90 NOTES FOE HUNTING-MEN 



who are only required to use their hands, are com- 

 paratively easy to get ; but a good head man is not 

 to be picked up at short notice. 



I should advise 3^our trying to get, if possible, 

 a man who is thoroughly recommended from a good 

 hunting stable — either a helper who wants to rise 

 in life, or, better still, a second horseman who is 

 getting too heavy for that duty. The latter will 

 probably be a fairly good horseman, which is a 

 great advantage. If there are to be men under 

 him he should not be less than thirty years old. 

 You will not get (in the Midlands, at least) a man 

 fit to be left in charge of hunters for less than 25s. 

 a week, a strapper's wages being from I85. to 20s. 

 Of course the larger the stud the higher should be 

 the remuneration. In a big hunting stable, apart 

 from the manual labour, there is a great deal of head 

 work demanded of the stud groom, if the wheels of 

 the establishment are to run smoothly, and a man 

 with a head, who is also reliable, will always com- 

 mand good wages. 



Having secured a man whom you believe you 

 can trust, you must leave the discipline of the 

 stable entirely in his hands. Give him your orders 

 plainly and distinctly, and let there be no misunder- 

 standing about your wishes. Then leave him a 

 certain latitude in carrying them out. If he is a 

 capable man with tact, he will not, as a rule, have 



