CHAPTER VIII 



FEEDING AND CONDITIONING OF HUNTERS, 

 AND SOME REMARKS ON SADDLERY 



" Here lies the tall squire of Enderley Hall, 

 With his bridles, boots, fiddle, brush, colours and all. 

 Some liked his scraping, though none of the best, 

 And all liked the welcome he gave to his guest. 

 His taste was, in horses and hounds orthodox, 

 And no man can say he e'er headed the fox, 

 In the dog days or frost, when the kennel was mute ; 

 Each turns with the turn of his humour to suit." 



— Ode to Mr. Lorraine : Bethel Cox, i8io. 



A HARD and fast rule cannot be laid down for all 

 horses' food. Nervous, delicate feeders are the 

 opposite of gross feeders ; both species require 

 care and attention. A good stableman can with 

 care make a poor or shy feeder keep in good con- 

 dition ; they are often fed late at night. A horse 

 that has been out at work is usually fed then. 

 Experts consider that a horse's stomach is emptied 

 in four hours. About four feeds a day and three 

 pounds of corn per feed are generally sufficient. 

 Hunters are to be fed as regularly as possible, so 

 far as their work allows. The following times 

 would probably be convenient : after morning and 

 mid-day stables, at three o'clock, after evening 



stables — if necessary, the last thing at night. This 



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