34 eONDITION. 



troducinc; directions for getting a horse into 

 condition, it will be most proper to fix the cri- 

 terion of commencement at that season when 

 a hunter, having had what is called a sum- 

 mer's run, is taken up with an intent to get 

 him into proper condition for the field. The 

 horse being taken up, if he is free from lame- 

 ness, and there is no blemish, infirmity, or 

 any other obstacle, to forbid such proceed- 

 ings, put him first upon a very moderate 

 proportion of hay and corn, and increase it 

 gradually, according to the size and consti- 

 tution. At the expiration of three or four 

 days, when the hard food may naturally be 

 supposed to have dislodged the grass, and 

 supplied its place, a proportion of blood 

 may be taken away, according to the size^ 

 state, strength, and temperament of the 

 horse, with due attention to the fle^h he 

 may have gained, or the impurities he may 

 have imbibed with his pasture. 



And here let me particularly caution the 

 operator and the owner against that slovenly^ 

 infenia! and contemptible, (not to add danger- 

 ous) practice of suffering the blood to fall in- 

 discriminately, in respect to quantity and 



