90 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



forget that, within a month of tlie time when they arc 

 beginning to get their pigs and porpoises into trim, they 

 will Avant them to fly like the wind, and be sorely dis- 

 appointed if, like Icarus, they are dissolved in the 

 attempt. 



The gi'omid is generally so hard, in September and 

 October, as to furnish some excuse for shortness of work, 

 though none for attempting to ride horses to hounds, if 

 they have been subjected to this disadvantage. It is, 

 literally, hard indeed if you cannot find some place for 

 regular exercise, without fear of knocking their legs to 

 pieces ; and the degrees of exercise must be gi-adual and 

 progressive, till you arrive at something in your drills 

 and sham-fights resembling the realities of the ensuing 

 campaign. Commencing with plenty of walking exer- 

 cise, for, at least, three or four hours (either three at 

 once in the morning, or going out twice a day for two 

 hours), during the first six weeks, from the beginning of 

 August till the middle of September, by which time they 

 will have got through their physic, even if three doses 

 are given (and I think two generally sufficient), they may 

 then proceed to trot and canter daily, and, by the first 

 week in October, they will be fit for a smart gallop ; they 

 should not be hurried, or, at any time, extended to their 

 utmost speed, but must go a long, steady gallop, at about 

 three-quarters speed, to accustom them to stay a dis- 

 tance, and acquire that sine quel non of power which we 



