ON HUNTING. 171 



yei7 much may be done by the judicious use of hot and 

 cold water — in fact, more than by half the prescriptions 

 in general use ; but the proper time must be attended to 

 as well, for its application. When a horse has had a 

 long and severe day's work, he should not be harassed 

 more than is absolutely necessary, by grooming and 

 dressing ; the chief business should be to get him dry 

 and comfortable as quickly as possible, and when that 

 has been effected, a slight wisping over with a dry cloth 

 will be sufficient lor that night.' 



The expenses of horse keep vary according to the 

 knowledge of the master and the honesty of his groom ; 

 but what the expense ought to be may be calculated 

 from the fact that horses in first-rate condition cannot 

 consume more than thirteen quarters of oats and two 

 and a half tons of hay in a year ; that is, as to oats, from 

 three to six quarterns a day, according to the work they 

 are doing. But in some stables, horses are supposed to 

 eat a bushel a day every day in the year : there is no 

 doubt that the surplus is converted into beer or gin. 



I cannot conclude these hints on hunting more 

 appropriately than by quoting another of the songs of 

 the Squire of Arley Hall, Honorary Laureate of the 

 Tarporley Hunt Club : — 



' * A -U-OKD ERE WE START. 



" The order of marcli and due regulation 



That guide us in warfare we need in the chase ; 

 Huntsman and whips, each his own proper station — 

 Horse, hound, and fox, each his own proper place. 



' 'The fox takes precedence of all from the cover ; 

 The horse is the animal purposely bred, 

 After the pack to be ridden, not over — 



Good hounds are not reared to be knocked on the head. 



