ON HUNTING. 57 



a well set splint or a few wind galls, provided the price is in 

 proportion. None of these will prevent the horse coming 

 out to do his bit. But be warned by one who has suffered 

 badly at first and in a lesser degree as glimmerings of sense 

 came. Beware of curbs, spavins, broken down tendons, 

 foot diseases and weak constitutions. Should the horse 

 which looks like winning the Grand National have a 

 curb, do not look at him twice ; he will land you sooner 

 or later, usually sooner. If fired, the dealer will tell 

 you it was done as a two-year-old to strengthen his 

 hocks. Do not believe him. Another which should be 

 first at Olympia has a spavin. Not as a gift would I 

 take him. Another, well mannered, a beautiful jumper, 

 handsome enough to carry the fortunes of an emperor, 

 turn down without a second glance if he has any symptoms 

 of laminitis or navicular. These are the commonest and 

 worst faults. There are scores of others. I could go into 

 a lengthy description of them, but get a veterinary book 

 and study them for yourself. The next most important 

 thing is constitution. Some horses are never sick or sorry, 

 others are always wrong and easily upset, and after a hard 

 day are not fit to come out again for a fortnight. If a horse 

 will eat and rest well after a day's hunting, he will come out 

 again soon ; but one that frets, breaks out into a sweat and 

 will not eat is always light and washy in constitution, and 

 will not put on flesh and keep fit. I have noticed that if a 

 horse is broad and firm at the root of the neck just in front 

 of the withers he is often strong constitutionally. He must 

 be good behind the saddle, strong loins and barrel-like ribs, 

 anything but flat sided or herring gutted. If you can find 

 perfect shoulders, well and good ; but if the horse rides well 

 and gives you a good " feel " at all paces, especially down hill 

 and across ridge and furrow, his shoulders will be right, 

 whether they look it or not. Avoid a horse with a tail set 

 on low down, tucked in and mean-looking ; he is usually 

 underbred. Also keep clear of a sunken, sullen eye. He 

 will do something wrong you may be sure. If his legs are 

 clean and do not " fill " and get puffy after a day's hunting, 

 you have a horse which will save you a lot of trouble. Do 

 not buy a horse at auction unless you know all about him, 



