THE HUNTER 



and trying a hunter on the premises of a horse dealer is not 

 always a great success, at any rate as far as the buyer is con- 

 cerned. It is, if possible, advisable to have a hunter on trial, 

 or if this is not convenient, the intending purchaser should ride 

 a horse to hounds on several occasions, and if he has confidence 

 in his own abihties as to his horsemanship, he will be in a position 

 to judge the faults that the animal has, remembering that it is 

 the business duty — allowing for the elasticity of conscience 

 attending such — of every seller to praise the quality of his 

 wares, and of the buyer to look for the converse. 



Some men believe in trying to find out all the " good " 

 points about an animal — its redeeming features — but to do 

 this with horseflesh is most certainly seeking quicksand. 



Returning to the subject re temperament one may safely 

 assert that elderly riders, those of nervous temperament, ladies, 

 and youths, should only be allowed to ride hunters proved to 

 be cool at their work, and free from vice in other ways. Age 

 has an influence, and so has sex, over temperament. x\ged 

 horses are more subdued as a rule, and some mares are more 

 excitable than geldings. The latter is not of much importance, 

 so that sex should not be allowed to interfere, provided the 

 animal is suitable in other respects. 



Too much care cannot be exercised in the purchase of a 

 lady's hunter, more especially when one considers how she is 

 situated as regards her seat. Before concluding purchase, the 

 lady should try the animal herself, and not be influenced by 

 what others say, but use her own intelligence as to suitability 

 or otherwise of her mount. Six or ^even years is quite young 

 enough to purchase a lady's hunter, and one that has been 

 regularly hunted (and jumped) by a lady should, if possible, be 



63 



