GREEN MEAT 239 



much, and the one I was riding not smoking at all, 

 but getting dry about the neck and shoulders, I rode 

 up to Sir Henry and pointed out the relative state 

 of our steeds — at the same time remarking to him, 

 that hunters should eat but a small quantity of green 

 food in the summer, and that only at intervals. 

 Sir Henry's horses have for many years been summered 

 in the house, eating plenty of com, but I have reason 

 to believe more grass than is good for them. 



I have often been asked what quantity of green 

 meat I would give a hunter in the summer. My 

 answer is — as much (repeated at intervals during the 

 months of May and June) as will relax his bowels 

 for three or four days together, and then put him back 

 on his hay. It is a very good plan to mix hay and 

 grass together ; and in my opinion, vetches (if given 

 at all) should never be given for any length of time 

 alone. Soiling animals in the stable is a practice 

 of very old date, having formed part of the Virgilian 

 system. 



I have also been more than once asked whether 

 I do not make rather a free use of antimonial alteratives. 

 My answer has been, that I do so — being convinced 

 that hunters, which must not be sweated like race- 

 horses, but which ought to have as much good keep 

 in them as they have, cannot be got clean in their 

 habit, and put into proper condition without them. 

 Of their efficacy I was by accident convinced very 

 early in life, by a circumstance which occurred in 

 my own family. My father was a better judge of 

 books than of horses, but, as a matter of course, had 



