180 HUNTING 



be regarded as the insane prejudice of an antediluvian 

 dowager. Such horses were useless as hacks, let alone 

 as hunters. It is a matter for congratulation that, 

 except for funerals, the funeral dirge has been sung in 

 this country over Flemish horses. 



The second question, namely, whether hunters should 

 be put between the shafts, is one that requires deeper 

 consideration ; for while a keen man to hounds would 

 not hesitate to ride the best carriage-horse in his stable 

 in default of anything better, many men hesitate 

 before putting a hunter into harness. In the case of 

 a very valuable hunter, i.e. a horse worth 150 guineas 

 or more, we are inclined to doubt the expediency of 

 harness work ; but then it is seldom that the necessity 

 arises, for the man who can afford to give such a 

 figure for his hunters would always be well provided 

 with trappers. In no case should a hunter, or indeed 

 a hack for that matter, be asked to draw anything with 

 four wheels ; the hard pulling work is sure to make 

 his legs fill, and it may take some time before they are 

 right again. But we think that light dog-cart work 

 not only does a horse no harm, but, on the contrary, 

 serves to keep him in hard condition, presuming 

 that his feet and legs are such as we have said they 

 ought to be in our chapter on the Hunter, more 

 especially if the cannon or leg bone is short in com- 

 parison with the forearm, and the fetlocks are free 

 from any enlargement of bone. The prejudice against 

 putting hunters into harness is that the "'ammer, 

 'ammer, 'ammer on the 'ard 'igh-road" knocks their 

 legs about, and, of course, when worked in harness, 



