THE HUNTER OPPOSED TO THE RACEHORSE. 115 



hunter is almost diametrically opposite to traininor the 

 racer and steeplechaser. Nor is it so wonderful that it 

 should be so, when it is considered that the latter 

 classes of animals bear off the palm of victory in a 

 period not exceeding from one to ten minutes, whereas 

 the hunter's labours cannot be reckoned at a much less 

 duration than from seven to ten hours ! 



A celebrated writer, early in the present century, 

 considered training a horse for a Queen's Plate and for 

 the hunting field one and the same thing ; but had he 

 studied the animal economy of the horse still more 

 closely than he did he could never have fallen into so 

 palpable an error. 



But so far I will agree with him, on the last day of 

 the season the hunter's condition should resemble that 

 of the Queen's Plater as nearly as possible. 



Great attention should be paid to the feet of the 

 hunter. They should be well stopped every night, 

 and the hoof dressed so often as any cracks or dryness 

 are apparent. With the proper use of alteratives, 

 bandages on the legs, and the above-mentioned work, 

 there need be no fear of thrushes, inflammation of the 

 laminae, or any other inflammatory attacks in the feet 

 and legs ; but if they do appear they should be treated 

 as is hereafter described. 



As to the time required to condition the hunter, I con- 

 sider that if he have been well summered and is healthy 

 when taken up, from three to four months are sufficient. 



With regard to the quantity of food, if the horse is 

 doing five hours' walking exercise per day, not less 



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