Part 4 (1/2)
The b.u.t.tons should be black, with the name, design, or monogram of the hunt in white or gold. The correct coat is made without a seam in the middle of the back and with two vents at the side instead of one in the middle, and is somewhat shorter than the habit coat that many women wear. It may be made with five or three b.u.t.tons, according to the wearer's fancy, but preferably with five.
An ap.r.o.n or half-ap.r.o.n skirt should be worn, for safety's sake.
The boots must be of black calf. Patent-leather or russet boots are not correct in the field.
A silk hat is correct, but a derby or a hunting hat, such as I have described in chapter VIII, may be worn, and a hat guard, such as I have there described, is necessary.
Either tan dog-skin or white buckskin gloves are correct.
An Ascot stock should be worn with a plain bar gold pin.
Attached to the two D's on the off-side of the saddle should be a sandwich case with a flask in it, a sandwich in the case, and a drink in the flask.
[Ill.u.s.tration: SANDWICH CASES AND FLASKS]
A pair of white woollen gloves must be carried on the off-side under the flap.
In England a crop is always carried in the field. In this country it is correct, but a cutting whip may be carried instead. If a crop is carried it may have a thong, although, personally, I think it a great nuisance.
The saddle and bridle are the same as I have described in chapter IX, except that, in the field side-saddle, a woman should always use a breastplate, and if she has a horse that cannot carry a breastplate she had better not hunt him.
As I state in chapter IX, a standing martingale should never be used in the field, but a running martingale may be used if the horse requires it, as is often the case. For many horses the best bit to use in the field is a plain snaffle, with very large rings, so that the bit cannot be pulled through the horse's mouth. The bridle should have a cavesson, instead of the usual noseband. Other horses go better with what is known as a four-ring snaffle; that is, a snaffle which, instead of having the cheek pieces attached to the snaffle rings, has them attached to separate rings, the rings to which the cheek pieces are attached and the snaffle rings being of the same size and both much larger than the rings of an ordinary snaffle-bit. The reins only are attached to the snaffle rings in this form of bit. This bit is more severe than a plain snaffle, but much less severe than a curb.
Generally speaking, only riders with very light hands should use the curb bit in the hunting-field, unless with horses having unusually hard mouths, or ”pullers.” In going over the jumps it is very difficult to keep an even pressure on the curb, and there is great danger of bringing up the horse too short on landing.
CHAPTER VI
THE SHOW RING
In showing horses under saddle, the mental and physical attributes of the rider have a greater scope than when riding under any other circ.u.mstances. Very frequently it is the rider who wins blue ribbons quite as much as the horse, and at every horse show one sees horses lose the ribbons which they should win because of the crude way in which they are shown. A woman, in justice to herself as well as to her mount, should not enter the show ring until she has become a thoroughly experienced and accomplished rider, and however well a woman may ride in the park or in the field, it by no means follows that she will be able to bring out the best points of a horse in the ring.
Just as there are horses which win countless blue ribbons in shows, but do not compare with other horses in the field or for general use, so, on the other hand, there are women whose only delight is the show ring.
They hunt not, neither do they hack.
The experience which has been gained in ordinary riding will not be of very great a.s.sistance in showing ”horse show horses”; that is, horses which are kept only for show purposes. These animals require most careful handling and a thorough comprehension of their individual characteristics.
[Ill.u.s.tration: LADY'S PARK HACK TYPE (CORINNE)]
The most important thing for a woman to bear in mind when showing horses is to be a cheerful loser. A feeling of good-fellows.h.i.+p should pervade and the spirit of rivalry should not be carried to extremes. Do not think that you have been unfairly treated when you have not won, or that the losing of the blue necessarily means that your horse is not good. Perhaps on this occasion he was not in his best form and perhaps at some other time, before some other judge, you will have better success.
One should always remember this: that the names of the judges are published in advance, and if one does not care to submit one's horse to their judgment, one need not compete. If, by any unfortunate chance, the judges should be changed after one's horses are entered, there are two courses open--either to stay in and abide by their decision or withdraw one's horses and state the reason. Certainly, after having voluntarily submitted the horses to their judgment, it is most unsportsmanlike and contrary to the spirit of fair play to criticise the judges for their decision, and it has been my experience, after many years of showing horses, that the judges are fair and impartial and do their best to render their decisions upon the merits of the horses. One should also remember that the judges are usually men of very wide experience and thorough knowledge of the points of a horse, and that they see many faults and blemishes which would escape the eye of the spectator.
A horse presents an altogether different appearance when seen from within the ring to that which he presents from without. A horse that steps very high and has a flashy, all-round way of going and looks from without like a winner, may be seen from within the ring to have serious faults, such as dis.h.i.+ng, paddling, crossing forward, or spreading too wide behind. Outsiders, of course, do not have the opportunity which the judges have to examine the horses critically, and all they can base their judgment on is the general effect which a horse produces at a distance. A horse which may appear to an outsider strong and bold may, on closer inspection, be seen to be coa.r.s.e-necked and heavy in the shoulder or too big-boned for his cla.s.s, and a horse with truer action and better quality, conforming to the standard of his cla.s.s, may easily be overlooked by the outsider.
To prepare a horse for the show ring requires weeks and even months of work. He must be in perfect condition; his coat must be fine, his eye bright, and he must be neither too fat nor too lean, and his preparation must be so timed that, on the day of the show, he will be at the top of his condition. All this involves good feed, plenty of water, and quiet, systematic exercise.
It is most desirable that the person who is to show the horse should have ridden him several times before the show--the oftener the better--so that the horse and rider may know each other thoroughly, and the rider may understand all there is to be known about that individual horse's training, and how best to bring out his good points.
I consider it a bad plan for a horse to come into the ring too fresh.