82 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



Now, under all these circumstances, it is evident that 

 the most humane, and, taking the money value of the 

 poor animal into consideration, the most economical course 

 winch the rider can pursue is as follows : 



As soon as the day's sport is over, the hunter should 

 be led, or ridden, at a walk for about a mile to some 

 stable — it little matters whether it be good, bad, or 

 indifferent — or strawyard, where he can stand for a 

 minute or two. 



When the object for which he has been taken there 

 has been accomplislied, about a third of a pail of gruel, 

 or lukewarm water, with a mouthful or two of hay, 

 should be given to him. To prevent his being chilled, 

 tlie instant he has swallowed it he should be mounted ; 

 and whatever be the distance he has to accomplish, he 

 should then be ridden homewards at a constant steady 

 pace of about seven miles an hour. 



After a staghunt in which the hunter may have been 

 galloping principally on roads, soft ground (if it be not 

 deep) should be selected ; but when, as is usually the case 

 in fox hunting, the muscles have, during the greater part 

 of the day, been struggling in heavy soil, he should be 

 permitted to travel, as he invariably tries to do, on the 

 hard road. 



As they proceed together, if the rider will dismount 

 for a few minutes to lead his horse down or up any 



