46 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



into a large paddock, and the grass grows upon them, 

 some sheep should be put in with them to keep it 

 down. Their bite also sweetens the herbage, and 

 makes it more nutritious ; but paddocks should never 

 be mown. Paddocks, however, are always to be made, 

 and at a trifling expense. A small piece of ground — 

 say thirty square yards — is sufficient. Let it be 

 hurdled around, and then lined with faggots reared up 

 from seven to eight feet high. A stallion may be kept 

 in these places with the greatest safety as to his break- 

 ing out of them, for he will never attempt it so long 

 as he cannot see through or over the fence. The 

 faggots, so far from being worse, are better for the use 

 they are put to ; and they are within the reach of 

 every one who resides in the country at five shillings 

 a score, if he do not grow them himself. The hurdle 

 that lets the horse in and out should often be changed, 

 and then he will be still less inclined to attempt to 

 break out. 



However beneficial this turning out a horse in the 

 summer may be, it is comparatively trifling with the 

 advantages that are reaped by a winter's run. I have 

 seen horses, as it were, renovated in their constitution 

 by being turned out for a winter ; and, as far as re- 

 lates to their legs and feet, it is, I think, the only time 

 when anything effectual can be done for them, when 

 the injury has been considerable. 



I think I need say no more to convince the reader 

 of my full conviction of the injurious method of turn- 

 ing hunters out to a summer's run at grass, and shall 

 conclude that part of my subject with an anecdote 



