430 The Book of the House, 



As a hack, I admit, he is vile ; 



His temper 's uncertain and hot. 

 But I don't keep for road promenades 



The best of my moderate lot. 



Would he pass a V. S. ? Not a bit ! 



Yet their theories clearly are " rot," 

 For three days in each fortnight I ride 



The best of my moderate lot. 



No use, save with hounds, do you say ; 



For that fact I care not a jot. 

 At his one game he 's not to be beat, 



This best of my moderate lot. 



When the country rides up to the girth":, 



If you wish to be well "on the spot," 

 Lay odds that he tires not nor blows ! 



This best of a moderate lot. 



When the fence is repulsive or big, 



An " oxer," blind ditch, or what not, 

 I put all my trust in his skill — • 

 This best of a moderate lot. 



In forming a stud of even not more than four hunters, it is desirable to fi.x on and keep 

 to one stamp of horse. This involves some trouble and some expense ; but, always supposing 

 that the stamp is suited to the country, it has the same sort of correctness as well-fitting 

 clothes, and does credit to the taste of the owner. There are some very good sportsmen 

 who pay no attention to stamp, seldom have two horses of the same sort ; ride a slashing 

 thorough-bred one day, a cob the next, and a thick, old-fashioned hunter on the third day. 

 There are others who could not enjoy looking over their stable if so incongruously filled. 

 A master who hunted his own hounds for nearly twenty years, celebrated for the completeness 

 and excellence of a hunting establishment maintained on moderate means, and whose horses, 

 except as to colour, were always matches good enough for a team, writes to me on this point : 

 " My practice was, being light (about eleven stone), to buy good-looking blood animals, not 

 over four years old, ivhctlicr I wanted them or not, if the price was anything like reasonable ; 

 and I always drafted them at twelve years old, if they happened to last so long." 



When a young or rather intending sportsman desires to form a stud of hunters, it is 

 much easier to tell him what not to do than what to do. 



If he begins in summer he may venture on horses made up for sale, that is, fat, a 

 condition which every one knows to be foolish, but which no dealer dare neglect if he wishes 

 to satisfy the majority, that is, the most ignorant of his customers. 



The better plan for a young beginner, if he cannot buy horses after riding and seeing 

 them ridden in the field, is to job three or four hunters from one of the hunter dealers who 

 lay themselves out for that branch of the trade. He can then select them on the dealer's 

 farm, find out if they suit his style of riding, and form .some idea of their mode of fencing. 

 If his engagements will pot allow this, it is better to give the dealer an account of his weight, 

 height, and ideas about riding, and leave the responsibility to him. 



Jobbing is expensive, but you know the limit of the expense You can change the 



