The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-11-12

is generally the weight required by
 judges in the hunter classes at the va l TiOus horse shows. But suppose such
 hore has been successfully foaled. From that time until he i sold he IS
 under the constant watch of his owner, who brings him up as patiently and carefully aa a mother does child. Patience above all things is the most important factor in successfully ra1s-
 ing and training a horse of any kind,
 and particularly hunter From the time when he Is Weaned from his moth CT his education begins, Often when yea1ling a saddle will be put on his back and he will be led about to ac- custom him to the sensation,
 When he is turned three years work is begun on him in earnest. If he is a spring colt, that is, born in the spring, the winter preceding his third birthday
 is passed in quieting him, and. a9 the
 trainer calls it, handling him, or get
 ting him used to the bridle saddle and
 stable life. If he is we'll grown and
 with no physical defects he is ridden
 by boy or jockey for the first tim
 that spring. This epoch in his life is generally accompanied by objections
 from him and lively half hour is the
 result; but after two or three rides he finds out that nothing is going to hurt
 him if he behaves himself, and so he goes along comparatively quiet After he is thoroughly broken and 'bride- wise" that is, he understands what is meant by pulling either rein, which he eoy ,JeN ha course of two or three months, with patient treatment, his jumping educa- ton is begun. Different trainers have different methods, but the best method is the following: The trainer on an old reliable hunter goes over two or three low fences and the colt in the hands of light jockey is persuaded to follow Sometimes, of course, trouble is ex- perienced, but generally a horse, with the breeding described instinctively loves the sport. After a few such trips across the country over low jumps the fences are raised and the old horse Is dispensed with. He generally by this time, understands the work and goes about it thoroughly. His faults in form are carefully corrected and the touches put on him, one of which includes, generally, docking his tail.
 Sometimes it is said that to jump a horse is cruel: that it is an exercise which is foreign to his nature; but no greater mistake could possibly be made than for one instant to believe such to be the case. Any one who has ridden a wall hi icrl,- +; ;,.l jump and has felt the quiver of ex- citement pass over the noble brute; who has felt him gather his mighty muscles for the leap, and setting his ears for ward and taking the bit in his teeth, make that irresistible rush before the spring IS made, cannot think anything out that he loves it as well as his rider.
 By the time all the details of his train i ng have been mastered, and he has | proved himself up to all that was ex- | 1ected of him, he e taken up to his [ irst meet, This experience is generally l marked also by many exciting happen { ngs He is all of fidget, anyhow, at |
 o'clock in the morning, when the | un's rays haven't even begun to ap- | )ear, and the frost and mist are yet ranging over everything. The slow [ ide of a mile or so in this braeing weather only serves to wake him thor 'ughly. How he wishes for a gallop to [ warm him up! But his rider, who, this inc, is generally his owner, won't let linn He is in very mischievous hllm- IT when the place where the club Is to f. meet is reached, and after he gets there ba h1l St # bp Fpy f | f the hounds succeed in provoking hem Ii 0 spasm of terror, which he generally lsplays by performing the most fearful nd wonderful bucks that sometimes would put a Texas bronco to his trumps 0 equal. After while he is quited, nd the dogs are put into the covert, h There Reynard is supposed to be. The Id hunters stand still, but with their ars pricked up for the first deep note I the hound who finds" He don't see oW they can be so unconcerned. He dgets, rears and pulls, while his own ( 2 endeavors to soethe him. While he l ] standing still for the first second nee he has been there, a wild chorus { 'om the hounds crashes into the morn- f lg silence, long, red something breaks Ut of the covert on the far side and s ys course toward the mountains, Yelve miles away, the huntsmen rise k l their stirrups as one man and give C le view halloo," and newell, he for V cts everything. He is conscious of a V lsh of horses hoofs, a stampede at a gh stone wall, which he clears with + ghteen inches to spare, for the art of lsbanding his strength he has not yet V armed, and will not until taught by r Sperience. i He is mad for the first three or fo,,r f alds So provoking that the quiet 1t and on his reins wont let him go! He f
 sure he could pass the hounds and Itch the fox himself, if his rider would h lily give him the chance. But after he t as' laid mile or so behind him, he a yes up his wild plunges and settles { | 'wn to the long, rapid, i1ntiring gal r ? of the other older horses, taking h oh fence as 1t comes with just an inch Ii