HOW TO BRING A HUNTER HOME. 83 



very steep hill, both animals will be greatly relieved. 

 With this exception, however, there should be no altera- 

 tion of pace or stoppage of any sort or kind. 



If, at the quiet rate described, the hunter begins to 

 blunder, it will be proper that he should be what is 

 termed *' wakened " by a word of remonstrance, or, if 

 that prove insufficient, by a slight touch of the spur. 

 But if, as is usual, the noble animal travels safely, 

 the duller he is encouraged to go, the greater will be 

 the relief to that overexcitement of the circulation of 

 his blood, and that violent palpitation of his heart, from 

 which he has suffered. 



By this treatment a hunter in good condition can, in 

 the shortest possible time, be brought home not only 

 cool in body and tranquil in mind, but with limbs less 

 wearied than when they took leave of the hounds. 



On entering his stable, in the manger of which he 

 should find, ready to welcome him, a handful or two 

 of picked sweet hay, his bridle should be taken off, 

 his girths unloosened, and then, before liis body is 

 touched, all his four legs, after being cleared only of 

 rough dirt, should, without a moment's delay, be swathed 

 from the knees and hocks to the hoofs by rough bandages 

 of coarse common drugget, which maintain in the 

 extremities that healthy circulation which, from the 

 minuteness of their veins, is prone, after great exhaus- 



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