Avoid night travelling if you can, but if you must do it, always start before midnight. When alone and unarmed keep within hail of your caravan, or keep at least one servant with you. It is easy to miss both caravan and road. If you have a swift horse it does not much matter.
See that your horses get their corn, and that they eat it; also that they are rubbed down when unsaddled, and are properly groomed two hours after feeding; also watered night and morning. Examine their backs, shoes, and hoofs each morning, and never take your groom’s word as to backs.
Insist on your saddlery, stirrups, and bits being bright each day.
Carry a big hunting crop and lash; even if you don’t mean to use it, the sight of it prevents rudeness. Unless the part you are in is disturbed, arms are as a rule needless.
Boots and breeches are only needed in autumn and winter, otherwise Bedford cord trousers, or pantaloons, and shoes are better; no straps. Boots, if worn, should be very large, with low heels, and well greased daily with resin ointment, or Holloway’s.
Spurs save one’s temper and arms with a very lazy horse, but otherwise are a nuisance.
A knife with corkscrew and straight blade, a tin-opening blade, and a leather-borer, is a good and needful thing.
Money should never be carried; one’s servant should keep it, save a few kerans.
In very cold weather it is as well to put on a big pair of coarse country socks over one’s boots, and to twist a bit of sheepskin, with the hair on, round the stirrup iron; these precautions keep the feet warm.
A sun hat or topi is of the first necessity; also thick and strong loose-fitting gloves (old ones are best) of buckskin.