HUNTERS 189 



When, however, horses are kept in very tiny 

 paddocks of half an acre or so, their food 

 being supplemented with hay, and perhaps a 

 little corn, it will be observed that after grazing 

 a short time they get tired of doing so, and either 

 wander about looking for company, or stand 

 listlessly at the gate, or door, of the field. Such 

 paddocks cannot compete with large pastures in 

 the benefit to be obtained from a summer's run. 



Often, w^hen many horses are turned out 

 together, a particular animal will be so trouble- 

 some with the others it is better to remove it, 

 with another for a companion, to a separate field ; 

 and sometimes also a set v/ill be made against 

 an individual, whose life is made a burden to 

 it, and it cannot thrive if perpetually bullied. 

 This, and another, should therefore be put some- 

 where by themselves. Of course, all hind-shoes 

 must be removed before they are turned out, so 

 that an ill-natured kick cannot do any serious 

 mischief. Fore-shoes are, however, generally 

 better left on, especially in any case where the 

 hoofs are brittle, and break away badly at the 

 toes. It will nearly always be found that each 

 horse has a special pal amongst the others, and 

 that these two keep constantly in company when 

 grazing, frequently having their noses almost 

 touching each other, and such predilections should 

 be carefully noted and sedulously fostered. 



Before horses are turned out it is necessary 

 that they should be ungroomed for at least four 

 or five days, so that the natural grease may 

 accumulate in the coat, resembling a quantity of 

 dust if the hair is parted a little, which is their 

 natural protection against wet and cold. If a 

 horse was turned out in bad weather without 



