THE HUNTER. 31 



. «. the horse on whieh a farmer, if he be not a professed sportsman, may 

 occasionally with pleasure, and without disgrace, follow the hounds, is in 

 value and beauty next to the racer. 



He shoulg seldom be under fifteen or more than sixteen hands high ; 

 below tliis standard he cannot always sufficiently measure the object befoie 

 him, and above this, he is apt to be leggy, and awkward at his work. 



In proportion as the agriculture of the country is improved, the speed of 

 the chase is increased. The scent both of the fox and hare will lie bettei 

 in inclosed and well-cultivated ground, than on open, barren heaths ; and 

 there is more running hreast-high than when the hound is compelled to 

 pick out the scent, carrying his nose almost close to the ground, and con- 

 sequently going more slowly. The character of the hunter is consequently 

 gradually changing. Stoutness is still required, but speed is becoming 

 more necessary, and, therefore, for the fox, and the deer, and even for the 

 hare, blood is an essential quality. 



In strong, thickly inclosed countries, the half-bred horse may get tolei*- 

 ably well along ; but for general use the hunter should be at least three- 

 quarters bred, perhaps seven-eighths. If he could be obtained with bone 

 enough, and different action, a thorough-bred horse would form the best of 

 all hunters : but the thorough-bred horse, with the usual action of the racer, 

 would not, even at three-quarters speed, always carry himself sufficiently 

 high to be aware of and to clear his fences. 



The first property of a good hunter is, that he should be light in hand 

 For this purpose his head must be small ; his neck thin ; and especiall} 

 thin beneath ; his crest firm and arched, and his jaws wide. The head 

 will then be well set on. It will form that angle with the neck which 

 gives a light and pleasant mouth. 



Somewhat of a ewe-neck, however it may lessen the beauty of the race- 

 horse, does not interfere with his speed, because, as is shown where the 

 structure of the horse is considered, more weight may be thrown forward, 

 and consequently the whole bulk of the animal more easily impelled ; at 

 the same time, the head is more readily and perfectly extended, the wind- 

 pipe is brought almost to a straight line from the lungs to the muzzle, and 

 the breathing is freer. Should the courser, in consequence of this form 

 of the neck, bear more heavily on the hand, the race is soon over ; but the 

 hunter may be our companion and our servant through a long day, and it 

 is of essential consequence that he shall not too much annoy and tire us by 

 the weight of his head and neck. 



The forehand should be loftier than that of the racer. A turf horse may 

 be forgiven if his hind quarters rise an inch or two above his fore ones. 

 His principal power is wanted from behind, and the very lowness of the 



man drops his flag- ; the other at the distance post drops his at the same moment, and the 

 horse which has not then passed that post is said to be distanced, and cannot start again 

 for tlie same plate or prize. 



A Feather-weight is the lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse. 



A Give and Take Plate is where horses carry weight according to their height. Pour- 

 teen hands are taken as the standard height, and horse must carry nine stone (the horse- 

 man's stone is fourteen pounds.) Seven pounds are taken from the weight for every inch 

 below fourteen hands, and seven pounds added for every inch above fourteen hands. A 

 few pounds additional weight is so serious an evil, that it is said, seven pounds in a mile 

 race are equivalent to a distance. 



A Post Match is for horses of a certain age, and the parties possess the privilege of 

 6ring-ing any horse of that age to the post. 



A Pbodcce Match is that between the produce of certain mares i;i foal at the time of 

 •he r>atch and to be decided when they arrive at a certain age specified. 



