10 NOTES FOR HUNTIXG-MEX 



constitutions, these youngsters, unless they are 

 clean-bred, cannot have the condition in them 

 which is necessary for a long day's hunting ; and of 

 course they have their infantine ailments to come, 

 and are more liable to throw out splints, curbs, &c. 

 than your seasoned hunter. Therefore, to start 

 with, buy the latter. He may cost you more, but 

 he will give you infinitely better value for your 

 money. Eemember, too, that, putting on one side 

 fancy prices, the initial outlay does not weigh very 

 heavily in comparison with the other expenses 

 connected with horse-keeping — the stabling, forage, 

 grooming, &c. Therefore, never buy screws ; they 

 do not pay, as I can testify from experience. 



You may possibly ask : ' What is a fancy price? ' 

 Well, I consider, for a man riding twelve to thirteen 

 stone to hounds, anything over 150/. would come 

 under that category. Of course, if you go in for 

 fads as to colour, or want theoretical perfection 

 of make and shape, combined with undeniable per- 

 formance, twice that sum will not mount you, 

 whatever weight you ride ; but 100/. to 150:. ought 

 to buy a thirteen-stone man a really good hunter 

 lit to carry him in any country, especially if he can 

 afford to lay out his money at the end, instead of 

 the beginning, of the hunting season. This is, 

 to my mind, by far the best plan in any case, as 

 good light-weight horses are often sold in the 



