350 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



No horse that is not perfectly In condition can stand 

 the work with the Devon and Somerset. To the real 

 hunting man who takes an interest in his stables no 

 work of warning is needful. But a great many 

 strangers bring their horses down under the impres- 

 sion that it is " only stag hunting," not real work, 

 and a nice easy preparation for the fox-hunting 

 season. Filled legs, curbs, and sore backs are the 

 inevitable result. No stud-groom who has not had 

 experience of the hunting on Exmoor ever takes it 

 seriously, added to which they hate getting a horse 

 fit in the summer, when they consider they are 

 entitled to an easy time. Muscles and sinews not 

 properly hardened up are sure to be the worse for 

 wear after being pushed along up hill and over deep 

 ground, and long galloping when the stomach is 

 burdened with internal fat is an undue strain both on 

 heart and wind. A back not rendered saddle hard 

 by continued work is certain to become galled 

 simply by the friction and pressure of the saddle on 

 a long day in hot weather, in addition to which a 

 horse only half in condition is sure to develop humour, 

 which will work out where the skin is weakened by 

 pressure and friction. 



Dressings of tannin and alum and such like 

 contrivances have been tried and are of some use, 

 but nothing on earth will prevent a soft horse getting 

 a sore back if he gets a really hard day's hunting in 

 hot weather. 



This is not the place to discourse on the means of 



