240 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



always a certain number of the latter in his stables, 

 though condition was a stranger there. One year, 

 however, by the help of a Welsh pony, the riff, or 

 mange, was introduced amongst them, and they were 

 all regularly dressed over before the saddle-room fire 

 with sulphurous and mercurial preparations ; and 

 regular courses of mercurial and antimonial alteratives 

 were administered to them. The effect of all this 

 was so great that the old gentleman used ever after- 

 wards to declare that he never had his horses in con- 

 dition but once, and that was owing to their having the 

 mange. The effect, however, was visible for twelve 

 months afterwards. 



It happened to myself some years since to have 

 a brilliant hunter in my stable ; but of so vicious 

 a disposition that all attempts to clean, with wisp 

 or brush, certain parts of his body were attended 

 with great personal danger. Wishing to avoid 

 accidents, I always had him washed with warm water 

 and soap, to which he quietly submitted, and we dried 

 him as well as his temper would allow us. It then 

 occurred to me that washing hunters which had very 

 fine coats might be beneficial, inasmuch as it would 

 be the means of their being cleaned quickly, and the 

 effect of the warm water and the friction would be 

 beneficial to them after their fatigue. I lately found 

 out, during my visit to Melton, that Sir Henry Good- 

 ricke had done it for some time past in his stables in 

 Leicestershire, and had experienced from it the very 

 best results. 



Sir Henry was one of the very hardest riders of 



