134 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



total derangement of the necessary organs of action 

 presented itself. 



The next is an instance e contra. Three years ago 

 I heard of a horse, the property of a farmer near 

 Gloucester, that had been going particularly well with 

 Colonel Berkeley's and Mr Hornyold's hounds, and 

 was for sale ; but though he was what we call " all 

 over a hunter," no one would purchase him, because 

 he had " small contracted feet," as they were de- 

 nominated, and was " certain to be lame." His price 

 was 150 guineas. Being at this time on a visit to 

 Mr Homyold, I got on my hack the next morning, 

 and rode to see him. I found him just as he had 

 been described to me, with small feet, high heels, 

 and frogs not within an inch of the ground ; but, 

 convinced of his soundness, I bought him for £150, 

 and sent him part of the road that evening into 

 Warwickshire, with orders to my groom to give him 

 a dose of physic previously to my riding him with 

 the hounds. He, however, very soon attracted the 

 eye of a celebrated sporting character in that country, 

 who rides heavy, and who gave me the price of another 

 good horse for him, in addition to what he cost me, 

 and does me the honour to call him " Nimrod." He 

 has never been at all lame, or even tender in his feet, 

 nor would his owner take 500 guineas at this moment, 

 if such a price were offered for him. I may here add 

 that Hermit (p. 64) , who was sold for so large a price 

 in Leicestershire, had very narrow heels with very small 

 frogs, but was never lame from such causes in his life, 

 and was most particularly good on the road. On 



