The Value oe Coxdition. 471 



were not always as sound as his conclusions. Before " Nimrod " revolutionised the system of 

 training hunters it was the custom, at the end of the hunting season, to turn a stud, the sound 

 as well as the sick, out to grass on the richest pastures that could be got. Thus, every autumn, 

 before the hunting season commenced, all the hard muscular condition of the previous season 

 having been lost, it became necessary to spend valuable time in getting rid of the grass-fat 

 of those hunters that did not come up broken-winded, or otherwise unsound, from the effects 

 of their summer run, to the serious detriment of their legs and feet, before commencin"- their 

 training for fast work. 



Condition means the highest degree of health combined with the utmost muscular and 

 respiratory powers. 



The two extremes of condition are presented by a horse quite fat after six months on 

 the grass of a rich pasture, and a racehorse trained until he is all bone and muscle, raced 

 until he can with difficulty be kicked along a road, and can only be made to gallop by the 

 instinct of the racecourse, and the hands and spurs of the jockey. There are, of course, many 

 sub-varieties of bad condition ; as, for instance, the mean man's hunter, with half the proper 

 allowance of oats, hunted twice a week ; or the ignorant, rich man's stud, whose horses, 

 stuffed with corn and beans for the bericfit of the corn-dealer, stay idle in the stable to save 

 the groom's trouble. 



Stated roundly, "Nimrod's" theory — now generally accepted — was that when once a hunter 

 was in hard condition he should never be allowed to fall out of it until he was invalided ■ that 

 he should be fed with a proportion of oats in summer, be kept in gentle exercise, and should 

 only be entirely rested and fed on grass or soft food when really sick, or suffering from over- 

 work in his feet or legs. 



The common sense of "Nimrod's'' theory was very soon made clear to huntinrr-men. 

 Prize-fighting was one of the fashions of the day, and it was noted that Cribb, Belcher, and 

 other fighting celebrities, were more easily trained for the prize-ring when fresh from hard 

 work than when they had led the life of publicans ; and that, in the same way, horses 

 always fed on dry, compact food- -good hay and oats — and exercised, not tired out, were 

 ready to go through a hard run, or a long, dragging day in November, without ill effects ; 

 while those which had been fed on grass all the summer were not " fit " before Christmas 

 when they did not die of inflammation after a brilliant performance. Even at the present 

 day, when every stud-groom understands the value of condition, cavalry officers on their 

 second chargt:rs, and men who ride horses that have had " a summer's run " as leaders in a 

 drag, or as phaeton pairs, will generally be found in the best places in long, hard runs, on the 

 autumn side of Christmas. 



Condition is as essential for a cob or pony intended to hunt as for a blood hunter, because 

 in the excitement of the chase every one is apt to forget the limits of equine endurance. 



There is no fall so dangerous as that of a pumped-out half-conditioned animal, for he 

 not only tumbles over a sheep-hurdle three feet high, or a ditch four feet wide, but lies on 

 you after he has tum'oled. 



In studs of horses of moderate extent, where all except cripples are made useful all the 

 year round, either under saddle or in harness, as long as they are in health, if they have 



a copious mash at least once a week — if on very high feed, and are rested twice a week 



they will require no physic. 



This mash should be composed of a quartern of oats for each horse, and a pint of linseed 

 boiled at least three hours, then thrown into one or more glazed red pottery-pans, mixed 



