had agreed
to give each a horse, and who were then galloping
around them at full speed, and gradually, as they
went around in a circuit, coming nearer to the centre
until they were at last close to the ring of young
fellows seated on the ground. Whilst dashing about
thus, each one with a heavy whip in his hand, as
he came within reach of the group on the ground,
selected the one to whom he intended to present his
horse ; and as he passed gave him the most tre-
mendous cut with his lash over the naked shoulders ;
and as he darted around again, he plied the whip as
before, and again and again, with a violent crack,
until the blood could be seen trickling over his naked
shoulders ; upon which he instantly dismounted, and
placed the bridle and whip in his hand, saying :
" Here, you are a beggar ; I present you a horse, but
you will carry my mark on your back." In this
manner they were all in a little time " whipped up,"
and each had a good horse to ride home and take
into battle. His necessity was such that he could
afford to take the stripes and the scars as the
price of the horse, and the giver could afford to
make the present for the satisfaction of putting

nORSE DEALING ±41

his mark on tlie other, and of boasting of his
liberality.' *

How many English gentlemen would care to re-
ceive a horse, with the accompanying castigation ;
the stripes being well laid on by a powerful groom,
armed with a stout whalebone whip ?

^ George Catlia— JVorth Amencan Indians.

R

2 42 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER XYII.

STORIES OF DEALERS AKD DUPES.

Some rare stories are told of the way in wliich dealers
cheat their customers. Here are a few of them :

'My first horse-dealing adventure ^Yas -with a
Quaker, and I approached the owner of the first
object of my speculation with much confidence. It
was a well-bred, gay little gelding, full of life and
■spirit; I approved and purchased him. Friend Joseph
was very precise with me. " There is the horse,
friend ; my price is thirty guineas."

' " Will you allow me to try him, sir? "

' '' Thou art a stranger to me, friend ; thou mayst
injure the animal, and we shall not know who is in
fault."

' " Will you warrant him, sir ? "

' " He has always carried me well, friend ; I
believe him to be sound, but few men are agreed
upon what soundness is."

^ " Is thirty guineas xh.^ lowest price ? "

' '' I have asked thee what I believe to be his just
value, and I shall take no less."

STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES 243

^ I paid my money, and was well pleased witli my
purchase for three days, and then discovered, what a
very little reflection might have told me at firsfc, that
the Quaker being two stone lighter than myself and
presumably a quiet rider, a horse that would carry
him safely would in less than a week break his own
knees and endanger my neck. He was a good horse,
thouo'h not fit for me.'

In this case the Quaker certainly cannot be called
a cheat, but Sir G. Stephens relates another deal in
which he was regularly taken in and done for :

' I set off/ he says, ' to examine " a sweet mare "
with a pedigree as long as her tail. She belonged
to " a gentleman," and I was determined to see my
" gentleman." A sort of nondescript, half-gentleman,
half -jockey, but with the word rogue as legibly writ-
ten on his face as if it had been tattooed there, came
forward. " Bought her for breeding, sir ; won't do ;
dropped three fillies running. Sweetest creature that
ever was crossed, but she won't breed a colt, and she
must go."

' " Do you warrant her, sir? "

' " Warrant her ? To be sure ! I'll warrant her
to fly with you."

' " Do you warrant her sound? "

* " Tickleback sound ! Why, she is as well known
at Tattersall's as myself."

'I was by no means satisfied, but in decency I
could press the point no further ; I liked her looks,

K 2

244 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

and thought the best policy was to assume that his
intentions were good. I told him I would send a
cheque by my servant, and would trouble him to send
back a receipt, with the usual warranty, and left
him. In a couple of hours John brought home the
mare and the receipt. " How does she go, John ? '
" Pretty well, sir." I saw the rascal was drunk, and
asked him for the receipt. He fumbled first in this
pocket and then in the other, and at last produced an
unstamped acknowledgment for the money, but not
a word of wai'ranty ! The next morning, when sober,
lie owned that " the gentleman " had given him half
a crown, and the " gentleman's groom" had helped
him to spend it ! The rest was easily explained :
" The gentleman " was gone to Melton or Newmarket
instead of Tattersall's — but the mare went there,
and was certainly as well known as I could wish. It
was the only word of truth the fellow had spoken.
She had slipped her hip in foaling, and had been sold
three times in three months at an average price of
ten pounds. I only lost twenty by her, and thought
myself lucky.'

With rare perseverance Sir George tried yet
again, but it was a long time before he could find one
to suit his fancy. At length he found one that he
thought would do, and it certainly did — a consider-
able amount of damage before he managed to get rid
of it. Sir George says :

' A chestnut horse was advertised for sale at some

STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES 245

iivery stables of the first respectability. He was
" hond fide the j)roperty of a gentleman, and parted
-with for no fault." The advertisement ended here,
and the absence of all the usual encomiums per-
suaded me that the description was true. My eye
does not often deceive me as to the external preten-
sions of a horse ; the animal in question was beau-
tiful, and his action good. I inspected and handled
him very minutely; I picked up everj^ foot, passed
my hand down every leg, and found neither fault nor
blemish. I mounted him, and rode him for an hour ;
I was satisfied, and bought him, taking care to obtain
my warranty myself. For two whole days he did
justice to his owner's representations.

' On the third day I was too much occupied to
ride, but the following morning I hurried to the
stables, resolved to make up for lost time. No sooner
was my foot in the stirrup than, with the cunning of
a monkey, he raised his near hind fcot, and shoved
the stirrup-iron away. He repeated this fun two or
three times. I tried on the off side, but he was as
-clever there.

' " Off with the saddle, John ; we'll try him with-
out," but the sly rogue was up to me ; and crouched
like a camel.

' "Pick up his fore-leg, John." ISTor would that
do ; he reared, broke away from two men who
were helping, and galloped up the ride. A full hour
was spent by me, and every man in the yard, to get

246 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

across IiIdi, but all in vain ; defeated and mortified, I
returned home, leaving directions to sell him. My
warranty did not extend to safety in mounting. I had
not been home an hour before word was brought that
he had kicked an ostler and laid him up ! I was of
course bound to indemnify, as well as cure, the suf-
ferer ; and sent the savage brute to Osborn's. The
next morning a second groom received a kick that
cost me a guinea. I sent the beast to the hammer
as a vicious horse. He was sold for more than he
cost, but not until he had sent me a third claimant
for compensation ! It was a dealer that bought him,
and he certainly found a discipline to cure his vice.
He killed him in less than a month.

' I was curious to know the reason of his extreme
docility for the first three days after I had him. By
a fee to some of the understrappers at the stables I
soon arrived at the truth. He had been tied up to
the rack both day and night for a week before, and
never allowed to sleep except standing ! — enough to
tame a tiger, it must be confessed. I lost nothing
by him, however, and I gained both a specific for a
vicious horse and a wholesome apprehension of
gentlemen.' ^

Frenchmen are not generally credited with much
knowledge of horseflesh, and the following account
of the manner in which an Englishman sold a horse —

' Sir G. Stephens — Adi-ejitnrcs in Search of a Horse.

STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES 247

and the Frenchman who bought it, by way of re-
venge— is amusing :

' Riding one evening after dark along the road
from Calais to Dunkerque on a favourite English
horse, down he dropped as if he had been shot, send-
ing me over his ears en avant courrier. This mishap
had arisen from my (Englishman-like) taking the side
of the pave in preference to the middle of the route.
A drain had been left open, of about two feet deep,
into which my horse had gone. He was up in a
moment ; I remounted, and what I said about French
highroads was bad enough then, but when I examined
my horse's knees by the first light I came to, and
found two concavities made in them something the
size of a teacup, I fear what I said was ten times
worse. I really now thought that from this trap
having been left open, and holding myself a loser of
about thirty pounds each knee, some redress would
be afforded me. I found, however, that redress,
something like promotion or reward for services, was
likely to be some time in coming, for I was first told
I had no business riding where I did ; and, secondly,
from whom was the redress to come ? Before this
could be got at it was necessary to find who made
the drain, and it behoved me to find that out. " Did
Monsieur know who it was ? " Of course Monsieur
did not. I saw my chance was out, but to render
assurance doubly sure out came again the infernal
^'11 faut quHl Vapprenne done,''

248 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

' The prayers of the wicked are sometimes heard :
I prayed for a chance to return all favours to Monsieur

le , and it came. I learned that his lady had

taken a mania for riding en Amazon^ and that her
lord and master would give any price for a perfectly
broke English horse accustomed to carry a lady.

' Just before I left England a very beautiful
horse, that had been carrying a friend of my wife's,
had unfortunately gone broken-winded, so much so as
to be useless. I started my groom off for this said
horse, and he brought him back in blooming condi-
tion, and looking worth as much as any lady's horse
could be, and only six years old. I got the daughter
of a friend of mine, a girl nine years of age, to ride
him about the town, taking care he should be seen
by the lady and her good lord. The beauty and
docility of the horse in carrying a mere child could
not be resisted, so a note arrived filled with apologies
for asking if I would sell '' le beau cheval," in which
case I was begged to name a price, and to pass my
word that he was as docile as he appeared. Mon-
sieur would only ask leave for a friend to look at
him in the stable, who would bring the " argent
comptant." I replied that I ivould sell the horse,
that, on my honour, he was " doux comme un
agneau," a hundred and fifty napoleons his price, and
that Monsieur's friend was quite welcome to see him,
assuring Monsieur '^de ma parfaite consideration,"
&c. &c. Yes, thinks I to myself, you are welcome-

STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES 249

to ma parfaite consideration, but I suspect you will
not get much consideration for your hundred and
fifty. I have the '■' 11 faitt qu^il rapprenne'^ ivesh.
in my memory — cJiacun a son tour ! I have not
spent so much money about horses without being
able to make a broken-winded one fit to be examined
by your friend.

' The "ami^" came; the ^^ valet cfecurie'^ came; the
saddle and bridle (such a saddle ! — a kind of "demi-
pique " resuscitated), the bridle half red velvet and
silver buckles, came — no matter; the money came.
Out of kindness to the horse, I desired the French
groom not to give him any cold water that day ;
those initiated in such matters will know why ; the
groom did not. II faut quHl Vapprenne, thinks I.
The groom mounted, rode off " en dragon,'' stiff as a
poker. Monsieur I'ami walking by his side, and, as I
saw. Frenchman-like, stopping ten times in the street
to show lebeau cheval to some friend. Tout a Vheure,
tout a Vheure, thought I.

' The next evening the friend waited on me,
begging I would go with him to look at the horse.
" Volontiers, Monsieur,'' and away we went. I found
him, of course, blowing away like a blacksmith's
bellows. What was de mattere? vas de hors indis-
pose? '' Eh, no7i;" Monsieur says " i7 est poussif;
voila tout." '^Poussif, poussifl" cries Monsieur le

■ . ''Sacre! — do I hear you right? you say de

hors is what you call broke in de wind — do I hear

250 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

dat ? " " Yes," I said, " you do ; " and, thinks I to
myself, Madame will hear it too occasionally if she
rides him. Monsieur assured me he had no idea of
the horse being so when he bought him. I freely
expressed my conviction that this was correct. Yat
vas he to do? " Ce n'estiocts mon affaire cela,'^ said I.

' Doubtless my reader has seen two Frenchmen in
a passion : but to see two most passionate ones in a
regular white-heat rage is really a treat. Now, says
I, for the coup-de-theatre. I reminded Monsieur of
the broken-knee decision ; he recognised me in a
moment. " Now, Monsieur," says I, " what have
you got to say ? You wanted im beau cheval — you
have him; you wanted a docile one — you have that
also ; I said nothing about his being sound : you
have no fault to find with me." " Mais mille
tonnerres ! I no vant de horse broke in de vind, dat
go puff, puff, all de day long." " C'est possible," says
I, " mats cela m'est j)ai'faitem8nt indifferent. You
trusted to your friend's judgment." " Bote my friend
have no judgment for de horse." " II faut. Mon-
sieur," said I, making my bow, " quHl Vapjprenne
done:' ' 1

When one horse-dealer deliberately lays himself
out to get the better of another in a bargain there
is sometimes fun for the spectators ; as a rule the
horse-dealer's tongue is quite as quick and sharp as

^ Harry Hieover — Stable Tallt and TaMe Talk.

STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES 251

his judgment, and no mercy is shown either in the
bargain or the chaff that precedes it. According
to an old saying, ' there is no friendship in horse
dealing,' and here is an instance :

' Amongst others who used to hunt with the New
Forest hounds was Dicky Wise, a great character,
who always rode Avith a spare stirrup-leather round
his neck, for the benefit, he said, of any of his friends
in case they should break one. Wise once had a deal
with a sporting butcher of Southampton, also a well-
known character, one Jack Hewitt, who came from
Bath, and horsed one or two coaches. Wise's horse
was a rank roarer, and the butcher's had an awful
spavin, but they agreed to exchange even-handed,
without examining each other's horses. The next
day Hewitt went out hunting and found out the
roaring, bat said nothing about it. The following
day Wise rode his horse with the hounds, and, com-
ing down the High Street on his return, he passed
the shop, where Hewitt was standing at his door.
The horse was going on three legs, and Wise
hallooed out to him, " No friendship) in horse dealing,
Mr. Hewitt — there is no friendship in horse deal-
ing! " Wise was very touchy if anybody found fault
with his horses. There was a clergyman who hunted
in the New Forest, a tall man, and very plain in
the face, with his knees knockingf one ao-ainst the
other, and his feet standing wide apart. One day he
addressed Wise thus: " That is a very ugly horse you

2 52 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

are on." " Yes, sir," said Dick in his blandest
manner ; " and I should say beauty was not by when
you were dropped ! " ' ^

The canny Scot is sometimes quite a match for
the Southron in horse-dealing :

' An anecdote is told of a certain Scotch laird who
sold a horse to an Eng-lishraan, saying, " You buy
him as you see him ; but he's an Jionest beast." The
purchaser took him home. In a few days he stum-
bled and fell, to the damage of his own knees and
his rider's head. On this the angry purchaser re-
monstrated with the laird, whose reply was, " Well,
sir, I told you he was an honest beast ! Many a time
he has threatened to come down with me, and I
kenned he would heep his vjord some day.'' ' ^

The Irishman, according to tradition, should be
full of fun, even while taking in his best friend over
a horse. But the Irish of late years seem to have
either left oflP being funny, or they don't allow the
Saxon to enjoy any of their wit. Charles Lever's
horse-loving, hard-riding Irishmen were jolly good
fellows, and the individual of whom the following is
related must have been one of them ;

' We had a rather humorous adventure here — the
plains of Roscommon abound with them. A cockney
sportsman was amongst us who had bought an 'oss
two days previous to the hunt. There was as bad a

* Baihfs Mafjnz'Die, June 1874.

2 Soort at Home and Abroad — Lord W. Lennox.

STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES 253

•speculation in the animal's eye as there was in the
purchaser's bargain ; and he had a trifling thickness
in breath, that the Irish dealer said was only a cowld,
that he required a good breathing to get in tune and
upon the top of his speed. He had also a bit of a
blemish on one knee, but the horse-jockey assured
the cockney that it was only a mark in his coat. In
short, the 'oss was a rip, and at the first stiff leap he
came to he shot his rider over his head, broke the
other knee, girths and bridle all together. The
cockney was much bruised, and threatened the seller
with a law-suit, appealing at the same time to his
conscience, how he could sell such a horse as sound,
and how he could praise him up as he did. " Upon
my word," says Pat, " and that's as good as my
bond, he is as sound as a bell, for he'll go whenever
you touch him ; and as for his character, all I said
was that he would run against any horse or mare
yon could bring into the field ; and as for a leaper —
let him alone for that ! " The case was hopeless.' '

Even grave lawyers and judges seem to grow
extra witty when a horse- dealing case is before the
court. A horse-coping case was tried in the Court
of Common Pleas in 1804, and in the course of the
trial Lord Alvanley, the Lord Chief Justice, told the
following story :

' Some years ago,' said his lordship, ' an action

' Sj.orting Magazine, January 1832.

254 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

was brouglit against a gentleman at the bar respect-
ino- a horse which, he had bought to go the circuit
upon. The horse was taken home, and his servant
mounted him to show his paces. When he was on
the animal's back he would not stir a step ; he tried
to turn him round and round, but he was determined
not to go the circuit. The horse-dealer was informed
of the horse's obstinacy, and asked bj the purchaser
how he came to sell him such a horse ? " Well,"
said the dealer, " it can't be helped. Give me back
the horse, allow me five pounds, and we'll settle the
matter." The barrister refused, and advised him
to send the horse to be broke in by a rough-rider.
" Eough-rider ! " said the dealer, " he has been to
rouo-h-riders enouo'h." ''How came you to sell me
a horse that would not go? " rejoined the barrister.
" I sold you a horse warranted sound, and sound he
is," concluded the dealer ; '' but as for his going — I
never thought he would go." ' ^

Another case of more recent date is thus reported
in a well-known sporting periodical :

' Mr. Henry Greaves, who used to take a country
as Mr. E. T. Smith would take a theatre, hunted the
Vale of White Horse country in 1861. Mr. Greaves
was a giant — a tremendously heavy man. In a horse
case tried at Oxford he was called as a witness to
prove that the horse about which they were bringing

' Fashion Then and Now — Lord W. Lennox.

STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES 255

the action (wliicli was for a breach of warranty) was
a roarer. Mr. Huddleston was the counsel who
cross-examined him. Mr. Greaves proved that he
rode the horse, and that he roared directly he was
set going. Mr. Huddleston, manipulating his kid
gloves as was his wont, giving a look at Mr. Greaves
(who filled the witness-box, and towered far above
the usual standard of witnesses), and making a fur-
tive wink at the jury, asked, " Did the horse roar,
sir, before you got on liim ? " " l^o," was the inno-
cent reply, " certainly not." " Indeed," replied the
leader of the circuit, " he couldn't have known you
meant to ride him, or else he would have roared
pretty loudly." Shouts of laughter followed this
sally, in which the good-natured, jolly welter-weight
joined.' ^

' Baihfs Magazine, February 1873

256 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER XViri.

HORSE-STEALING AIs'ECDOTES.

Horse stealing is a crime of considerable antiquity
in England, where it has always been regarded as
deserving very severe punishment.

Holinshed mentions in his ' Chronicles ' that
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth a noted horse-
stealer named Ditch was apprehended, charged upon
nineteen indictments, eighteen of which he confessed
to. It appears that between the time of his appre-
hension and the sessions ' he appeached many of
stealing horses, whereof many of them were taken
up, and ten of them condemned and hung at Smith-
field, on horse-market day,' — a day specially selected,
we presume, in order that the warning and example
to such-like evil-doers should be the more notorious
and efi&cacious amongst the fraternity. This man
Ditch was evidently possessed of the full cunning
peculiar to his tribe, as it is said he practised the
dodge of acting also the part of common informer,
by helping many to recover their stolen horses,
charo'ino' as a fee ten shillings each, whereby, as

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 257

Holinslied says, ' he made fifteen pounds of current
money towards his charges.'

In olden times Smithfield was the principal horse
mart of London, and, till the cattle market was
finally removed from the city, copers of the worst
kind congregated there.

'Monsieur Rosetti says the Arabians have five
distinct breeds of horses, and that some of these
animals are so sensible as never to sufier themselves
to be delivered up to a purchaser until the ceremony
has been completed by the seller, of having received
a little salt, and a morsel of bread ! We presume
this bread must be something like that formerly sold
weekly at Smithfield, where it is customary, and
almost imperative, to insure " good luck," that the
seller should treat the buyer with something more
potent and palatable than salt. We have heard of
two of these chapmen who invoked good luck by such
potent libations to the jolly god that they at length
quarrelled on the subject of their several identities ;
the original seller fancying himself the buyer, and
the real purchaser as stoutly maintaining that he was
the seller. Some humane friend to the parties (it
seems Smithfield abounded with such), by walking off
with both the horse and the purchase-money, ended
the dispute, which convinces us that their Baccha-
nalian patron must have been offended either by the
scantiness or the ill-use of their offerings.' ^

^ Blaine's Encydojjccdia of Rural Sports.

25S THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

In the wilder parts of America Judge Lynch
settles accounts with horse-thieves, who are held in
detestation. In more civilised states the crime is
severely punished, though by a regular tribunal. A
cute Yankee once got back a large sum of money
by making a charge of horse-stealing against his
defrauder, as is pleasantly related by Sam Slick :

' Felix Foyle lived in the back part of the State
of New York, and carried on a smart chance of
business in the provision line. Beef and pork and
flour was his staples, and he did a great stroke in
'em. Perhaps he did so to the tune of four hundred
thousand dollars a year, more or less. Well, in
course, in such a trade as that, he had to employ a
good many folks as clerks and Salter s and agents,
and what-not, and among them was his book-keeper,
Sossipater Cuddy. Sossipater (or Sassy, as folks used
to call him, for he was rather high in the instep, and
was Sassy by name, and Sassy by natur' too,) — well,
Sassy was a cute man, a good judge of cattle, a grand
hand at a bargain, and a'most an excellent scholar
at figures. He was ginerally allowed to be a first-
rate business man. Only to give you an idee, now,
of that man's smartness, how ready and up to the
notch he was at all times, I must jist stop fust and
teU you the story of the cigar.

' In some of our towns we don't allow smokin' in
the streets, though in most on 'em we do, and where
it's agin the law it is two dollars fine in a gineral

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 259

way. Well, Sassy went down to Bosten to do a little
chore of business there, where this law was, only he
didn't know of it. So, as soon as he gets off the coach,
he outs with his case, takes a cigar, lights it, and
walks on smokin' like a furnace-flue. No sooner said
than done. Up steps constable and sais, " I trouble
you for two dollars for smokin' agin law in the street."
Sassy was as quick as wink on him. " Smokin' ! "
sais he, " I warn't a smokin'." " Oh my ! " sais
constable, " how you talk, man. I won't say you
lie, because it ain't polite, but it's very like the way
I talk when I lie. Didn't I see you with my own
eyes ? " " No," sais Sassy, " you didn't. It don't
do always to believe your own eyes ; they can't be
depended on more nor other people's. I never trust
mine, I can tell you. I own T had a cigar in my
mouth, but it was because I like the flavour of
tobacco, but not to smoke. I take it it don't con-
vene with the dignity of a free and enlightened
citizen of our almighty nation to break the law,
seein' that he makes the law himself, and is his own
sovereign and his own subject too. No, I warn't
smokin', and if you don't believe me try this cigar
yourself and see if it ain't so. It hante got no fire
in it." Well, constable takes the cigar, puts it into
his mug, and draws away, and out comes the smoke
like any thin'.

' " I'll trouble you for two dollars, Mr. High
Sheriff devil," sais Sassy, " for smokin' in the

s 2

26o THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

streets ; do you underconstand, my old coon ? "
Well, constable was all taken aback, he was finely
bit. " Stranger," sais he, " where was you raised? "'
" To Caiiady line," sais Sassy. " Well," sais he,
*' you're a credit to your broughtens up. Well, let
the fine drop, for we are about even, I guess. Let's
liquor ;" and he took him into a bar and treated him
to a mint julep. It was ginerally considered a great
bite that, and I must say I don't think it was bad*
But to get back to where I started from. Sassy, as
I was a-sayin', was the book-keeper of old Felix
Foyle. The old gentleman sot great store by him,
and couldn't do without him on no account, he was-
so ready like, and always on hand. But Sassy
thought he could do without him though. So one
fine day he absgotilated with four thousand dollars
in his pocket, of Felix's, and cut dirt for Canady as
hard as he could chip. Felix Foyle was actilly in a>
most beautiful frizzle of a fix. He knew who he had
to deal with, and that he might as well follow a fox
almost as Sassy, he was so everlastin' cunnin', and
that the British wouldn't give up a debtor to us, but
only felons ; so he thought the fust loss was the best,
and was about givin' it up as a bad job, when an
idee struck him, and off he started in chase with all
steam on. Felix was the clear grit when his dander
was up, and he never slept, night or day, till he
reached Canady too, got on the trail of Sassy, and
came up to where he was airthed at Niagara. When

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 261

lie arrived it was about noon, so as he enters the
tavern lie sees Sassy standing with his face to the
fire and his back to the door, and what does he do
but slip into the meal-room and hide himself till
ni«-ht. Just as it was dark in comes old Bambrick,
the innkeeper, with a light in his hand, and I'elix
slips behind him, shuts to the door, and tells him
the Avhole story from beginning to end ; how Sassy
had served him ; and lists the old fellow in his ser-
vice, and off they set to a magistrate and get out a
warrant, and then they goes to the deputy- sheriff,
and gets Sassy arrested. Sassy was so taken aback,
he was hardly able to speak for a minute or two, for
he never expected Felix would follow him into
Canady at all, seein' that if he oncet reached British
soil he was safe. But he soon come to again, so he
ups and bullies. " Pray sir," sais he, " what do you
mean by this ? " " Nothin' above partikelar," sais
Felix, quite cool ; " only I guess I want the pleasure
of your company back, that's all ;" and then turnin'
to the onder sheriff, " Squire," sais he, " will you
take a turn or two in the entry, while Sassy and I
settle a little matter of business together ? " and out
goes IS'ab. " Mr. Foyle," sais Sassy, " I have no
business to settle with you — p.rrest me, sir, at your
peril, and I'll action you in law for false imprison-
ment." '' Where's my money," sais Felix ; " where's
my four thousand dollars ? " " What do I know
about your money ? " sais Sassy. " Well," sais

262 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Felix, " it is your business to know, and I paid you
as my book-keeper to know, and if you don't know
you must jest return with me and find out, that's all
— so come, let us be movin'." Well, Sassy larfed
right out in his face. " Why, you cussed fool," sais
he, " don't you know I can't be taken out o' this
colony state but only for crime ? What a rael soft-
horn you must be to have done so much business and
not know that ! " "I guess I got a warrant that'll take
you out, tho'," sais Felix; "read that," — a handin'
the paper to him. " IsTow I shall swear to that agin,
and send it to governor, and down will come the
marchin' order in quick stick. I'm soft, I know, but
I ain't sticky, for all that ; I generally come off clear,
without leavin' no part behind." The moment Sassy
saw the warrant his face fell, and the cold perspira-
tion rose out like rain-drops, and his colour went and
came, and his knees shook like anythin'. "Hoss-
stealin' ! " sais he aloud to himself — " hoss-stealin' !
■ — heavens and airth, what perjury ! Why, Felix,"'
sais he, " you know devilish well I never stole your
hoss, man ; how could you go and swear to such an
infarnal lie as that?" ''Well, I'm nothin' but a
' cussed fool ' and a rael ' soft-horn ' you know,'*
sais Felix, "as you said just now; and if I had
gone and sworn to the debt, why you'd a-kept the
money, gone to jail, and swore out, and I'd a-had my
trouble for my pains. So you see I swore you stole
my hoss, for that's a crime, though absquotolatin'.

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 233

ain't, and that will force the British governor to
deliver you up ; and when I get you into New York
State, why you settle with me for my four thousand
dollars, and I will settle with you for stealin' my
hoss ;" and he put his finger to the tip end of his
nose, and winked, and said, " young folks think old
folks is fools, but old folks Iznow young folks is fools.
I warn't born yesterday, and I had my eye-teeth
sharpened before your'n were through the gums, I
guess. You hante got the Bosten constable to deal
with now, I can tell you, but old Felix Foyle himself,
and he ain't so blind but what he can feel his way
along, I guess — do you take my meanin', my young
coon ? " '*' I'm sold," sais Sassy, and he sot down,
put both elbows on the table, and covered his face
with his hands and fairly cried like a child. " I'm
sold," sais he. " Buy your pardon, then," sais Felix.
" Pay down the four thousand dollars and you are a
free and enlightened citizen once more." Sassy got
up and unlocked his portmanteau, and counted it all
out in paper rolls just as he received it. " Thar it
is," sais he, " and I must say you deserve it. That
was a great stroke o' your'n." " Stop a bit," sais
Felix, seein' more money there, all his savin's for
years, " we ain't done yet. I must have 500 dollars
for expenses." "There, d — n you," sais Sassy,
thro win' another roll at him, — " there it is ; are you
done yet?" "No," sais Felix, "not yet; now you
have done me justice, I must do you the same, and

264 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

clear your cliaracter. Call in that gentleman the
constable from the entry, and I will go a treat of
half-a-pint of brandy. Mr. Officer," sais Felix, " here
is some mistake ; this gentleman has convinced me
he was only follerin', as my clerk, a debtor of mine
here, and when he transacts his bus'ness, will return,
having left his hoss at the lines, where I can get him
if I choose ; and I must say I am glad on't, for the
credit o' the nation abroad. Fill your glass ; here's a
five-dollar bill to your fees, and here's to your good
health. If you want provision to ship off in the way
of trade, I'm Felix Foyle, and shall be happy to
accommodate you."

' " Now," said Mr. Slick, " that is what I call a
rael clever trick, a great card, warn't it ? He de-
sarves credit, does Felix; it ain't every one would
a-been up to traj) that way, is it ? "

' " Sam," said his father, rising with great dignity
and formality of manner, "was that man, Felix
Foyle, ever a military man ? "

' " No, sir ; he never had a commission, even in the
mihtia, as I knows on."

' " I thought not," said the colonel. " No man
that had seen military life could ever tell a lie, much
less take a false oath. That fellow, sir, is a villain,
and I wish Washington and I had him to the
halberts ; by the 'tarnal we'd teach him to disgrace
our great name before those benighted colonists." ' ^

' Sam, Slick — The Attache^ vol. i.

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 265

This affair terminated pleasantly for every one
except the poor wretch who had to disgorge his ill-
gained wealth ; but when Judge Lynch presides over
the court before which the horse-thief is brought,
the business is finished in such a rapid manner that
there is little chance of the culprit escaping ; and it
happens occasionally that an innocent man suffers*
As an instance of a tragic trial for horse stealing,
Mr. Clarence King, of the United States Geological
Survey, thus reports a horse-stealing trial in Cali-
fornia :

'Early in the fifties, on a still, hot summer's
afternoon, a certain man, in the camp of the northern
mines which shall be nameless, having tracked his two
donkeys and one horse a half-mile, and discovering
that a man's track with spur-marks followed them,
came back to town and told " the boys " who loitered
about a popular saloon that in his opinion "some
Mexican had stolen the animals."

' Such news as this naturally demanded drinks
all round. " Do you know, gentlemen," said one
who assumed leadership, " that just naturally to
shoot these Greasers ain't the best way. Give 'em a
fair jury trial, and rope 'em up with all the majesty
of law. That's the cure."

' Such words of moderation were well received,
and they drank again to " here's hoping we ketch
that Greaser."

' As they loafed back again to the verandah, a

266 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Mexican walked over the hill brow, jingling his spurs
pleasantly in accord with a whistled waltz. The
advocate for law said in an undertone, " That's the
cuss."

'A rush, a struggle, and the Mexican, bound
hand and foot, lay on his back in the bar-room.
Happily such cries as " String him up ! " " Burn the
doggoned lubricator ! " and other equally pleasant
phrases, fell unheeded upon his Spanish ear.

' A jury, upon which they forced my friend, was
quickly gathered in the street, and despite refusals
to serve, the crowd hurried them in behind the bar.
A brief statement of the case was made by the ci-
devant advocate, and they shoved the jury into a
commodious poker-room, where seats were grouped
about neat green tables. The noise outside the bar-
room by-and-by died away into complete silence, but
from afar down the caiion came confused sounds as
of disorderly cheering.

' They came nearer, and again the light-hearted
noise of human laughter mingled with clinking
glasses. A low knock at the door of the jury-room ;
the lock burst in, and a dozen smiling fellows asked
the verdict.

' A foreman promptly replied, " Not guilty, '^^

' With volleyed oaths and ominous laying of hands
on pistol-hilts, the boys slammed the door, with
" You'll have to do better than that I "

' In half an hour the advocate opened the door
again.

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 267

' " Your opinion, gentlemen ? "

' " Guilty ! "

' " Correct ! You can come out." We hung him
an hour ago.

'The jury took "theirs neat," and when after
a few minutes the pleasant village returned to its
former tranquillity, it was " allowed " at more than
one saloon that " Mexicans '11 know enough to let
white men's stock alone after this." One after
another exchanged the belief that this sort of thing
was more sensible than " nipping 'em on sight."

' When, before sunset, the bar-keeper concluded
to sweep some dust out of his poker-room back door,
he felt a momentary surprise at finding the missing
horse dozing under the shadow of an oak, and the
two lost donkeys serenely masticating playing-cards,
of which many bushels lay in a dusty pile. He was
reminded then that the animals had been there all
day.' '

The records of Judge Lynch's court are but im-
IDerfectly kept, or doubtless many other equally tragic
blunders could be related. In some cases the stolen
horse was made executioner ; the culprit's arms were
bound behind his back, he was mounted on the horse,
a roj)e depending from a tree being fastened round
his neck. When the horse moved on the thief was
left hanging.

The Indians of North America are great horse

* Maiintaineerbig in the Sierra Nevada, by Clarence King.

268 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

thieves, and some account of their exploits and
manner of thieving has been given bj an English-
man who travelled much on the prairie.

' On rising we heard that a small party of Eicaras
had carried off twenty-six of our horses during the
night, including two of mine, one of which broke
away from them and returned ; but one of them, a
venerable gray, remained in the hands of the captors.
Soon after our departure from Forfc Leavenworth,
our American lad, who was a merry wag, named the
pack horses and mules after the public men of the
day, according to his opinion of their respective
merits and qualities. It was impossible to avoid a
smile when I overheard some of his objurgations, as
he was driving them up in the rear: — "Come up,
General ! " " Who, ho, Yan Buren — your pack is
all one side." "Go it, Henry Clay — old Kentuck
for ever ! " &c. I believe it was General Jackson
that remained a Ricara prisoner. How they ever
succeeded in making him move I cannot imagine, as
all our instruments of persuasion, from a spur to a
cowhide, could only extract a very small jog-trot,
and that for a short time. Nevertheless, he must
have been forced off at some si^eed, as a few Pawnees
pursued for many miles in the morning without
success,

' The manner in which they (the Eicaras) steal
horses is as follows : Two or three men approach the
encampment cautiously soon after nightfall, and take

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 269

advantage of any creek, dell, or brushwood that may
serve to conceal them from the observation of the
out-pickets ; if they succeed in reaching the extremity
of the village undiscovered, they stand up and walk
deliberately through it, wrapped in their buffalo
robes. They can no longer be distinguished from the
Pawnees by the faint light of the half-extinguished
fires ; and as they pass the groups of horses collected
before their respective owners' lodges, they cut with
a sharp knife the laryettes that secure those they
purpose to carry off. As soon as they have loosened
the required number, each man jumps upon one, and
they drive off the rest at full speed, shaking their
blankets and urging the alarmed animals to their
utmost exertions. Of course they obtain a consider-
able start of any pursuit, and, if the night is dark,
run but little risk of being overtaken.

'The manner of securing horses on the prairie
against these depredators is twofold; either to tie
them by a laryette passed round the neck; or to
" hohhle " them, which is effected by tying the fore-
legs close together, by leather thongs passed round
them, below the knee-joint. This latter is the safer
plan, because a thief can sometimes cut the laryette
as he walks, without risk of observation ; but if he
stoops down to untie or cut a strong leather thong
between the shins of a horse, he not only runs more
risk of alarming the animal, but incurs suspicion
from any one who may happen to be lying awake in

270 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

the neiglibourhood. In cases where there is a pro-
bability of such an attempt, it is better both to tie
and hobble them.

' The following day the chiefs assembled and sat
in council many hours, discussing the expediency of
reprisals. The subject afforded a wide field for dis-
cussion, as the United States, in the stipulation for
paying the annuities for ceded lands, exacted from
the Pawnees that they should not send out parties
to steal horses, as had been their practice. In the
meantime the more distant tribes came in to hunt in
the buffalo prairies and steal the Pawnees' horses,
while the latter are forbidden to make reprisals.
These stipulations would be very hard if adhered to ;
but I have good reason to believe that during my
residence with the Pawnees they sent out several
horse-stealing parties, one of which was supposed to
have met with considerable success among the Kanzas
Indians, a tribe settled on the river of the same
name. The Indian notions of reprisals are very
cosmopolitan ; if thirty horses are stolen from them
and they cannot discover the thieves, they consider
themselves perfectly justified in stealing thirty from
the first party or tribe that may offer them the
opportunity.' ^

At the present time in England the crime of
horse stealing is comparatively rare, though occasion -

' Hon. C. A. Murray — Travels in North America.

HORSE-STEALING ANECDOTES 271

ally a notice against a police-station wall, or a news-
paper advertisement, tells us that it has not entirely
died out. The best plan is for those who possess
valuable horses to remember the old adage — ' It is
no use locking the stable door when the steed is
stolen.'

272 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTEE XIX.

INSTINCT, POWER OF MEMOEY AND DOCILITY OF THE

HOKSE.

Of the cleverness of the horse, how he remembers
benefits and injuries, and how he oftentimes learns
to anticipate his rider's will, many tales are told.
'Perhaps no animal in man's employment more
thoroughly understands what he is about than the
" stock horse " of New South Wales. Prom the
earliest period of his breaking he is taught to wheel
instantly when at full speed on any ground ; and
from the innate sagacity which horses have in dis-
cerning their rider's object, one that has been "after
stock " for a year or two reaches such perfection in
this point as almost to justify the ordinary recom-
mendation of an Australian horse-dealer, that " he
can turn upon a cabbage -leaf." The best exemplifi-
cation of this faculty is the process of driving, or as
it is called, '^ cutting out " a single bullock, to which
he will not submit without a sharp tussle, from the
instinctive dislike to separation which all the bush
cattle exhibit. At first starting he trusts wholly to

INSTINCT AND MEMORY OF THE HORSE 273

his speed, but, finding after a trial of two or tliree
hundred yards, that his retreat to the herd is still
intercepted, he doubles round in the rear of his
pursuer, who, were he to continue his onward career,
would thereby lose a great deal of ground ; but such
is the agility of the stock-horse that he simul-
taneously wheels round, and still keeps on the inside
without losing an inch. This kind of thing is re-
peated again and again, till the baffled bullock is
fain to take any course his tormentor may direct.' ^

In submission to a master the horse is affected
by kind treatment almost as much as the dog and
elephant ; for although habitually his actions show
timidity, they are more an effect of good temper than
fear ; for where severity is unreasonably exercised,
obedience, which is readily granted to kind treat-
ment, becomes doubtful, and sooner or later breaks
out in vicious resentment and opposition. A horse
knows its own strength, and oppression has its limits.
* In emulation to surpass a rival no more convincing
instance can be cited than in the case of a racehorse
finding his competitor beginning to head him in the
course, seizing him by the fore-leg with such firm
teeth, that both jockeys were obliged to dismount to
part them. This was a horse of Mr. Quin's in 1753.
Forester, another racer, caught his antagonist by the
jaw to hold him back. Surely such animals should

' Hay garth's Bush Life.

T

274 ^-^^ HORSE AND HIS RIDER

not be gored with the spur or cut with the whip to
do their utmost.' ^

But the sagacious animal expects that his master
or rider shall be fully competent to perform his share
of the business. A horse soon learns to despise a
timid rider.

' The confidence of a horse in a firm rider and
his own courage is great, as was conspicuously evinced
in the case of an Arab possessed by the late General
Sir Eobert E. Gillespie, who being present on the
race-course of Calcutta during one of the great
Hindu festivals, when several hundred thousand
people may be assembled to witness all kinds of
shows, was suddenly alarmed by tbe shrieks of the
crowd, and informed that a tiger had escaped from
his keeper. Sir Eobert immediately called for his
horse, and grasping a boar-spear which was in the
hands of one of the crowd, rode to attack this for-
midable enemy. The tiger probably was amazed at
finding himself in the middle of such a number of
shrieking beings, flying from him in all directions ;
but the moment he perceived Sir Eobert, he crouched
with the attitude of preparing to spring at him, and
that instant the gallant soldier passed his horse
in a leap over the tiger's back, and struck the spear
through his spine. The horse was a small gray,
afterwards sent home by him a present to the Prince

' The Xatiiralisfs Library — Horses, by Lieutenant-Colonel Chas.
Hamilton Smith.

INSTINCT AND MEMORY OF THE HORSE 275

Regent. When Sir Robert fell at the storming of
Kalunga, his favourite black charger, bred at the
Cape of Good Hope, and carried by him to India,
was, at the sale of his effects, competed for by several
officers of his division, and finally knocked down to
the privates of the 8th Dragoons, wlio contributed
their prize-money to the amount of 500?. sterling to
retain this commemoration of their late commander.
Thus the charger was always led at the head of
the regiment on a march ; and at the station of
Cawnpore was indulged with taking his ancient
station at the colour-stand, where the salute of
passing squadrons was given at drill and on reviews.
When the regiment was ordered home, the funds of
the privates running low, he was bought for the same
sum by a relative of ours, who provided funds and a
paddock for him, where he might end his days in
comfort ; but when the corps had marched, and the
sound of trumpet had departed, he refused to eat ;
and on the first opportunity, being led out to exercise,
he broke from his groom, and galloping to his ancient
station on the parade, after neighing aloud, drojDped
down and died.' ^

The pressure of the rider's limbs, the feel of the
hand on the bridle, may even serve a horse instead
of the sense of sight. Blind horses are by no
means uncommon, and some of them do daily work

' The Naturalisfs Lilrary — Hoi'seSy by Lieutenant -Colonel Cbas;
Hamilton Smith.

T 2

276 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

■without being much, inconvenienced bj the want
of sight, if the rider or driver is patient and
steady.

' I remember many years back my old acquaint-
ance and infallible doctor, Mr. Minster, of Chelten-
ham, having a very fine old gray hunter, stone blind;
and when visiting his patients he would often cross
the country by the footpaths, leaping the stone stiles
with ease and safety. Being one day with a dashing
young farmer who was boasting of the feats Ms horse
could perform, the doctor took the shine out of him
on the instant by proposing a wager that lie had
a horse in his stable which could take a leap the
farmer's horse could not.

' " Where shall we go to decide the bet ? " said
the farmer, who of course had said " done."

' " Only into the street," replied the other.

' Consequently the doctor was mounted on the blind
horse in a trice, when giving him the office by the
bit (and as Horace says, tliere lies the horse's ear),
he made him believe a stone stile was before him,
and he took a spring that would have cleared the
highest in the parish, to the no small discomfiture of
the farmer.' ^

And when well treated the horse is capable of
great aflFection for the biped who rides or drives him ;
the animal will show a great deal of ingenuity in

' " Nimrod " — Hunting Reminiscences.

INSTINCT AND MEMORY OF THE HORSE 277

protecting his master from danger — witness the fol-
lowing " Instance of Docility ! "

' A farmer was remarkable for two qualities —
attachment to animals and getting tipsj. The horse
he usually rode, or rather the one that usually walked
by his side like a dog — for he seldom rode him — had
been brought up by him from a foal. Once every
week the owner went to a market some seven or
eight miles distant from his home, and as invariably
came home the worse for liquor, his potations in such
cases being usually varied by sundry slumbers in the
middle of the road. The horse was always by his
side, and if any one approached, a warning neigh
gave notice to be wary ; no accident to the master
ever occurred.

' One night a farmer of the neighbourhood was
coming home, when the well-known neigh informed

him that J was asleep in the mud. Determined

to test the sagacity of the horse, he removed the
tipsy man from the middle of the road to the close
vicinity of a ditch half-filled with water, placing him
in a position so that he nearly touched the water.
He then remounted his own horse, rode onwards a
short distance, when he tied his horse to a gate and
returned to watch the result, which he found to be
that the intoxicated man was lying far from the ditch
where he had left him ; having had his coat torn by
the teeth of his own horse when dragging him out of
danger of drowning. The tipsy farmer's horse, which

27S THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Lad previously been very friendly towards the experi-
menter, could not afterwards be brought to notice
him otherwise than Avith aversion.' ^

An instance of vindictive memory may follow
here, showing how the horse remembers those who
ill-treat him.

' I will relate a little circumstance which took
place in Mexico a few years before I left there. One
of my friends had a horse extremely gentle, and of
such an easy agreeable gait, that he took the greatest
care of him, and held him at a great price. A well-
fed, big and lusty friar was a friend to our neigh-
bour : one who liked the good things of this world,
as well as he liked to ride out to the small towns
bordering upon the city of Mexico, and take a dinner
with the bonny lasses and countrymen inhabiting
those villages. He used to ask my friend to loan
him his horse to take these excursions just around
the capital ; and, as his requests were granted with
so good a grace, he, in a short time, went so far as to
ask the loan of this favourite animal to go to Cuerna-
vaca, a distance of eighteen leagues. As this
happened pretty often, our friend complained to me
one day of the indiscretion of the friar. I asked him
if he could procure me a friar's dress for a few days,
and leave his horse with me for the same time. He
did so. I dressed myself in the friar's dress and

* Youatt — The Horse

INSTINCT AND MEMORY OF THE HORSE 279

went in where the horse was. I took a good whip in
my hand and made him do penance for no other sin
but that of too much gentleness. Going out, I took
off my friar's dress and went in again in my own
dress, and handled him gently. I repeated the opera-
tion a few days, at the end of which I took the horse
back to his master, and told him he might lend him
to the friar whenever he pleased. A day or two
after he came to my store. '' Your remedy," said
he, " has had a marvellous effect. Our monk has
just left my house, perfectly persuaded that my horse
is possessed with the devil. For when the holy
personage came up to take him by the bridle to get
on him, he was so frightened, and wheeled round so
quick, and flew away from him with so much terror,
that one would have said he took him for the destroy-
ing angel." The friar crossed himself many times,
hurried away in all haste to the convent to sprinkle
himself with holy water, and never asked my friend
for his horse again.' ^

In this case the horse remembered the dress, not
the features of the individual who used the whip on
him. But horses can remember features as well as
costumes.

' The late General Pater of the East India Service
was a remarkably fat man. While stationed at
Madras he purchased a charger, which, after a short
trial, all at once betook himself to a trick of lying

* TacliyTiippodamia^ by W. J. Pellow.

28o THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

down whenever tlie general prepared to get upon liis
back. Every expedient was tried, without success,
to cure him of the trick, and the laugh was so much
against the general's corpulency that he found it
convenient to dispose of his horse to a young officer
quitting the settlement for a distant station up the
country. Upwards of two years had subsequently
elapsed Avhen, in execution of his official duties.
General Pater left Madras to inspect one of the
frontier cantonments. He travelled, as is the custom
in India, in his palankeen. The morning after his
arrival at the station the troops were drawn out, and*,
as he had brought no horses, it was proper to provide
for his being suitably mounted, though it was not
very easy to find a charger equal to his weight. At
length an officer resigned to him a powerful horse
for the occasion, which was brought out, duly capari-
soned, in front of the line. The general came forth
from his tent, and proceeded to mount; but the
instant the horse saw him advance he flung himself
flat upon the sand, and neither blows nor entreaties
could induce him to rise. It was the generaVs old
charger, who from the moment of quitting his service
had never once practised the artifice until this second
meeting. The general, who was an exceedingly
good-humoured man, joined heartily in the universal
shout that ran through the whole line on witnessing
this ludicrous affair.' ^

' Penny Magazine, vol. ix.

INSTINCT AND MEMORY OF THE HORSE 281

The tricks of horses to procure little luxuries and
indulgences are very clever.

' An orchard had been repeatedly stripped of its
best and ripest fruit, and the marauders had laid
their plans so cunningly that the strictest vigilance
could not detect them. At last the depredators were
discovered to be a mare and her colt which were
turned out to graze among the trees. The mare was
seen to go up to one of the apple-trees, and to throw
herself against the trunk so violently that a shower
of ripe apples came tumbling down. She and her
offspring then ate the fallen apples, and the same
process was repeated at another tree. Another mare
had discovered the secret of the water-butt, and,
whenever she was thirsty, was accustomed to go to
the butt, turn the tap with her teeth, drink until her
thirst was satisfied, and then to close the tap again.
I have heard of two animals which performed this
feat ; but one of them was not clever enough to turn
the tap back again, and used to let all the water run
to waste.' ^

^ Eev. J. G. Wocd— Illustrated Natural History.

>

282 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTEE XX.

ECCENTEIC LITERARY AND CLERICAL HORSEMEN.

Literature has produced a few equestrian curiosities.
So has the Church. The typical fox-hunting parson
has his opposite.

An absent-minded man was the eccentric j)oet
Bowles, who resided at Bremhill, in Wiltshire. His
chief mode of locomotion being on horseback, he was
one day met by a friend walking leisurely along the
road, book in hand, with the reins of his bridle hang-
ing on his arm, and the head-piece with the bit
trailing on the ground behind him.

* Why, Bowles ! ' exclaimed his friend, ' what has
become of your horse ? '

' Behind me,' was his reply, without taking the
trouble to look back.

'Then he is an uncommon long way behind,
Bowles ; for I can see a mile of road, but no horse.'

On this occasion, during one of his absent fits,
while stopping and taking notes as he proceeded by
the wayside, the chin-stay being loose the horse
had disengaged the bridle from his head without his

LITERARY AND CLERICAL HORSEMEN 283

master being aware of his movements. With all
his eccentricities and wayside wanderings, neverthe-
less, Bowles took good care to avoid meeting the
foxhounds, although we were continually running
through his parish.' ^

'Archbishop Vernon Harcourt, who was a very
fine horseman — and before he was promoted to the
bench, always in the first flight when foxhounds
were running — once said to the wisest wit of the last
generation, " I understand, Mr. Sydney Smith, you
object to clergymen riding on horseback." " Not,"
was the reply, " when they ride very badly and turn
out their toes." For Sydney Smith took the lia%d&
ecole view of horsemanship.' ^

But Sydney Smith's doctrine was better than his
practice, so far as riding was concerned. He certainly
at various times kept horses, and even mounted them ;
but, after all, Sydney Smith was a very poor horse-
man. In the words of his daughter, Lady Holland,
' Either from the badness of his horses or the badness
of his riding, or perhaps from both (in spite of his
various contrivances to keep himself in the saddle),
he had several falls, and kept us in continual anxiety.'
In one of his letters Sydney Smith says : ' I used to
think a fall from a horse dangerous, but much experi-
ence has convinced me to the contrary. I have had

^ Recollections of a FoxJiunter, by Scrutator.
2 g Sydney— TA<? BooTi of the Horse.

284 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

six falls in two years, and behaved just like tlie Three
jper Cents when they fall. I got np again, and am
not a bit the worse for it, any more than the stock in
question. ... I left off riding for the good of my
parish and the peace of my family ; for somehow or
other my horse and I had a habit of parting com-
pany. On one occasion I found myself suddenly pros-
trate in the streets of York, much to the delight of
the dissenters. Another time my horse, '' Calamity,"
flung me over his head into a neighbouring parish, and
I felt grateful it was not into a neighbouring planet ;
but as no harm came of it, I might have persevered,
perhaps, if, on a certain day, a quaker tailor from a
neighbouring village to which I had said I was going
to ride, had not taken it into his head to call, soon
after my departure, and requested to see Mrs. Sydney.
She, instantly conceiving I was thrown, if not killed,
rushed down to the man, exclaiming, " Where is he ?
Where is jovac master — is he hurt ? " The astonished
anl quaking snip stood silent from surprise. Still
more agitated by his silence, she exclaimed, " Is he
hurt ? I insist upon knowing the worst ! " '^ Why,
please, ma'am, it is only thy little bill, a very small
account, I wanted thee to settle," replied he in much
surprise.

' After this, you may suppose, I sold my horse j
however, it is some comfort to know that my friend,
Sir George, is one fall ahead of me, and is certainly
a worse rider. It is a great proof, too, of the

LITERARY AND CLERICAL HORSEMEN 285

liberality of this county, where everybody can ride as
soon as they are born, that they tolerate me at all.

' The horse '' Calamity," whose name has been
thus introduced, was the firstborn of several young
horses bred on the farm, who turned out veiy fine
creatures, and gained him great glory even amongst
the knowing farmers of Yorkshire ; but this first
production was certainly not encouraging. A huge,
lank, large-boned foal appeared, of chestnut colour
and with four white legs. It grew apace, but its
bones became more and more conspicuous ; its appe-
tite was unbounded — grass, hay, corn, beans, food
moist and dry, were all supplied in vain, and vanished
down his throat with incredible rapidity. He stood
a large, living skeleton, with famine written in his
face, and my father christened him " Calamity." As
'' Calamity " grew to maturity he was found to be as
sluggish in disposition as his master was impetuous ;
so my father was driven to invent his patent " Tan-
talus," which consisted of a small sieve of corn
suspended on a semicircular bar of iron, from the
end of the shafts, just beyond the horse's nose. The
corn rattling as the vehicle proceeded, stimulated
" Calamity " to unwonted exertions ; and under the
hope of overtaking this imaginary feed, he did more
work than all the previous provender which had
been poured down his throat had been able to obtain
from him.' ^

^ By Lady Holland — Memoir of the Bev. Sydnev Smith.

286 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

Had the wittj clergyman been compelled to ride
long distances in tlie discharge of his duties he would
probably have learned what Nimrod called the ' art
of adhesiveness/ that is, the knack of sticking to his
saddle. In the back settlements of America, where
ministers of the gospel have to travel long distances
on horseback, they become quite knowing in all
matters concerning horseflesh. Here is the testimony
of a leading American periodical concerning these
clerical horsemen :

' There are no better judges of horses than itine-
rant preachers in the United States. From the very
necessities of their calling they are constantly depen-
dent upon their services, and thus, naturally, become
acquainted with all their good and bad qualities. We
have one of these Backwoods' apostles in our mind's
eye, whose circuit was in a south-western state. He
was born in Virginia, and I have always suspected
that his infant eyes opened upon a race-track. Be
that as it may, a certificate of character from him in
favour of a horse was of commercial value. Indifferent
about his j)ersonal comfort and personal appearance,
he insisted upon being well mounted, and seemed
always ready to " run the good race."

' On one occasion he was pressing his way to a
meeting when his progress was obstructed by a crowd
in the road, engaged in the preliminaries of a scrub-
race. Compelled to stop a moment, he involuntarily
examined the cattle entered for the sport, and

LITERARY AND CLERICAL HORSEMEN 287

spontaneously gave his opinion which one would win.
Suddenly remembering that it was the Sabbath, he
apologised for his worldly-mindedness and would have
passed on, but the crowd had become uproarious,
and nothing would do but the parson must stay and
see the thing out. After some properly expressed
repugnance he consented, on the condition that the
Sabbath-breakers would accompany him to church
and hear his sermon ; this was agreed to without a
dissenting voice. The parson fulfilled his contract
with commendable zeal, and his constituents acted
in like good faith. As a result, to use the language
of one of the congregation, " the parson, for their
evident wickedness, used a moral currycomb with
such coarse teeth that he nearly took all the hair of
their self-conceit off their backs." Unfortunately for
the lasting effects of the well-timed and excellent
discourse, the parson's horse, after the ceremony was
over, '' took the bit in his mouth and beat everything
on the road," in spite of all the owner's endeavours
to restrain him. The more sober and discreet brethren
professed to believe it was an untoward accident;
but the sinners thought there was design in it, and
singularly enough the parson's influence was greatly
increased among this branch of his congregation.'

288 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER XXI.

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.

Op course all who liave to do witb. horses are liable
to accidents, but it seldom occurs that any one man
meets with so many as happened to the late George
Talkington, once a celebrated horse-dealer at Ut-
toxeter, who died on April 8, 1826, at Cheadle in
Cheshire, after meeting with more injuries than
probably ever befell any other human being.

'Up to the year 1793 Talkington's injuries were
as follows : — Right shoulder broken ; skull fractured
and trepanned ; three ribs on the left side broken ;
a severe cut on the forehead ; lancet case and knife
forced into the thigh ; three ribs broken on the
right side ; the right shoulder, elbow and wrist dis-
located ; back seriously injured ; cap of the right
knee kicked off; left ankle dislocated; right ankle
dislocated and hip knocked down ; seven ribs broken,
right and left sides ; kicked in the face, and left eye
nearly knocked out; the back again seriously in-
jured ; two ribs and breast-bone broken ; got down

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS 289

and kicked by a vicious horse till he had five holes
in his left leg ; the sinew first below the right knee
cut through and two holes in that leg, also two
shocking cuts above the knee ; seven times taken
apparently dead out of different rivers.

'^ Since 1793, when a reference to these accidents
was given by Mr. Madely, surgeon, of Uttoxeter,
he had the right shoulder dislocated and collar-bone
broken ; seven ribs broken ; breast-bone laid open
and right shoulder dislocated; left shoulder dislo-
cated and left arm broken; two ribs broken, and
right thigh seriously bruised ; in 1819 (being then
in his seventy-sixth year) a lacerated Avound in the
calf of the leg, extending to the foot ; mortification
of the wound took place, which exposed all the flexor
tendons of the foot, also the capsular ligaments of
the ankle-joint ; he became delirious and so con-
tinued three weeks ; his wonderful recovery from
this accident was attributed chiefly to the circum-
stance of a friend having supplied him with a
quantity of old Madeira, a glass of which he took
everj^ two hours for eight wrecks, and afterwards
occasionally. Since then, in 1823, being in his
eightieth year, he had a mortification of the second
toe of the right foot, with exfoliation of the bone,
from which he recovered, and at last died of old age
in his eighty-third year. He was the father of
eighteen children by one wife in fifteen years, all of

u

290 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

whom he survived, and he married again at the age
of seventy-four.' ^

Talkington's accidents were all received in the
way of business. But it sometimes happens that
a young gentleman has no business to get into
such troubles as Sir G. Stephen relates in the
following: —

'I have occasionally met with young gentlemen
— very young gentlemen — who affect to prefer a
brute with a queer temper " because he will do most
work." These pinafore riders " never find a horse
too much for them,^^ &c. When I hear this, I set it
down, as of course, that the speaker has never been
on horseback a second time in his life, or at all
events never mounted a second horse. It is digress-
ing a little from the subject, but I cannot resist the
temptation of mentioning an adventure I had a few
years since with a jackanapes of this description.
He overtook me one afternoon riding home from the
City ; he was mounted on a good mare, but with vice
legibly written on her face. He was obviously un-
comfortable, and I advised him to dismount. " Oh,
no ; never liked a horse better ! She is rather queer,
to be sure, but I am riding her into order, for a
friend who finds her too much for him." I was not
his nurse, so I said no more. Presently he dropped
Lis stick ; I offered to hold the mare while he re-

• Oxford and University Herald, April 29, 1826.

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS 291

covered it, but I found that he dared not dismount,
as he could not be assured of reseating himself. I
foresaw the catastrophe ; no sooner had I given him
his cane, than, to show his courage, he applied it to
his mare, and away she went like a bullet. To give
chase to a runaway horse is the unkindest service in
the world. I followed at my leisure ; the youth was
going to a dinner-party, and I thought the worst
that would happen would be his arriving in time to
cook the dinner.

' At Islington, an old woman was " flaring up "
like a fury; an orange barrow overturned, and
oranges scattered to the winds, bespoke the nature
of her provocation ; she had escaped by a miracle. A
hundred yards further, a costermonger's cart showed
symptoms of unwonted distress — cabbages, carrots,
and potatoes strewed the ground, while the owner
vented his indignant wrath in wishes that my un-
happy friend might finish his career in the shades
below. Misfortunes thickened as I traced his steps ;
a mob at Battle-bridge surrounded the toll-collector;
a good-natured attempt to close the gate had ex-
posed his limbs to serious risk, though it had not
saved his penny; the man was quit for a bloody
nose ; and a fish-woman for the trouble of washinsr
her soles a second time. I followed in dismay. A
quarter of a mile further, two stanhopes going in
opposite directions had come in direct collision, four
gentlemen were just recovering their legs, and

ij 2

292 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

gaping round in bewilderment at the sudden appari-
tion of Tarn o' Slianter the Second ; their horses had
taken fright at the clatter of the mare, and, emulat-
ing her good example, bolted too and met in full
career.

' At Tottenham Court Road the dandy's hat had
.taken leave. I tracked its owner like a fox, guided
by countless accidents, till I arrived at Paddington,
and there, emerging, from a bed of savoury 8lus\ I
found him ! He was in truth w^ell equipped for the
hero of a drawing-room ! He had pitched head
foremost into one of those luscious quagmires which
our road-sweepers sometimes accumulate at the
road-sides. The mud formed a rich pomatum for his
curly head ; the pillory could not have worked a more
complete metamorphosis.

' " Carry the gemman to the pump ! " was the
general cry, and certainl}^ his folly deserved it. I
called a coach just in time to save him from friends
and foes, for on retracing my route I encountered
orange-women, costermongers, gentlemen and fish-
fags, all in full cry, like a pack of beagles.' ^

But even on the racecourse it does sometimes
happen that accidents of the most extraordinary
nature occur. For instance, it could scarcely be
imagined that a helmet should kill a horse going at
full speed, without injuring the wearer of it ; yet

' Sir G. Stephens — Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of a
Horse.

. A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS 293

sucli a thing happened, as is related by a magazine
whose position places the authority of the story
beyond a doubt.

' A most extraordinary accident happened some
years ago on the Chester racecourse. A colt called
Hairbreadth, by Escape, the property of the late Mr.
Lockley, bolted over the ropes, and coming in contact
with an officer of dragoons, Sir John Miller, who
was on horseback, was killed by the peak of the
helmet entering his skull wlien on the head of the
haronet, who escaped with a trifling injury.' ^

The Arabs, clever horsemen as they are, are quite
as liable to accident as English grooms. But the
Arab likes to be kicked by a thoroughbred horse, and
cannot endure to be put to any pain by an animal
whose pedigree is at all defective.

An English surgeon had been setting the broken
leg of an Arab, who complained more of the accident
that had befallen him than was thought becoming in
one of his tribe : this the surgeon remarked to him,
and his answer was truly characteristic. ' Do not
think. Doctor, I should have uttered a word of com-
plaint if my own high-bred colt, in a playful kick,
had broken both my legs ; but to have a bone broken
by a brute of a jachass is too bad, and I will
complain.' ^

The kick of one horse is bad enough, but what

^ Quc^rterly Reviejv, No. xcviii.
. ' Eenileifs Magazine, 1852.

294 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

must it be when thousands of them run wild, and>
frightened to a point when no human being can
control them, run wildly over the country. In
America and other countries, where wild horses are
common, it sometimes happens that, by accident, a
herd of wild horses gets frightened, and then occurs
a scene something like that described by the Hon.
C. A. Murray, in his book of travels :

' About an hour after the usual time at which the
horses were brought in for the night, hobbled and
otherwise secured near the tents and fires of their
respective owners, an indistinct sound arose, like the
muttering of distant thunder. As it approached it
became mingled wdth the howling of all the dogs in
the encampment, and with the shouts and yells of
the Indians. In coming nearer it rose high above
all these accompaniments, and resembled the lashing
of a heavy surf upon a beach. On and on it rolled
towards us, and partly from my own hearing, partly
from the hurried words and actions of the tenants of
our lodge, I gathered that it must be the fierce and
uncontrollable gallop of thousands of panic-stricken
horses.

' As this living torrent drew nigh I sprang to the
front of the tent, seized my favourite riding mare,
and in addition to the hobbles which confined her,
twisted the long laryette round her fore-legs, then
led her immediately in front of the fire, hoping that
the excited and maddened flood of horses would
divide, and pass on each side of it. At the same

A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS 295

time I directed my servant to secure another of my
horses ; but he was so confused and astonished by
the roaring tumultuous sound, that he seemed to
have thought that the Shiennes were again attacking
us — and, instead of following my instructions, ran
about, before and in the tent, looking for pistols !

' As the galloping 'mass drew nigh, our horses
began to snort, prick up their ears, and then to
tremble ; and when it burst upon us they became
completely ungovernable from terror. All broke
loose, and joined tlieir affrighted companions, except
my mare, which struggled with the fury of a wild
beast, and I only retained her by using all my
strength, and at last throwing her on her side. On
went the maddened trooj), trampling in their head-
long speed over skins and dried meat, &c., and
throwing down some of the smaller tents. They
were soon lost in the darkness of night and in the
wilds of the prairie, and nothing more was heard of
them save the distant yelping of the curs, who con-
tinued their ineffectual pursuit. This is a stampedo,
and is one of the most extraordinary scenes I have
ever witnessed, as may easily be imagined by any
one who reflects that this race of terror is run in
darkness, only partially lighted by the fitful glare of
lialf-extinguished fires, and that it is moreover run
by several thousand steeds, driven by terror to un-
governable madness. The first origin of the panic I
could never learn ! ' ^

' Hon. C. A. Murray — Travels in, North Ameriea.

296 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

CHAPTER XXTI.

POWER OP ENDUEANCE AND LENGTH OP LIFE IN
THE HORSE.

The following anecdotes will give some idea of the
hardships our four-footed friends can undergo, and
also a notion of the duration of life in the horse.

' A horse's life with moderate care and good
usage is protracted to twenty-five, thirty-five, or
forty years. A gentleman at Dulwich, near London,
had three monuments of three horses who severally
died in his possession at the ages of thirty-five,
thirty-seven, and thirty-nine years. The oldest, it is
to be remarked, was in a carriage the very day he
died, strong and vigorous, but he was carried off in
a few hours by spasmodic colic, to which he was
subject. At Chesham, in Buckinghamshire, there
was a horse thirty-six years old, which exhibited no
symptoms of debility, nor any external signs of age
except being nearly covered with warts. It was re-
markable with regard to this four-footed Nestor, that
when an unusually hard day's work was required he
was chosen as never failing in what was expected of

POWER OF ENDURANCE IN THE HORSE 297

him. A horse named Wonder, formerly belonging
to the Riding School at Woolwich, may be quoted
as living to forty years. Mr. Culley, in his Ohser-
vations on Live Stock, mentions one he knew which
lived to forty-seven years, having during all that
time a ball in his neck received in the battle of
Preston Pans, in the Rebellion of 1715, which was
extracted at his death in 1758 ; thus, judging him
to be four years old at the time he received the
wound (and it was probable he was more), he must
at his death have been forty-seven. But even these
venerables were mere babies to the barge horse of
the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, which was well
known to have been in his sixty-second year when
he died.' ^

The hardships the horse is capable of enduring
would hardly be credited by those who have not
actually witnessed his power of endurance.

According to Major Butler the horses of North
America rival those of the Tartar steppes in their
powers of endurance. The following is from his
Great Lone Land :

' It was the last day of October, almost the last
day of the Indian summer. My five horses were
beginning to show the effect of their incessant work,
but it was only in appearance, and we increased
instead of diminished the distance travelled each

* Blaine's Encyclopaedia of Rural SporU.

298 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

day. We had neither haj nor oats to give them ;
there was nothing but the dry grass of the prairie,
and no time to eat but the cold frosty night. We
seldom travelled less than fifty miles a day, stopping
one hour at mid-day, and going on again until dark.
' My horse was a wonderful animal ; day by day
I feared that his game little limbs were growing
wear}^, and that he must soon give out. But not a
bit of it ; his black coat roughened, his flanks grew
thinner, but he still went gamely on. When I dis-
mounted to save him, and let his companions go on
before, he never rested till I mounted again, and
then he trotted briskly on until he regained them.
At the camping-place my first care was to remove
saddle, saddle-cloth, and bridle, and hobble him with
a bit of soft buffalo leather twisted round his fore-
legs, and then poor Blackie hobbled away in the
darkness to seek his provender. After a time we
drove all the horses down to some lake, where
Daniel (a half-breed servant) would cut little drink-
ing holes in the ever-thickening ice. Then up would
bubble the water and down went the heads of the
thirsty horses at the too often bitter springs, for half
the lakes and pools between the Assiniboine and
South Saskatchewan are harsh with salts and alkali.
Sometimes night would come down upon us whilst
still in the midst of a great treeless plain, without
shelter, water, or grass. Then we pushed on in inky
darkness, and Blackie stepped out briskly, as if he

POWER OF ENDURANCE IN THE HORSE 299

would never tire. On the fourth of November we
rode over sixty miles, and when we camped in the
lee of a little clump of bare willows, Blackie and his
comrades went out to shiver through their supper on
the cold snow-covered prairie, the bleakest scene my
eyes had ever looked upon.

' Poor Blackie, however, came to a violent end
in crossing a half -frozen river.

' We went out early, testing it with an axe and
sharp-pointed poles. In places it was very thin, but
in other parts it rang hard and solid to the blows.
The dangerous part was in the very centre of the
river. One light horse was passed safely over. Now
came Blackie's turn. I was uncomfortable about it,
and wanted to have his shoes off, but my experienced
companion demurred, and I foolishly gave way.
Blackie was led by a long line; I followed close
behind him. He took the ice quite readily. We
had orot to the centre of the river when the surface
suddenly bent down, and to my horror my poor
horse plunged into the deep, black, quick-running
water. The horse, although he plunged suddenly
down, never let his head go under v/ater, but kept
swimming stoutly round, trying all he could to get
upon the ice. All his efforts were useless. A cruel
wall of sharp ice cut his knees as he tried to lift
them on the surface, and the current repeatedly
carried him back underneath. I got almost to the
edge of the hole, took hold of the line, but could give

300 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

him no assistance in his struggles. Never shall I
forget how the poor brute looked at me. If ever
dumb animal spoke with unutterable eloquence, that
horse called to me in his agony ; he turned to me as
to some one from whom he had a right to expect
assistance. "Is there no help for him?" I cried
to the other men. " None," was the reply ; " the
ice is dangerous all round." I rushed back to the
camp where my rifle lay, and back to the place where
the poor beast still struggled with his fate. As
I raised the rifle he looked so imploringly that
my hand trembled; another moment and the ball
crashed through his head. With one look, never
to be forgotten, poor Blackie went down under the
cold ice.' ^

The semi-wild horses of Europe, Asia, and America
are supposed to be capable of almost anything ; but
the following is not bad for the British cavalryman
and his steed :

' It is often said the British cavalry soldier and
his horse alike are unable to endure fatigue or travel
long distances ; but the following is an instance of
what was done in our late disastrous and inglorious
war in the Transvaal. Starting at midnight on a
Friday night, with a hundred hussars, General Sir
E. Wood made a reconnaissance. They crossed the
Buffalo River by swimming, and by sunrise had

* Butler's Great Lmie Land,

POWER OF ENDURANCE IN THE HORSE 301

penetrated thirty miles into the Transvaal. Con-
tinuing their course, they reached within ten miles
of Wakkerstroom, where lay one of our beleaguered
garrisons. Eeturning, camp was reached at six
o'clock Saturday night; seventy-five miles having
been traversed in eighteen hours. Not bad, this, for
the much-despised British hussar.' ^

Something has already been said of the speed
and endurance of the Arab horses of Northern Africa.
They are swift and hardy, no doubt ; but the reader
is not obliged to believe the following :

' There existed in ancient times several stallions
whose fame has come down to us ; among others El
Koura, of the tribe of the Beni-Timin, and Aouadj,
" the concave," of the tribe of the Beni-Helal. On
the subject of this latter the following anecdote is
told. His master being asked, " What canst thou
relate of a surprising nature in connection with thy
horse ? " replied, " I was wandering one day in the
desert, mounted on Aouadj, when I was £€iz3d with
a violent thirst. By good fortune I fell in with a
flock of ketaa (partridges) flying towards a spring.
I followed them, and though holding in my horse
as much as possible, I reached the water as soon as
they did, without once pulling up to breathe him."
It is a most extrordinary example of speed, for the
•flight of the kataa, always rapid, is greatly quickened

' Cassell's Boys^ IVewsjjajyer, February 23, 1881.

302 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

when, driven by thirst, it makes for water. " Had
I not," continued the owner of Aouadj, " checked his
speed by pulling at the bridle with all my force, I
should have outstripped the partridges." ' ^

I think America may be challenged to produce a
horse that can outstrip the bird in its flight.

' DanmsiS— Horses of the Sahara.

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SPOTTISWOODE AXD CO., NKW-STIIEKT KyUAUB

LONDON

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30

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31

Cheap Popular Novels, continued-—

E. I YNN Linton, continued —
The Wo.-'ld Well Lost.
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"My Love." | lone.

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Miss Misanthrope
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Ariadne.

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Round the Galley Fire.
On the Fo'k'sle Head.
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A Levantine Family.
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Bound to the Wheel.
One Against the World.
Guy Waterman. | Two Dreamers.
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Joan Merryweather.
Margaret and Elizabeth.
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Heart Salvage. | Sebastian.
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Rogues and Vagabonds.
The Ring o' Bells.
Mary Jane's Memoirs.
Mary Jane Married.

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A Match in the Dark.

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The Mysteries of Heron Dyke.
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New Arabian Nights. | Prince Otto.

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A Fight for Life.

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Tales for the Marines.
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The Way V.'e Live Now.
The American Senator.
Frau Frohmann. | Marion Fay.
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Mr. Scarborough's Family.
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Like Ships upon the Sea.
Anne Furncss. 1 Mabel's Progress.

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Mark Twain, continued,
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}. OGDEN AND CO. LIMITED, PRINTERS, GKEAT SAFFRON HILL| B.C.

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