THE HALF-BRED HUNTER 113 



THE HALF-BRED HUNTER 



The Hunter in our fast countries, such as Leicestershire, Northamp- 

 tonshire, parts of Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, is generally selected 

 (if the purse will permit it) with a pedigree entirely contained in the 

 Stud-book. There are, however, few true thoroughbreds that can carry 

 12 stone across country, that is to say, as compared with the number 

 of hunting men of that weight, and consequently their price is raised 

 to a height that can only be reached by a long purse. A "made 

 hunter" of this class is worth from £250 to £500 according to his 

 "manners" — for as many of them have been broken for the racing 

 stable and have passed through that mill, they are liable to be some^ 

 what inclined to pull, and to exhibit other failings incidental to that 

 school. In cramped countries, the thoroughbred horse is not so well 

 calculated as the half-bred to get over standing jumps, for his hind- 

 legs are not so well under him; and from the absence for generations 

 of practice in any paces but those required for racing, he has lost in 

 some measure the power to put his fore- and hind-feet wherever they 

 are wanted to be, which is so constantly in demand in " provincial 

 countries." Where, however, pace is the chief desideratum, and where 

 hounds go so fast that without that quality in the horse, also, his 

 rider is soon thrown out, the thoroughbred horse alone can be sure of 

 keeping a front place, and for that reason is in such great demand. 

 He can undoubtedly carry any weight up to 12 stone, or even 

 sometimes 16 stone, over a wider brook or double post and rails, 

 than the half-bred, but I know of no instance in which a pure thorough- 

 bred has ever got over any very high jump, such as a six-foot stone 

 wall or piece of timber. Chandler and Proceed, who cleared thirty-seven 

 feet and thirty-nine feet respectivel}'', were both thoroughbred, though 

 not in the Stud-book, and no half-bred horse has ever come near to 

 these performances ; but if a match was made to get over a high 

 wall no one would select a thoroughbred horse for that purpose. Hence, 

 the half-bred hunter has still many admirers, and, on the average, nine- 

 tenths at least of the horses which appear at the covert side throughout 

 the kingdom must be included in this class. Many have fully seven- 

 eighths of pure blood, and perhaps few have less than that proportion, 

 but there is a distinct stain in the third or fourth generation which 

 entitles them to affix h.b. to their names if they are entered for any 

 race where there is an allowance for half-breds. There is always great 

 difficulty in obtaining the bones and joints in a thoroughbred of sufficient 

 size to stand the shocks of the hunting field, and for weeds of this 

 class there is a very limited sale. Hence, the breeder naturally avoids 

 the risk, especially as he must go to a very high price for his mares 

 if he is to obtain them of such a size and substance as he will desire. 

 A half-bred mare may be purchased for £20 or £30 with big legs 

 and joints, and she therefore is chosen, often without knowing her 

 pedigree or even where she was foaled. The consequence is that the 

 country is deluged with colts of all shapes and characters, some of which 



