CHAPTER V 

 THE HUNTER 



" There must be still a few who remember the stride of that thor- 

 oughbred bay, 

 Taking all his fences neatly 

 And gliding on so sweetly 

 That his rider scarce seemed to feel him all the way; 

 And the rider knew no other 

 To treat him as a brother 

 And bear so big a burden through a long and tiring day." 



— Geo. A. Fothergill. 



Who was it said that no better illustration could be 

 found of the old adage, "One man's meat is another 

 man's poison," than the different types of hunters 

 considered ideal by various individuals? It is almost 

 impossible to make any hard-and-fast rule as to what 

 constitutes a good hunter. The horse that is suited 

 to a cramped country would not necessarily be a good 

 performer over a " flying" country, and vice versa, 

 nor would the animal adapted to the needs of the con- 

 servative rider please the bruiser. 



One thing, however, is quite certain, namely, that 

 whereas in the hack good looks and smooth gaits are 

 the prime requisites, in the hunter these are secondary 

 to speed and strength, and above all else, intelligence 

 and ability to jump. Possessed of these qualities, he 

 may be a "rum 'un to look at, but a devil to go." 

 Nothing gives one so much satisfaction as to be 

 mounted on a "good looker," and in fact I am one of 

 those who so love a really beautiful horse that merely 

 to be on one adds 50 per cent to the enjoyment of the 

 day; but if you cannot afford to own a horse possessed 

 of both looks and ability, it goes without saying that 



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