The Newtown bee., 1906-03-09


 Many of the men in high hats, flaming red hunting coats, white brooches and top boots, ail spick and span. At the appointed hour the master leads the "feld" to the cover. The field re- mains on one side and the hounds are sent into the ''cover." l should have said that no one knows the cover to be drawn except the master. Tue night before the dens and holes are closed up while MT Fox has been off prowl ing. This is to prevent him running to earth. Shortly after the hounds have entered the cover they begin to yelp or give tongue. They have struck the fox's trail. Then your horse be- chase as any huntsman. After while the fox jumps from the cover and makes away through the fields. No one stirs. The hounds are still in the Ghicket, but they are on the scent and soon they break away, followed by the master. Then the field gallops after, the more daring in the lead. You can with difficulty rein in your horse. You may ask, why rein in your horse? We'll, used to do so in the beginning because I had been cautioned to be careful. The country was new to me. It is far different from America. The lelC6S lOF eAdLup ple.
 IN IRELAND A FENCE CONSISTS OF A
 BANK OF EARTH
 three or four feet high, with ditch along side as many feet deep. On the the ditch is three or four feet wide the whole makes formidable barrier. A horse must be specially trained to jump this fence. In America a hunt CT takes a rail fence at a single jump. That would be impossible in most cases in Ireland. An American borse would take the bank at single leap and land. perhaps, in the ditch, to the serious Injury of himself and rider. But it is astonishing, and at the same time a beautiful sight, to see the Irish bank, and then from the bank across the ditch. In training the horse to uo this he is first driven over these fences riderless. Ia the beginning he makes mistakes; as like as not f1oun- ders in the unsuspected ditch. But he soon learns what to expect beyond the bank. He then lands on the bank and calculates the jump across the ditch. Where the bank taperS to narrow top there is more difficulty and dan gers turk. The horse has not room to set his feet. There are some horses hut few in Meath, that are skilled in jumping this sort of fence. l have seen horses jump narrow bank in this way: They practically clear the bank, but the jump is so maneuvered that they strike the bank with their hind feet only as they go over, and thus derives momentum sufficient to carry them across the ditcn. It is tickliSh work and demands great judgment on the horses part, but there are horses that do it.
 I was naturally cautious until I learned what the horses could do Once rider knows his horses ability, and does not ask him to do the impos- sible, danger disappears. And with it hesitation. l will never forget what l may call my
 INITIATION INTO THE SECRETS OF
 IRISH HUNTING.
 One to the manor born kindly volun- teered to be my mentor. h the first hunt we took some sample jumps and I got on famously. But on the second or third occasion remember we were gal)Opfng across a field when l saw loom up before us an awful fence. The ditch was on our side, and the horse must jump the ditch and land on the bank on the opposite side. The bank was so high that l thought that the horse could not possibly land on it; he would strike the side and tumble back into the ditch. I was slowing up, de- termined not to take the risk. My mentor passed over successfully, how ever, and while l was doubting lady. noted huntress, put her horse to the fence. He hesiJated, baked. and when finally spurred on, pitched into the ditch. It was about five feet deep. 1 was horror-stricken. I thought sure ly there was casualty. The horse kept on his feet, however, and she re- tained her seat. She laShed him and he got out all right, a difficult feat. She pluckily put him to the jump again: and again he plunged into the ditch; and out she whipped him again. All this happened in few moments My mentor, from the opposite was call ing on me to follow. But had de termined not to attempt it. At length he called on me to give the lady "a lead" And after her second discom- iture she rode up to me and said: You go over and give me lead What was 1 to do? Was l to be set down as tenderfoot? Was I to go all the way from America to Ireland to be dubbed the chicken-hearted? All these thoughts passed through my mind in an instant. My heart was in my mouth, but I was determined to give the lady "a lead," cost what it might. put my mare to the fence and over she went like a bird, and as we scamp cred across the field 1 had the satis- faction to see the lady gradually over- take and pass me, for her horse could gallop. A horse alone may refuse a fence which he will readily take when he sees another horse do so. This is what is meant by "givjng lead." I relate this incident to show that to hunt it is necessary to have good horse and to know what he can do True, one must be rider and have a firm seat, but the great thing is hav- ing horse that makes no mistakes. l saw many falls, but fortunately none had serious results. This incident re- lated above was my initiation. After that hunt was tame, if some risky ju mps were not encountered.
 l must say that
 IN THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE CHASE a hunter will do many things, take many risks, that he would not do in cold blood. l have read of men going into battle fearful and timid, their knees quaking, who, when the fight was on, did heroic deeds, unconscious