THE IIACKXEY. 87 



do^^^l the roundness of the legs ; and, except there is some bony enlaro-e- 

 ment, restores them ahnost to their original form and strength. When 

 however, the summer has thorough]}- set in, the grass ceases to be succulent 

 aperient, or medicinal. The ground is no longer cool and moist, at least 

 during the day ; and a host of tormentors, in the shape of flies, are, from 

 sunrise to sunset, persecuting the poor animal. Running and stampino- to 

 rid himself of his plagues, his feet are battered by the hard ground, and he 

 newly, and perhaps more severely, injures his legs. Kept in a constant 

 state of irritation and fever, he rapidly loses his condition, and sometimes 

 comes up in August little better than a skeleton. 



Let the horse be turned out as soon as possible after the hunting season 

 is over. Let him have the whole of J\Iay, and the gTcater part, or possibly 

 the whole of June ; but when the grass fails, and the ground gets hard, 

 and the flies torment, let him be taken iip. All the benefits of tui-ning 

 out, and that wliich a loose box and artificial physic can never give, will 

 have been obtained, Tvithout the inconvenience and injury that attend an 

 injudiciously protracted run at grass, and which, arg-uing ao-ainst the 

 use of a thing from, the abuse of it, have been improperly urged ao-ainst 

 turning out at all. 



The Steeple Chase is a relic of ancient foolhardiness and cruelty. It 

 was the form under which the horse race, at its first establishment, was 

 frequently decided. It is a race across the country, of two, or four, or 

 even a greater number of miles, and it is generally contrived that there 

 shall be some deep lane, or wide brook, and many a stiff" and dano-erous 

 fence between. It is ridden at the imminent hazard of the life of the 

 sportsman ; and it likewise endangers the Hfe or enjoyment of the horse. 

 Many serious accidents have hapjjened both to the horse and his rider, 

 and the practice must ere long get into disuse ; for, while it can have 

 no possible recommendation but its foolhardiness, it has on many occa- 

 sions been disgraced by barefaced dishonesty. It has all the severest 

 punishment of the severest chase, without any of the pleasure and ex- 

 citement which enables this noble animal so unflinchingly to struggle 

 through it. 



THE HACKNEY. 



The perfect Hacknet is more difficult to find than even the hunter or 

 the courser. There are several faults that may be overlooked in the hunter, 

 but which the road-horse miist not have. The former may start ; may be 

 awkward in his walk, or even his trot ; he may have thrushes or corns ; 

 but if he can go a good slapping pace, and has wind and bottom, we can put 

 up with him and prize liim : but the hackney, if he is worth having, must 

 have good fore-legs, and good hinder ones too ; he must be sound on his 

 feet ; even-tempered ; no starter ; quiet, in whatever situation he may be 

 placed ; not heavy in hand ; and never disposed to fall on his knees. 



If there is one thing more than any other, in which the possessor, and, 

 in his own estimation at least, the tolerable judge of the horse, is in error, 

 it is the action of the road-horse : ' Let him lift his legs well,' it is said, 

 ' and he "wdll never come down.' 



In proportion, however, as he lifts his legs Avell, will be the force with 

 which he puts them do^vn again ; the jar and concussion to the rider ; and 

 the battering and wear and tear of the feet. A horse with too great 

 ' knee action ' will not always be speedy ; he Avill rarely be pleasant to 

 ride, and he will not, in the long-run, be safer than others. The careless 

 daisy-cutter, however pleasant on the turf, should indeed be avoided ; but 

 it is a rule, not often understood, and sometimes disputed, but which 

 experience vnW fully confirm — that the safety of the horse depends a gi'eat 



