TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 429 



From the nature of the work, the hunter must be a horse 

 of more size, ruggedness, and constitution than the other types 

 of saddle horses. He must be a stayer at hard work, a jumper, 

 and a horse of courage and decent manners. His bone must 

 be of good size and of the right quality, and there must be an 

 evidence of strength throughout his conformation. Other- 

 wise he cannot long withstand the hardships of the hunting 

 field. 



Height and weight. With reference to height, much will 

 depend upon circumstances. Weight-carrying hunters are al- 

 ways more difficult to procure, and command higher prices. 

 Short, light-weight men prefer 15-2 hands to 15-3, but height 

 is quite subsidiary to conformation. Where fences are high, 

 tall horses are necessary, but conformation must not be sac- 

 rificed to this. Some hunters are nearly 17 hands. Hunters 

 are classed as light, middle, and heavy weight according to their 

 size and weight. Most of the hunting horses in use range in 

 height from 15-2 to 16-1 hands, and in weight from 1,000 to 

 1,250 pounds. 



General appearance. The general appearance of the hunter 

 should be that of a thin-skinned, big-boned, small-headed, fine- 

 shouldered, deep-chested, clean-legged animal, with a neatly 

 turned, compact body, and having a facial expression of great 

 keenness, docility, and quick perception. 



Head. The head should be refined; the forehead straight; 

 the eyes large and prominent; the ears erect and thin; and the 

 skin covering the head and face should also be thin, rendering 

 the various prominences upon the skull easily apparent. The 

 high-class hunter should have a mild, keen, and extremely in- 

 telligent expression. 



Neck. The neck must be long, narrow towards the poll, 

 and the head should be carried obliquely, a lofty carriage being 

 undesirable in the hunter. As the shoulders are approached, 

 the neck should increase in width, be of moderate thickness, 

 and clean along its upper border, with a closely-cropped mane. 

 Many hunters are very weedy in the neck, and if this is the case, 

 the horse is unable to recover himself in the event of a fall, as 

 the muscles of the neck materially assist in raising the forepart 

 of the body in its attempt to regain balance. 



Withers. The upper border of the neck should pass into 

 high withers, and most of the best hunters are high in this 

 region. 



