AFTER HUNTING 103 



the rider. My own plan when returning home 

 was, about a couple of miles from home to slacken 

 the girths, and, standing on the slirrups, just 

 move the saddle a httle on the horse's back. 

 Then I walked him home and he was generally 

 dry under the saddle when he arrived at his 

 stable. 



li you have a long ride home it is a good 

 plan to get off occasionally and run beside your 

 horse. I know of nothing more pleasing than 

 to hear ^^our horse playing with his bit as you 

 jog along beside him. Getting off occasionally 

 rests both man and horse. 



When the horse gets into his stable of course 

 the first thing to do is to get him to stale. Some 

 horses will not stale when out and if you ride one 

 of this sort it is essential that there should be no 

 neghgence about getting him to stale as soon as 

 he comes in or there will be trouble. Then he 

 should have his gruel which should not be too 

 warm. The chill well off it is quite warm enough. 

 And let him have a hearty drink. Under ordinary 

 circumstances the gruel, about the making of 

 which I have already had something to say, 

 will be quite sufficient. But if a horse has had 

 a very hard day something by way of a cordial 

 may be added. I had a horse that would, as 

 my groom said, '' Drink beer like a Christian." 

 He had been raced and who had taught him 

 his drinking habit it is not for me to say but he 

 took to it readily enough when I had him. My 

 groom, to whom I had brought some beer one 



