Part I: Horses

Chapter I. Food, Physic, And Exercise

The boy who wants to ride and own horses eventually should know all about them. The engineer who hopes to get to the head of his profession has to pass through the drudgery of the workshop before he c...

Food, Physic, And Exercise. Continued

Strong tea is another luxury that is responsible for the ruin of nerves, both young and old. Of course every one knows that the man who takes too much wine or spirits is certain to lose his nerve, but...

Chapter II. First Riding Lessons And The Hunting Field

Horsemanship is a combination of hands and seat, strengthened by nerve. It cannot be learnt by reading a book, and must be acquired by practice. Good nerve, I have already said, is merely a question o...

First Riding Lessons And The Hunting Field. Part 2

I am not, however, going to discuss race riding here, and if you wish to become an expert I should advise you to get some one who trains chasers to let you ride gallops over a course. If you will take...

First Riding Lessons And The Hunting Field. Part 3

Sit forward as the horse rises and back as he lands. Failing to observe this rule is, I firmly believe, one cause of a beginner getting into the habit of pulling at the bridle when in the air. Just th...

First Riding Lessons And The Hunting Field. Part 4

The old hounds soon disappear in the undergrowth, and only a few young ones are left with the huntsman. Now keep your eyes and your ears open, remembering that your sight and hearing, having the advan...

First Riding Lessons And The Hunting Field. Part 5

Never mind Jim now; hounds are running, and you are some fifty yards to the left of the main body. One moment, though, for a word of caution. You must not think because you have cleared a fair-sized b...

Chapter III. The Choice Of A Horse And Its Handling

The choosing of a pony is generally not left to the boy, but, as he will some day have to buy his own horses, it will be as well for him to gather knowledge on the subject before that time arrives. ...

The Choice Of A Horse And Its Handling. Part 2

When buying a horse never take any one's opinion about shoulders, and do not trust to the judgment of your eye. The only sound test is to get on his back, jump a fence, and gallop down hill. Some hors...

The Choice Of A Horse And Its Handling. Part 3

This discussion has rather led us away from our subject, which was on thoroughbreds as hunters, but they have one disadvantage ; and that is, being generally thin-skinned, they do not like facing a th...

The Choice Of A Horse And Its Handling. Part 4

In my experience I have found that the inflexions of the human voice are more readily appreciated by animals than particular words. By this I mean they know at once if you talk to them in harsh or sco...

The Choice Of A Horse And Its Handling. Part 5

There are a great many methods of handling young horses, and several books have been written on the subject, but the most practical I have come across is one by Captain Hayes. This work I will recomme...

Chapter IV. Various Hints In Riding And Driving

I DO not wish you to attach too much importance to your clothes, but a few hints may be useful to those whose parents do not happen to be riders themselves. The fit of your breeches or the shape of yo...

Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 2

Doubtless nothing equals in smartness a white buckskin waistcoat for wearing with a red coat, but it does not admit sufficient air, and one of the chief rules for health is never to perspire in anythi...

Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 3

The bridle is a most important instrument to a horseman, and it therefore deserves rather more attention than we have hitherto devoted to it. In conjunction with a pressure of the legs, the bridle is ...

Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 4

The horse that puts his head down or takes the bit in his teeth has to be treated in a different manner. Loose the reins, then pull the bit sharply through his mouth from one side to the other, which ...

Chapter V. Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 5

MOST people imagine they know how to ride when once they get beyond the falling-off stage, but sticking to the pigskin is not a knack to be acquired in a day, and a man cannot pose as a fine horseman ...

Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 6

I hope you will have found out the mysteries of harnessing before you start on this expedition, but I will take the opportunity of giving a few hints. We will return to the collar, to which I have ...

Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 7

I feel certain that the reader I am addressing is not the sort to ill-treat dumb animals of any kind, and I am sure he will understand that when in charge of a horse the responsibility for its welfare...

Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 8

The natural fear we have of being on horseback is the first thing to be overcome, and the only way to gain confidence is to ride an animal that is absolutely quiet. When that confidence has once becom...

Various Hints In Riding And Driving. Part 9

If you fall with your horse over a fence, you may take no more hurt than if knocked over in the football-field. Stick to the saddle as long as you can, and when you find the position no longer tenable...

Part II: Guns

Chapter I. Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun

What has become of the gun the gardener's boy used to shoot the poll-jays with when they came after the peas ? It was the first gun I fired off. It seems a long time since the days of that gun. When y...

Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun. Part 2

At the time I got this gun I was at home, and being coached by a tutor who lived about five miles away. To him I used to ride most days in the week. On my return home each day I generally found there ...

Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun. Part 3

The shots missed altogether or only half done, they are as the foozled strokes at golf, only one may recall them longer and with slightly more regret. The memory of sport, indeed, forms no small part ...

Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun. Part 4

Some people are too amiably disposed towards the reckless gunner. The story of the beater who casually remarked to another beater, Lord, how that gentleman there do put it into my gaiters ! is almo...

Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun. Part 5

What I have said against shooting at rabbits in cover in a dangerous way of course applies equally to all ground game; it applies also to low flying birds. Woodcocks occasionally fly very low indeed ;...

Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun. Part 6

Among those who do not shoot, and have not watched shooting with the shot-gun, there is a somewhat prevailing notion that, to shoot flying or running objects, the gunner lays his cheek against the sto...

Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun. Part 7

As we have seen, you do not in shooting at running or flying game aim as you do at stationary objects. The sight is not used : I don't see how the sighting-plate between the barrels can be used either...

Beginning To Shoot And The Management Of The Gun. Part 8

Nowadays, I fancy, not many gunners fill their own cartridges, unless they are rather faddy about the exact sorts and proportions of powder and shot they shoot with. In the days I speak of, by the w...

Chapter II. Rabbits, Partridges, And Pigeons

Covert shooting, where beaters only are used for moving the game and driving it to the guns, will be treated of by Mr. Portman. Here we will deal with the covert shooting where dogs are used, and the ...

Rabbits, Partridges, And Pigeons. Part 2

Sometimes the strip of covert to be taken runs parallel with either a fairly broad or narrow woodland ride, and one gun walks along this ride whilst the keeper and the other gun walk through the under...

Rabbits, Partridges, And Pigeons. Part 3

This method of walking the low underwoods and shooting with dogs resembles in the main partridge-shooting where the birds are not driven ; except that in walking up partridges, as I am accustomed to t...

Rabbits, Partridges, And Pigeons. Part 4

Pigeon-shooting from November till February is very good fun. To enjoy it to any extent you must have the right to enter and shoot in woods large or small. Large woods are far better for this pursuit,...

Rabbits, Partridges, And Pigeons. Part 5

Sometimes the rabbit, when he is just out, stops a second or two before running off. If the gunner is within ten yards or so of the hole, he will be glad to give the rabbit a few more yards' grace, fo...

Rabbits, Partridges, And Pigeons. Part 6

But you often cannot be at all sure where the rabbit will come out, or in what direction he will go when out. The one thing sure is that he will travel at a great pace. Sometimes he comes out to bolt ...

Chapter III. Advanced Shooting. Pheasant Shooting

For a great number of years now pheasant-shooting has been very popular with sportsmen here and in other parts of Europe, and most novices think when seeing these birds get up, out of low scrub or in ...

Grouse And Partridge Driving

At the beginning of my remarks on these forms of sport, to many people the most fascinating there are, I would draw the careful attention of my readers, of no matter what age, to the fact that they ar...

Part III: Dogs

Chapter I. Dogs In Books And Real Life

The dog is the boy's best companion. Walks with my tutor are all very well, but walks with my dog are what he really enjoys. The dog has perhaps the best of it, in point of intelligence, but the boy...

Dogs In Books And Real Life. Part 2

Scott would have been the man to consult about the best kind of dog to make a companion of, but Scott is gone. I have kept a good many sorts myself, from deerhounds stately as Maida, down to the toy t...

Dogs In Books And Real Life. Part 3

All dogs have a dash of jealousy in their natures. You may take it as a general rule that the more a dog loves you, the more jealous he will be. You are patting the head or playing with the ears of a ...

Dogs In Books And Real Life. Part 4

I daresay, like veterans telling of their wars, the old gentleman may have exaggerated the many anecdotes he related of that dog's sagacity. Yet I do not know, for nothing he said could surpass the we...

Dogs In Books And Real Life. Part 5

It is impossible to lose a dog in a neighbourhood he knows, unless he lets himself be picked up, which is unlikely. He naturally gives strangers a wide berth, and it is long odds against his coming ac...

Dogs In Books And Real Life. Part 6

In towns, as I said, you must keep the dog under difficulties, and do the best you can, with the terror of losing him. If the city dog does not sicken, he loses flesh and spirit, and if you are really...

Dogs In Books And Real Life. Part 7

If you must put a dog on chain, you are bound to make him comfortable. The first thing is to see that he is always supplied with fresh water ; indeed all dogs should have water within reach, with a lu...

Chapter II. Breeds Of Dogs

Writing for boys, it is no sort of use going through the long catalogue of breeds. What you want is a good friend and cheery companion. Some dogs are naturally fools, others are delicate, and only to ...

Breeds Of Dogs. Part 2

As the beagle is the dwarf of hunting dogs, the stately deerhound is the giant. Sinewy and compact, of massive muscle, he is a magnificent type of the stalwart Highlander. Now, however, he is used in ...

Breeds Of Dogs. Part 3

The Newfoundland is another imposing figure, of dignified and gentlemanly bearing. Enormously strong, he seldom presumes on his strength, and yields to none in sagacity and fidelity. He is hardy, as m...

Breeds Of Dogs. Part 4

Height is no recommendation in a collie, and the most handsome are of medium stature.1 The small and well-shaped head, with the lofty brain, is that of a thoughtful philosopher, and the ears lying bac...

Breeds Of Dogs. Part 5

I have written at more or less length on the dogs I consider most companionable. But there are others, not so common or not so popular, whose acquaintance is nevertheless worth cultivating. In the way...

Chapter III. Dog Diseases And Their Cures

The worst of getting attached to a favourite dog is that he is short-lived at the best, and his loss can only be a question of brief time. Moreover, it is provoking to know that dogs take no sort of c...

Dog Diseases And Their Cures. Continued

Consumption, as I said, is far from uncommon ; it is likely to make progress before it is suspected, and is really incurable. It begins with a cough, but there are no signs of fever; the victim gradua...