" FESSUM QUIP:S PLURIMUM JUVAT." 369 



very rarely follow riding a horse in condition, even 

 to a stand-still, if it only arises from the wind having 

 been pumped out of him : but if the stand-still arises 

 from the thoughtless, or rather merciless conduct of 

 the rider, in having urged a failing horse to un- 

 natural exertion, then the owner is more lucky than 

 he deserves, if his horse recovers that day, that 

 season, or perhaps ever. Hunters in tip-top con- 

 dition, like fighters in the same state, will stand a 

 great deal of hammering, and will recover from what 

 would kill other horses or other men, and it is fortunate 

 for both that they can ; but horses and men, even in 

 such condition, have like maids " died and worms 

 have eaten them," from the system having been over 

 taxed. 



The hunter of former times, if knocked up, was 

 generally reduced to that state, not from the pace, 

 but from being worn out by distance ; he was, in 

 short, exhausted by sheer labour, and, when in that 

 state, it took many hours to restore the wearied 

 limbs and muscles to their tone and strength : still, 

 a horse thus tired on the Monday might be perfectly 

 fit to hunt on the following Thursday ; he would 

 only want food, and rest, and walking exercise, or 

 a canter to prepare him; but, to go again now-a- 

 days, he will also want that wind which training 

 only can give. 



It must be clear that a horse, after a severe day, 

 is not fit to take a gallop the next ; he must get 

 comparative rest for a short time. During this time 

 he is, to a certain degree, going back from that high 

 state of wind he was in on the morning of his last 

 day's hunting, for which brushing, gallops, and a 



VOL. II. B B 



