FoX'htmting Past and Present 



necessary adjunct where they can be had for wet 

 weather. 



Horse clothing to be healthy should be well 

 brushed and aired daily ; the same rug is not to 

 be next the horse's skin night and day. The use 

 of rugs for hunters' exercise cannot be laid down 

 by rule ; this exercise is better when taken after 

 breakfast. Smoking and stopping at public-houses 

 during exercise is to be prohibited. 



The use of the wisp at evening stable hour is 

 not only to make a -horse's coat shine, but to 

 brace his muscles up and give them tone ; it also 

 aids to condition. Only horses with bad feet are 

 likely to cast shoes out hunting : of course their 

 shoes should be looked to regularly. The inner 

 under edge of hind shoes to be rounded : this pre- 

 vents overreaches — these, it need hardly be said, 

 occur in heavy ground at jumps. This should 

 be impressed on shoeing-smiths when placing 

 shoes on hunters behind. Ten to twelve ounces is 

 the requisite weight for any hunter's shoe. At 

 4s. a set they should last three weeks to a 

 month : they may then be removed, refitted or 

 replaced. Some horses find out when they are 

 to hunt and will not feed in consequence, and the 

 stable routine should not be altered in their case. 

 It is advantageous to give a horse gruel before or 

 on returning home after a hard day ; a mouthful 



of hay may also be given. Here, and on returning 



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