energy and spirits, drawing a cover alive with Hares, not one of which a single dog will even look at. Should not this fact convince a keeper, that if he is often obliged to speak loudly to the brace of dogs he calls broken, there must be something radically wrong in his management? Is he satisfied that he began their education sufficiently early, and that he has been uniformly consistent since its commencement?
SHOOTING PONIES.
32. If you have to break in a shooting pony, you must adopt some such plan as that named in 27 and 28 to make him steady. Your object will be never to alarm him, and gradually to render him fond of the sound of the gun. To effect this, you will keep the pistol, or whatever arms you use, for a long time out of his sight. Commence by burning but little powder, and fire[9] at some distance from him. Always give him a slice of carrot or apple immediately after he hears the report, and, if you act judiciously and patiently, he will soon love the sound. You may then fire in his presence (turning your back upon him, as if he were not a party in any way concerned), and, by degrees, approach nearer and nearer; but do not go quite into his stall,—that would make him shrink or start, and you wish to banish all nervousness; the least precipitation would undo you; therefore begin in the stable, with only using a copper cap. Need I caution you against firing if near any straw?
RUSHING AT FENCES.
33. Confidence being fully established, pursue the same plan when you ride the pony. Again commence with a copper cap, only by slow degrees coming to the full charge. As before, always reward him after every discharge, and also at the moment when you pull up and throw the reins on his neck. If he finds he gets slices of carrot when he stands stock-still, he will soon become so anxious to be stationary that you will have to ride with spurs to keep him to his work. By such means you could get him to lead over fences and stand on the other side until you remount. Many years ago I had in Ireland a chestnut which did not belie his colour, for I purchased him far below his value on account of his great impetuosity with hounds. He had a sad habit of rushing at his leaps, but riding him in a smooth snaffle, and often giving him slices of carrot, gradually cured his impatience, and he ultimately became very gentle and pleasant. A naval officer, well known to a friend of mine, finding he could not by other means make his pony stand when the dogs pointed, used, sailor like, to anchor the animal by “heaving overboard” (as he expressed it) a heavy weight to which a line from the curb-bit was attached. The weight was carried in one of the holster pipes,—in the other was invariably stowed away a liberal allowance of “Grog and Prog.”
CHAPTER III.
INITIATORY LESSONS CONTINUED. SPANIELS.
34, 35. Initiatory Lessons in “Dead” and “Seek,” continued.—36. In Signals to hunt to the “right”—“left”—“forward.”—37. In the “Beckon.” Woodcock Shooting in America.—38. In looking to you for instructions.—39. In “Care.”—40. Always give a reward.—41. In “Up.”—saves using Puzzle-peg.—42. Dog to carry Nose high.—43. Initiatory Lesson in “Footing” a Scent.—44. In “Heel.”—45. In “Gone” or “Away.”—46. In “Fence” or “Ware fence.”—47. “No” a better word than “Ware.”—48. Accustomed to couples.—49. Initiatory Lessons in-doors with a Companion—when one “drops” the other to “drop.”—50. Makes “Backing” quickly understood.—51. Initiatory Lessons with a Companion in the Fields.—52. Initiatory Lessons save Time—make Dogs fond of hunting.—53. Checkcord described. Wildest Dogs possess most energy.—54. Advantages of Checkcord explained—Spaniels broken in by it.—55. Lad to act as Whipper-in.—56. Retriever that acted as Whipper-in.—57. Jealousy made him act the part. Might be taught to Retriever.—58. Instead of “down charge” coming to “heel.”—59. As Puppies kept close to you, not to “self-hunt”—“broke” from hare.—60. Blacksmith straps Horse’s Leg above Hock—Dog’s similarly confined—Shot-belt round the necks of wildest.—61. Hunted in Gorse.—62. Age when shown Game. Example of good Spaniels advantageous.—63. Perfected in “Drop”—taught to “seek dead”—to “fetch”—entered at Hedge-rows and lightest Covers. Bells to Collars.—64. To hunt further side of Hedge.—65. How Sportsmen may aid Keeper. In note, Covers for Pheasants. Hints to Tyros on Shooting and Loading (See Appendix).—66. Experienced Spaniels slacken Pace on Game.—67. Difficult to work young ones in Silence.—68. Spaniels that Pointed.—69. Game first accustomed to, most liked.—70. Principal requisites in Spaniels.—71. The signal “to point with finger.”—72. Following Cockers a Young Man’s work.—73. Education differs in different Teams.—74. One and a half couple of large Spaniels sufficient. One of the Team to retrieve.—75. Clumbers procuring more Shots in Turnips than Pointers.—76. Lord P——n’s highly