I own that I like to see three or four ladies out in a field, and
I like it the better if I am happy enough to count one or more
of them among my own acquaintances. Their presence tends to
take off from hunting that character of horseyness, of both
fast horseyness and slow horseyness, which has become, not
unnaturally, attached to it, and to bring it within the category
of gentle sports. There used to prevail an idea that the hunting
man was of necessity loud and rough, given to strong drinks, ill
adapted for the poetries of life, and perhaps a little prone to
make money out of his softer friend. It may now be said that this
idea is going out of vogue, and that hunting men are supposed to
have that same feeling with regard to their horses, the same and
no more, which ladies have for their carriage or soldiers for
their swords. Horses are valued simply for the services that they
can render, and are only valued highly when they are known to be
good servants. That a man may hunt without drinking or swearing,
and may possess a nag or two without any propensity to sell it or
them for double their value, is now beginning to be understood.
The oftener that women are to be seen "out," the more will such
improved feelings prevail as to hunting, and the pleasanter will
be the field to men who are not horsey, but who may nevertheless
be good horsemen.
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