SUMMERING & CONDITIONING OF HUNTERS 73 



ness. I have referred you to ' Nimrocl's' ' Condition 

 of Hunters ' before, and he has really said all that 

 there is to be said on this subject, much belter than 

 I can ; but I will give you my own experience of the 

 disadvantages of the method. When I adopted it 

 my percentage of lameness during the hunting 

 season was very much greater than it has been 

 since. I also had more than one accident from 

 kicks and fences, and one old horse actually split 

 his pastern galloping on the hard ground. In 

 addition to this, your horses undoubtedly lose con- 

 dition, which it will take months to regain. Hence 

 I came to the conclusion that the system had not 

 even the merit of economy. 



The second method, that of summering in loose 

 boxes or a strawyard, is a compromise between the 

 first and third. It offers less risk than turning out 

 to grass, and is almost as cheap, the animals requir- 

 ing no grooming ; but they get no exercise worth the 

 name, and consequently lose much of their winter 

 condition. The third system is without any doubt 

 the best, and will pay you best in the long run. 

 People sometimes urge that a horse which has been 

 hardly worked all the hunting season requires a 

 rest during the summer. A rest from ivork, and its 

 necessary accompaniment, high feeding, is cer- 

 tainly desirable ; but exercise is not work, nor is 

 six months' idleness proper rest. 



