OF FARRIERY. 



441 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE HUNFER AND HACKNEY— RIDING IN THE FIELD.— OBSEKVA, 



TIONS ON THE CHASE, ETC. 



THE HUNTER. 



The English hunter is generally a Horse 

 between fifteen and sixteen hands in height, 

 from the half-bred to the thorough-bred 

 sppoies 5 and ought to be of a lofty forehand, 

 and shoulder well formed for action, with 

 wide and substantial loins, moderately short 

 legs and pasterns, and sound feet. The 

 fashion of riding full-bred and speedy Horses, 

 so prevalent of late years, was equally preva- 

 lent in the beginning, indeed original in the 

 system. But this chiefly takes place in light 

 land counties. Upon strong and heavy soils, 

 a powerful well-shaped half-bred Horse may 

 perform satisfactorily, and make a good figure ; 

 but upon light lands and downs, the speed and 

 rate of the high-bred courser are too much 

 above his powers, and he cannot long hold 

 way in such superior company. On a general 

 consideration, the three part or seven-eighth 

 bred Horse is best adapted to the purpose of 

 hunting, since, at the same time, acknowledg- 

 ing the superiority of the thorough-bred 

 Horse, it is so extremely difficult to obtain 

 him of that make and form, which shall suffi- 



ciently constitute strength with speed, as to 

 adapt him for the purposes of hunting. 



Hunting is obviously one of the most severe 

 labours of the Horse, yet one that is so 

 generally attractive to him, that (here are well 

 ' authenticated anecdotes of old hunters inspired 

 j by the music of their fellow-sportsmen the 

 hounds, breaking pasture over the most dan- 

 gerous fences, following the chase, and coming 

 first in at the death. 



The joints of a Horse cannot be sufficiently 

 fixed until six years old, to go through with 

 safety a season's hunting; although at five he 

 should be cautiously and moderately used in 

 the field. His education consists chiefly in 

 being taught to leap the bar, standing, since 

 generally, all Horses will take a flying leap, 

 in some form or other. The practice of the 

 leaping bar furzed around, is well known ; 

 but some grooms are too harsh and hasty with 

 the young Horse, whence many of irritable 

 tempers can never be afterwards made staunch 

 leapers. 



The first property of a good hunter is, that 

 he should be light in hand. For this purpose 

 his head must be sn)all ; his neck thin ; and 

 .5 T 



