IN THE HUNTING-FIELD. 221 



animal at the station ; at all events it entails extra stable 

 duties, and these must be considered and paid for. 



Supposing that you do not send your horse anywhere 

 the night before, see to it that he gets oft* betimes in the 

 morning, and, if going by road, give your serv^ant directions 

 to take him to some quiet corner or laneway close to the 

 meet, and to wait for you there until you come. I regard 

 this as a very much better plan than having him led direct 

 to the meet, and mounting him there in presence of an 

 assembled crowd. Ladies who like a little bit of show 

 generally prefer the latter way — but for true comfort, oppor- 

 tunity for overlooking the general turning-out of your horse, 

 lengthening or shortening of stirrup-leathers, folding your 

 muffling tidily away (instead of flinging it anywhere or any- 

 how into the vehicle), giving your groom directions where 

 to meet you at the close of the day, and so forth, commend 

 me to the former. 



If a hunter is to be railed, let him go to the station well 

 clothed, and send extra things along with him for coming 

 home. Winter evenings are usually chilly, if not down- 

 right cold, and are very frequently damp as well ; if, then, 

 a heated animal, with every pore open from exercise and 

 excitement, is called upon, unprepared, to encounter these 

 combined atmospheric influences, coughs, catarrhs, rheu- 

 matic affections, and sometimes the more serious evils of 

 inflamed or congested lungs, are certain to be the results. 



Rise early yourself on a hunting morning ; have a cold 

 bath, if of a robust temperament — if not, tepid. Eat a 

 moderate breakfast of white fish, cutlet, or steak, accom- 



