lo HORSES 



ordinary work it is foolish to ruin a horse's con- 

 stitution in the hope of gaining a Httle speed. The 

 stomach requires a certain amount of bulky food, 

 and, if nothing but corn is given, the health of the 

 animal must eventually suffer. 



Unless a full bucket is always kept in the stable, 

 water should be given before feeding. This is a 

 rule to which there is no exception. The amount 

 of corn given should be regulated by the work the 

 horse does, and there is no doubt that most of the 

 troubles of large stables come from a too full 

 supply of oats with insufficient exercise. Beans 

 should be given sparingly, and not at all to young 

 horses. 



This work is not one about fox-hunting, but I 

 cannot get out of my mind that the '* sport of 

 kings " is the ultimate end for which you are learn- 

 ing to ride. To my mind, riding along a road is a 

 very tame amusement, and riding to hounds is the 

 greatest pleasure in life. I shall therefore take it 

 for granted that in reading these pages you are 

 seeking for information that will assist you in em- 

 barking on the hunting-field. 



Continuing the subject of feeding, and the 

 remarks already made on the size of a horse's 

 stomach, I should impress on you that it is the 

 long day without food which makes it impossible 

 to ride a hunter more than twice a week. A horse 

 that is watered and fed at frequent intervals will 

 travel sixty miles a day for a week or more, getting 

 big and strong on the work, of course only at a 



