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CHAPTER XIX. 



IN THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



A VERY tempting title truly, but before we can get there 

 we must say a word about the preparation for it, and also 

 about the journey to be taken to reach the desired goal. 



To prepare, therefore, you should look first to your 

 horse ; you must get him into good hard-fed condition 

 some time before the opening of the season, and either 

 exercise him regularly yourself, or get somebody to do 

 it for you. The subject of feeding I hope to discuss in a 

 forthcoming chapter — as also that of shoeing, which is 

 extremely important. I may here say, however, that my 

 system of feeding hunters is in many points so widely 

 different to that of others that I shall not undertake to 

 advocate it openly, but shall merely state that I have found 

 it answer most admirably in my own stable, and that many 

 private friends to whom I have recommended it have 

 endorsed my opinion of its excellence. The only portion 

 of it to which I shall in this chapter refer, is concern- 

 ing the times at which I think the meals ought to be 

 given. I advise that hunters be accustomed all the year 

 round to do without a heavy midday meal : this practice 

 to be adhered to during the summer months, as well as in 



