142 THE HUNTER. 



In buying a hunter the novice should endeavor to obtain 

 a horse that possesses the following desirable qualifications : 



1. A horse that has "gone well " over the country it is 



intended to hunt him in. 



2. A horse that jumps in " cold blood," i. e., does not 



require a lead or the presence of other horses. 



3. A horse that has pluck enough to keep the pace, but 



that is always sufficiently under the control of the 

 rider for the latter to determine the direction or 

 set the pace. 



4. A horse that is equal to carrying, without undue 



fatigue, the rider's weight, under the most try- 

 ing conditions presented by the character of the 

 country. 



5. A horse that " pops over " his jumps instead of " fly- 



ing " them ; the latter form is more enjoyable but 

 is decidedly more dangerous. 



6. A horse that is old enough to withstand the severe 



nature of the work without injury to the ten- 

 dons and bones, but not so old as to be in 

 any way handicapped by the failings of old age. 

 Between seven and nine years may be considered 

 the hunter's prime. 



7. A horse that has considerable thoroughbred blood in 



his veins. A horse three-quarters bred has been 



found to make the best hunter. 



The tyro must bear in mind that in every hunting coun- 

 try there are always "screws " for sale and that the members 

 of the hunting fraternity are not so much more altruistic 

 than other human beings that they will sell their best hunt- 

 ers unless for some particular reason, such as a man giving 



