98 IRISH HUNTERS, AND 



the present arrangement of weights is positively, how- 

 ever unintentionally, a misapplication of those public 

 funds. 



It is probably to the turfmen that the change in the 

 character of steeplechasing is greatly due ; they found 

 it their interest gradually to alter the weights and dis- 

 tances, so as to bring profitably into play their second 

 and third rate beaten race-horses. Steeplechases were 

 not intended for these latter, whose perfection is in 

 proportion to their speed. Pace is not the chief desid- 

 eratum in hunters, to prove the qualities of which 

 steeple or castle chases were instituted ; power and 

 endurance are at least as essential : and it is contrary 

 to the law of nature, as well as of mechanics, to com- 

 bine a maximum of speed with that of power, and vice 

 versa. Either will preponderate to the detriment of 

 the other. 



The difficulties, natural and artificial, presented by 

 the general face of the country in Ireland, have no 

 doubt contributed to the development of those qualities 

 which render the Irish hunter so valuable. The style 

 of fence is continually varied ; and in the course of a 

 run there will be encountered double ditches, with a 

 narrow or wide bank, single ones, stone walls, brooks, 

 bullfinches, gates, wide drains, and occasionally posts 

 and rails, or iron palings — hurdles being, however, of 

 rare occurrence ; but the horse that can master the 

 above impediments to his course will soon find out 

 how to jump a hurdle. 



The Irish colt has sometimes also a kind of training 

 not expressly designed for him by his owner ; for being 

 not unfrequently left with other animals in a field 

 affording an insufficient supply of grass for them all, 



