HUNTERS. 23 



there annually that come within ten miles of the city. The 

 trade in hunters, therefore, at this fair is between country and 

 London dealers, and the fair is the recognised centre where 

 they meet. 



In searching for a horse, the first thing to do is to walk 

 through the difierent inn-yards and look into the stables, and 

 having seen an animal suited to your requirements, as far as 

 can be ascertained in the stable, request the dealer to bring 

 him out, which he is only too pleased to do. It is well at this 

 time to inform the dealer that if he allows the horse to be 

 " fidded " (a most pernicious practice), you will not look at 

 him. He will then take care the groom does not commit this 

 offence, which, it may be observed, improves some horses, 

 especially those with short drooping quarters, as it makes the 

 horses carry their tails well up in the air. What a purchaser 

 wishes to see, however, is the tail carried in its natural 

 position. Watch the horse carefully as he walks out of the 

 stable ; any slight stiffness or difficulty in flexing the hocks is 

 best seen at that time. The groom will then place him close 

 to a wall, the side of the stable, or in any situation close by 

 where the horse can be seen at his best ; this is the time to 

 decide as to the animal's age, conformation, and general suita- 

 bility as regards the weight he will have to carry, etc. He must 

 have a sloping shoulder, be well ribbed-up, and have strong 

 muscular loins well united to the back. Some Irish horses 

 have sloping or drooping quarters, and the tail set on low ; but 

 if there is plenty of width about the hips, if the quarters are 

 muscular, with well-developed "gaskins" or thiglis, and hocks 

 well let down, he is well shaped for jumping. 



All hunters, as already mentioned, should have good, sound, 

 flat legs, and the body not too heavy for them to carry ; a big 

 body and want of substance in the legs, is a conformation 

 often seen, and due to cart mares being mated with thorough- 

 bred horses. There are tw^o things often taken exception to in 



