254 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



before. I endeavoured several times to turn this 

 horse into a paddock early in the morning and late 

 at night, but nothing but a brick waU seven feet high 

 would have confined him in it ; and I should like to 

 shew many of my sporting friends one fence which 

 he came over to make his way to his stable door. All 

 through the warm months of August and September 

 this horse was obliged to go to his exercise covered 

 with clothing, and all attempts to ride him with harriers 

 in October were useless, as he would kick to such 

 a degree, the moment a fly settled upon him, that it 

 was dangerous to go near him. 



Now, reader, let me ask you what would have 

 become of this animal (No. 4) had he been turned 

 out into some gentleman's park for the summer ? 

 Perhaps you will say he would have become used 

 to the flies in time. We do not see that thick-hided 

 buUocks and cows become reconciled to them, nor 

 do I think it would have been the case with my horse ; 

 but, allowing the fact, this circumstance would not 

 have come to his relief until he had most materially 

 injured his legs and feet by galloping and stamping ; 

 and as to his body, I am satisfied that it would have 

 been reduced to a skeleton. No. 6 also, the only one 

 besides the two I have mentioned which was turned 

 into the paddock, came four times over the gate, 

 though bushed up with thorns, to get back to her 

 stable. So much, then, for the cruelty of keeping 

 hunters in the house in the summer ! And I think I 

 may be allowed to say, a prison — if a stable can be 

 called one — must lose its horrors when its inmates 



