244 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



to be sure, or at least a palliative ; but I had rather a 

 horse of mine should endure the disease it is intended 

 to relieve, until I could bring a better medicine to his 

 aid ; and were I to become possessed of a hunter 

 which required clipping, I would put up with his long 

 coat and evening sweats, until, by strengthening his 

 general system, I got rid of the latter, to which the 

 former is by no means a certain contributor. It is 

 quite possible — and I have an instance at this moment 

 in my own stable — for a horse to have a long coat ^ 

 (and some horses at certain periods will not wear a 

 short coat), but still to look very blooming to the eye, 

 and dry immediately after a sweat, as is the case with 

 the horse I speak of. I am not weak enough to suppose 

 that clipping will not continue to be practised because 

 one individual disapproves of it ; but I may be 

 allowed to say I will never after this year practise it 

 again. The horse I had clipped last winter must now, 

 I fear, be clipped again, for I abhor the sight of him 

 in his present state — his coat somewhat resembling 

 a poodle dog ; but his evening sweats are got rid of 

 by the method I pursued with him in the summer, 

 which I shall presently detail. Clipping may be all 

 very well for those who cannot, or will not, get their 

 horses into condition by other means ; and to such 

 only do I recommend it. 



^ Two or three of my brother sportsmen have told me that 

 keeping their horses up in the summer has not shortened their coats 

 so much as they expected ; but they all said they dried immediately 

 after coming into their stables, and were not subject to evening 

 sweats after hunting — a most material point gained. I am happy 

 to say I have not met with one man who has had reason to repent 

 having followed my advice. 



