170 



The labour of the regular hunter, is sufficiently severe in the course- 

 of the season, to entitle him to rest during the remainder of the year; 

 in -which his time should be divided between the loose stable and the 

 pasture, where at his ease, he may recover from the fatigue, and bruises, 

 and strains, he may have undergone, in coursing, heavy-weighted, the 

 deep country, over hill and dale, impeded by neither hedge, ditch nor 

 fence. Suchliberal justice will enable him to face the same labours every 

 season, and for many seasons even to old age, with renewed courage 

 and steadiness, and relish for the sport and yearly improved faculties. 

 If the steadiness and safety, and skill in their business, of aged and 

 seasoned hunters and hackneys, are insufficient inducements for pro- 

 prietors to treat them justly and fairly, in order that soundness may, if 

 possible, accompany their latter services, we may add the extraordi- 

 nary prices of tlie present time, when a capital hunter, master of high 

 weights, may probably fetch at the hammer, from five to seven hun- 

 dred guineas. 



The youngest whipster of the honourable society of Nimrod, scarcely 

 need be reminded, that no Horse can be equal to the trying labours of 

 the field, until arrived at his ftdl strength and tone of muscle and fibre. 

 A moment's consideration on the inability of green and unsettled joints 

 standing unhurt, the drags and pulls of adeep soil, and the sudden shocks 

 of a high leap, will be decisive. If a five-years old be hunted, it should 

 be with a moderate weight, over a light country, rather by way of in- 

 struction and training, and with lessons not too frequently repeated. 



Leaping is a natural action of the Horse, but not that premeditated, 

 species styled the standing leap, Avhich every Horse must acquire, either 

 by lesson, or practice, in the field. A Horse thus acquires the facultj^ of 

 measuring with his eye, the bar or obstacle to his progress, before which 

 he stands, and with a spring to surmount it, clearing likewise any cavity 

 or unsafe ground on either side. This is performed by elevating his 

 fore quarters to the given altitude, launching forward, and as the finish- 

 ing stroke, drawing up his hinder feet nearly to the level of his flanks, 

 in order to escape hanging behind, or striking his legs against the top 

 of the object to be surmounted. Almost any Horse will take flying 



leaps 



