THE HUNTEE.] 



MODEEN VETEEINAEY PEACTICE. 



[the huntee. 



Greater general length, wliich is the usual 

 result of full or tliorough blood. As to our 

 coach-horses, such was wont to be the modern 

 rage for speed, that even our mails and stages 

 miglit have been said to consist, in a con- 

 siderable degree, of racers and hunters ; and 

 our private coaches of huutiug-like horses on 

 a large scale. 



In regard to the natui'al and peculiar form 

 of the slow draught horse, he carries his sub- 

 stance in a round, full, and horizontal manner ; 

 his chest is widely developed ; his shoulder 

 rather round and bluff than deep, and its 

 summit, the apex, or top of the fore-hand, not 

 high and acute, but wide. Such a form seems 

 best adapted to the collar, and to enable the 

 animal to draw, or move forward, heavy 

 weights; we, nevertheless, daily see numbers 

 of first-rate draught horses with deep flat 

 shoulders. It used to be held, that a low 

 shoulder facilitated draught ; and such was the 

 form of the old Suffolk sorrel cart-horses, the 

 truest and most forceful pullers of their kind. 

 They were the only breed, collectively, that 

 would draw dead 'puUs ; that is to say, would 

 continue repeated pulls, going down upon 

 their knees to an immovable object — for 

 example, a tree. This, draught horses in 

 general, even the most powerful and the best, 

 cannot be brought to do, whatever may be the 

 severity used towards them ; at the second or 

 third pull, gibhing, as it is called, and turning 

 their heads, as if to point with their eyes, 

 towai'ds their failing loins, is a common 

 circumstance. 



Such are the general characteristics of the 

 lower grades of horses ; and taking the middle 

 of Charles the First's reign, as the date of the 

 introduction of the Eastern animals into this 

 country, it allows us about two centuries and 

 a quarter for the manufacture of the English 

 thorough-bred horse, in his form as he is 

 found in Great Britain, and in Great Britain 

 only. To preserve him in his purity, Arab and 

 Persian mares were, also, imported at the same 

 period, their produce then, as now, being con- 

 sidered and treated purely with reference to 

 the turf, as their ultimate destination. The 

 cross between the Arab stallions and the 

 native mares, was held as the fittest for the 

 field — strength, with a little breeding, enabling 

 any kind of equine flesh on four legs, to canter 



from daylight to noon, alongside the long- 

 eared, short-legged liarrier, or beagle of that 

 day. 



The hunter is generally a horse between 

 fifteen and sixteen hands in height, from tiie 

 half-bred to the thorough-bred species; and 

 ought to be of a lofty fore-hand, and shoulder 

 well formed for action, with wide and substan- 

 tial loins, moderately short legs and pasterns 

 and sound feet. The fashion of riding full- 

 bred and speedy horses, so prevalent of late 

 years, was equally prevalent in the beginning; 

 indeed, was original in the system. But this 

 chiefly takes place in light-soiled counties. 

 Upon strong and heavy soils, a powerful, well- 

 shaped, half-bred horse, may perform satisfac- 

 torily, and make a good figure ; but upon light 

 lands and downs, the speed of the high-bred 

 courser is too much for his powers, and he 

 cannot long hold his way in such superior 

 company. On a general consideration, the 

 three part or seven-eighth bred horse is best 

 adapted for hunting — since, at the same time, 

 acknowledging the superiority of the thorough- 

 bred horse, it is so extremely difficult to 

 obtain him of that make and form which shall 

 sufficiently combine strength with speed, to fit 

 him for his duties. 



Hunting is obviously one of the most severe 

 labours of the horse, yet one that is so gene- 

 rally attractive to him, that there are well- 

 authenticated anecdotes of old hunters, in- 

 spired by the music of their fellow-sportsmen, 

 the hounds, breaking pasture over the most 

 dangerous fences, following the chase, and 

 coming first in at the death. 



Until he has attained his sixth year, the 

 joints of a horse are not sufficiently fixed to 

 carry him well through a season's hunting; 

 although, at five, he should be cautiously and 

 moderately used in the field. His education 

 consists chiefly in being taught to leap the 

 bar, standing, since generally all horses will 

 take a flying leap, in some manner or other. 

 The practice of furzing the leaping-bar around, 

 is well known ; but some grooms are too harsh 

 and hasty with the young horse, whence many 

 animals, of irritable tempers, can never after- 

 wards be made staunch leapers. One of the 

 most extraordinary leaps made by a horse was 

 done at Birmingham, by an animal belonging 

 to a Mr. Beardsworth. On the ground being 



87 



