2o8 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



to breed until she had carried that ornament to fox- 

 hunting, the late Sir John Hill of Hawkeston, for 

 eleven seasons, when she produced, if I may so express 

 myself, a thousand pounds' worth of horse-flesh in 

 the space of seven or eight years. I myself gave two 

 hundred and sixty guineas for two of her colts when 

 rising four years old, and they both proved good 

 hunters. From what other stock, may I ask, could 

 such a return be made ? I may safely assert that the 

 produce of this mare more than reaUsed the fee simple 

 of the land that reared them. 



I have not time to be prolix, therefore must come 

 to the point. When a prudent man lets loose his 

 capital, his first consideration is whether it will return 

 to him again. In this instance he may make sure 

 of it if he will follow these simple directions. Let 

 him purchase a well-bred mare, not so much regarding 

 her size as her points and action — particularly requiring 

 that she have a sound constitution and good legs. 

 Let him send her to a horse also of good form, with 

 freedom of action and a sound constitution ; also being 

 particular as to the state of his legs and feet. Never 

 let him breed from a naturally infirm horse, whose legs 

 have shown more than ordinary weakness ; ^ and, 

 above all, let him fix upon one which has what the 

 veterinary profession call a short canon — that is, 

 the bone extending from the knee to the fetlock, com- 



^ Though of course we should prefer legs that have never given 

 way, yet a stallion that has raced much is not to be rejected because 

 he has broke down at last ; but we should carefully avoid those 

 which have thrown out curbs, spavins, ring-bones, etc. 



