322 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



are about the best places I know of for jobbing light-weight 

 hunters. When an animal is found to suit, it ought to 

 be at once secured for the season. Horses can be had 

 at Barnstaple for Exmoor. Oxford is within reach of five 

 packs of fox-hounds. Capital hunting quarters can be 

 had there, and excellent horses — cheap too, in vacation 

 time, as there is not any one to ride them. 



Defective Vision. — A horse that has any defect in his 

 sight should be at once rejected by the buyer. It is the 

 only safe way in dealing, unless the desire is to buy a blind 

 animal at a blind price. There is generally a plausible reason 

 given for every suspicious appearance, whether it be a 

 sightless eye or a pair of broken knees. 



Blinkers. — I greatly disapprove of these for breaking. 

 Let the colt or horse see what you are doing. In 

 this I am aware that many disagree with me, but I usually 

 hold to my opinions, as I do not form them in a hurry. 



Amateur Blacksmiths. — If you want to be inde- 

 pendent of the forge when frost sets in, you can do it in 

 this way. As soon as the hunting season has fairly 

 begun, have your horse's shoes made with square holes 

 punched at the extremities and at the toes. Have these 

 fitted with slightly tapering plugs of steel, with sharp pro- 

 jecting points. The plugs should be about two inches in 

 leneth. and must be made to fit the holes both accurately 

 and tightly, but not to go quite through the shoe to the 

 foot. When frost appears, and you want to go out, insert the 

 plugs yourself in the holes, tap them slightly on the points 



