274 THE HORSE. 
themselves, this kind of food being supposed to be particularly advan- 
tageous to them, from its cooling powers. The sudden change from a warm 
stable to the cold nights often met with in May frequently produced in- 
flammation of the lungs or bowels, and this alone was sufficient to cause 
the plan to be looked on with great suspicion as soon as it was shown that 
it was by no means absolutely necessary. But not only was this danger 
incurred ; for even if the hunter remained in good health during the 
summer, yet when he came up in August he was so fat and unwieldy 
from eating the succulent grasses of that season, that he was quite unfit to 
be ridden, and had to go through a series of severe sweats, which he was 
ill able to bear. Considering the slow pace at which hunting was carried 
on in the eighteenth century, a horse recently up from grass, if he had 
been allowed corn while out of doors, as was generally done, was able to 
go through a run, though it might be at the expense of the coat tails worn 
by his rider, which were liberally lathered with soapy sweat. But in the 
present day, when the hunter requires to be as fit as a race-horse, he must 
have the same amount of preparation; and we all know what sort of 
chance a horse would have of winning a race in November if he is eating 
nothing but grass in August. Indeed a fast run in Leicestershire is even 
more trying to condition than an ordinary race, because, though the pace 
is not quite so good, it is more true, and lasts four or five times as long. 
Hence the old plan has been almost universally given up, and the hunter 
is summered in a loose box, where he is generally “soiled” on vetches, 
lucerne, and clover. Moreover, it is found by practical experience, that 
far more good may be done in renovating the legs in-doors than out at this 
season of the year. In the winter, cold, starvation, and soft ground 
all combine to restore the legs to a cool and healthy state; and a run 
from October to May will do far more good than the same time passed in 
a loose box. But during the summer the ground is hard, the sun shines 
fully upon the legs, so as to inflame them if they have any tendency, that 
way, and the grasses are so succulent that the body becomes heavy and 
the blood full of gross humours, both of which last conditions tell with 
double force upon the legs and feet. Again, the flies which are so tor- 
menting to horses in June, July and August, cause them often to gallop about 
in the most frantic manner, and thus not only is another obstacle presented 
to their improvement, but it very often causes these parts to become worse 
than in the season. Butsome will say that much of this risk may be avoided 
by turning the hunter out into the marshes, where the soil is always cool, 
soft, and moist. This is quite true; nevertheless, the gain to the legs is 
at the expense of the general system, which is so completely upset by 
moist grasses, that instead of eight or nine weeks it will require as many 
months to eradicate their ill effects. As far as the hunter is concerned, 
there can be no question in my mind that a loose box is the proper place 
for him during the summer; and that he should be allowed a yard to run 
into if it can possibly be so arranged admits of little doubt, but if this is 
inconvenient, the Nimrodian plan of confining him in the ordinary loose 
box is to be accepted in its entirety. The hack or harness horse does not 
receive so much injury from a summer's run as the hunter, but if he 
requires rest for his legs, it is far better to turn him out in the winter 
season than during the opposite division of the year. Nevertheless, as 
there are still some advocates of the summer’s run at grass, I shall give 
directions for it, as well as for the soiling in the stable, as advised by 
“Nimrod.” 
So1Linctis conducted as follows :—At the conclusion of the hunting season 
