CHAPTER V 



THE COST OF HUNTING 



" O'er the bottle at eve, of our pleasure we'll tell, 

 For no pastime on earth can fox-hunting excel ; 

 It brightens our thoughts for philosophy's page, 

 Gives strength to our youth, and new vigour to age." 



The estimate under this category outside the 

 master's own estabHshment is in all cases difficult 

 to assess. Again, the master's knowledge and eagle 

 eye over all kennels and stables practically rules 

 the expenditure. A master can make little or no 

 profit on his original outlay when he takes a 

 hunting country. This may vary from ;^i5oo to 

 ;£"2000 ; in a small provincial country (and one or 

 two in Ireland) ;^iooo might suffice. I refer princi- 

 pally to harriers. The horses ^' run away" with 

 a good deal of money. Here, too, a disinterested 

 expert will render yeoman service on the spot to 

 a new master ; for the quality of the mounts of 

 hunt servants varies with the nature of the country, 

 and a well-mounted hunt servant takes more care 

 of his horse than a badly mounted man. Few 

 dealers, even if they hunt, will assist a master to 

 mount his men at any reduction of cost. Spring 



is the best time of year to buy horses ; bargains 



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