SUMMERING HUNTERS 55 



is buying. There are many good reasons for 

 buying at or towards the end of the season. 

 For one thing you see horses as they really are, 

 with the fat stripped off them ; and there has 

 been an opportunity of seeing how they perform. 

 But perhaps the greatest advantage of buying 

 at the end of the season is that the horse gets 

 accustomed to his new surroundings before the 

 hard work begins. The summering of a new horse 

 should be on somewhat different lines to that of 

 the rest of the stud and he may be kept ' up * a few 

 weeks longer than the rest in order that his master 

 and he may get to know each other's ways. 

 It will enable the owner to commence the work 

 of the season with more confidence, especially 

 if he be rather a nervous man. 



As soon as the season is over horses may be 

 turned up with advantage. Some of them — 

 such for instance as an old favourite who is 

 beginning to show signs of wear about his legs — 

 should be turned up earlier, as soon indeed as 

 ever the ground is reaUy hard. 



When it is decided on turning a horse up it 

 may be as well to give him a mild dose of physic, 

 especially if there is any tendency to swelling 

 about his legs, and a sheet should be taken off 

 a few days after the horse has been left undressed. 

 Perhaps in a week's time a second mild dose of 

 physic may be desirable but the owner will be 

 guided by circumstances as to this and if he is 

 a wise man, he will not be influenced by his groom, 

 for many grooms are never happy if they are not 



