Till' HUNTER. g.j 



more partlcularlj a little below the knee, is the mechanical advantao-e 

 With which it acts. ° 



_ The leg should be shorter. Higher action is required than in the racer 

 in order that the legs may be clearly and safely lifted over many an 

 obstacle, and, particularly, that they may be well doubled up in the leap 

 1 he pastern shcaild be shorter, and less slanting, yet retaining consider- 

 able obliquity ._ _ The long pastern is useful, by the yielding resistance 

 which its elasticity aflTords to break the concussion with which the race- 

 horse from his immense stride and speed must come on the ground : and 

 the obhque direction of the different bones beautifully contributes to effect 

 the same pm^pose. With this elasticity, however, a considerable degree of 

 Aveakness IS necessarily connected, and the race-horse occasionally breaks 

 do.vn m themiddle of his course. The hunter, from his different action, 

 takes not this length of stride, and therefore wants not all this elastic 

 mechamsm. He more needs strength to support his o^vn hea.der carcase, 

 and the greater weight of his rider, and to undergo the fatigue of a Ion- 

 day._ Some obliquity, however, he requires, otherwise the concussion even 

 ot his shorter gallop, and more particularly of his frequently tremendous 

 leaps, would inevitably lame him. 



The foot of the hunter is a most material point. The narrow contracted 

 loot IS the cui'se of much of the racing blood. The work of the racer 

 however, is all performed on the turf: but the foot of the hunter is 

 battered over many a flinty road and stony field, and, if not particularly 

 good, mil soon be disabled and ruined. "^ 



The position of the feet in the hunter requires some attention. They 

 should if possible stand straight. If they turn a little outward, there is 

 no serious objection ; but if they turn inward, his action cannot be safe, 

 particularly when he is fatigaied or over- weighted. 



The body should be short and compact, compared with that of the race- 

 horse that he may not in his gallop take too extended a stride This 

 would be a serious disadvantage in a long day and with a heavy rider 

 from the stress on the pasterns ; and more serious when going over clayey 

 jDoached ground during the winter months. The compact short-strided 

 horse .nil almost skim the surface, while the feet of the longer-reached 

 Welf. ' "^^ '''''^ ^^ "''" ''''''''' ^'""'"''^^ """^ by efforts to disengage 



Every sporting man knows how much more enduring is a short-bodied 

 horse mcimbmg hills, although perhaps not quite so much in descending 

 them. This is the secret of suiting the race-Jwrse to his course : and 

 . unfolds the ai^parent mystery of a horse decidedly superior on a flat and 

 straight course, being often beaten by a little horse with far shorter stride 

 on uneven ground and with several turnino-s 



The loins should be broad ;-the quarters long ;-the thighs muscular; 

 —the hocks well bent, and well under the horse. 



The reader needs not to be told how essential temper and courao-e are 

 A hot irritab e brute is a perfect nuisance, and the coward thlt mil 

 scaj'cely face the slightest fence exposes his owner to ridicule 



Theprmciple of preparing both the race-horse and the hunter for their 

 work IS the same, and can have no mystery about it. It consists in getting 

 rid of all superfluous flesh and fat, by physic and exercise, yet without toS 

 much lowering the animal; and, particularly in bringing him by dint of 

 exercise mto good wind, and accustoming him to the frill trial of his 

 powers without overstraining or injuring him. Two or three doses of 

 physic as the season approaches, and these not too strong ; plenty of ffood 

 hard meat; and a daily gallop of a couple of miles -at a pace not too 

 quick— will be nearly all that can be required. Physic must not indeed 



