THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 27 



adopted for upwards of twenty years is now becoming 

 more general ; but when I first commenced it, it was 

 quite contrary to that pursued by my friends and 

 neighbours, and particularly obnoxious to my groom, 

 who told me my horses would be ruined — that every 

 feed of com they ate in the summer was thrown away 

 upon them — that their legs would be spoiled — their 

 feet contracted ; and that they would be blind, broken- 

 winded, etc. The system I allude to is, never to give 

 a hunter what is called " a summer's run at grass," and, 

 except under particular and very favourable circum- 

 stances, never to turn him out at all. 



When the utility of any generally adopted practice 

 becomes doubtful, it is entitled to a fair discussion ; 

 but before we condemn it we should be certain that 

 it is wrong ; and when a man takes upon himself to 

 contradict received opinions, and prejudices sanctioned 

 by time, he should bring valid proof of what he asserts. 

 He should set aside the authority of others, and use 

 his own reason. He should refer to his own experience, 

 which is the surest test of truth. When, however, 

 a gentleman undertakes to interfere with his groom in 

 the management of his stable, he has no trifling diffi- 

 culties to contend with. The pride of science is 

 humble when compared with the pride of ignorance ; 

 and ignorance and presumption accompany each other. 

 He must, therefore, be prepared for a contest ; but he 

 has the staff in his own hand, and he is wrong if he 

 yields it to another. 



I am now called upon to state why I consider 

 the practice of turning out hunters to what is called 



