I90 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



It should be fresh from the rick, or it imbibes moisture 

 from the air ; and when of this description, a little of 

 it is sufficient, as it will supply in quality what it 

 wants in quantity, Oats should be short and sweet, 

 and should rattle as they are put into the bin, and if 

 of the last years' growth but one they are to be 

 preferred. 



I have a little more to say on the subject of water. 

 All alterations of diet affect the animal economy ; but 

 with horses in high condition nothing does it so quickly 

 and visibly as a change of water. The number of 

 pumps and ponds between Newmarket and Doncaster 

 will, nineteen times out of twenty, secure the St Leger 

 Stakes to the north-country horses, and vice versa with 

 our great Stakes in the south. I had not been at 

 Brighton three days last winter before I experienced 

 the effect of the water in the altered appearance of 

 my horses. 



I do not approve of the practice of constantly giving 

 hunters warm water in the house. It should stand 

 in the stable for at least one night before it is used, 

 and then it is perfectly safe, when horses have not 

 been sweated, or been with hounds. As, however, 

 a draught of cold water has always a slight effect on 

 the circulation, a hood or extra cloth should be thrown 

 over a horse's loins after he has partaken of it. 



A handful of bran stirred up in a bucket of cold 

 water has a two-fold effect. It softens the quality of 

 the water, and from the colour it imparts to it encour- 

 ages horses to drink gruel when they come home after 

 hunting. The danger of giving cold water after a 



