THE HUNTER* 



Frank Sherman Peer, Ithaca, N. Y. 

 Author of Soiling, Ensilage and Stable Construction 



Leave us the chase, A\liere, in harmony blending, 



Men of all classes ride on to the end, 

 Men become brothers, each brotlier contending; 



Every true sijortsman is coimted a friend. 



HIS CONFORMATION 



A hunting man is apt to have rather fixed notions as to how a 

 hunter should be built. His ideal is generally the likeness of 

 some good, faithful beast that has carried him with the greatest 

 ease and safety ; which is only another way of saying that a good 

 hunter, whatever he is like, however he is formed, however he is 

 bred, whatever his color, if he suits and fits us, is not a bad horse. 



There are some points in the conformation of a hunter that can 

 hardly be ignored. Some general rules, mostly with numerous 

 exceptions, it will be well to keep in mind when passing judgment 

 on a horse for cross-country work. 



brains AND INTELLIGENCE 



A large brainy head with a broad forehead and mild outstand- 

 ing eyes, is, as far as my experience goes, one of the points to 

 insist upon. Some horses with a thimbleful of brains are made 

 to hunt, but without sufficient intelligence to go with judgment 

 as well as courage. One w^ho possesses mere valor can never 

 attain more than a moderate degree of proficiency. 



Some fools of horses may be driven through a run, but they 

 do not enjoy it ; they are simply slaves. Deliver me from keeping 

 company with such a one in the hunting field ! Hunting is, or 

 should be, a partnership game, in which you and your friend the 

 horse go out for a day's sport. The more intelligent the horse, 

 the more level-headed, the more capable he is of entering into 

 the spirit of the game, and of enjoying the day's run as well as 

 his master. Tt must be remembered, however, that, besides size 



* Extracts (by permission of the author) from Cross Country tcitli Horse 

 <md Hound, by F. S. Peer. 



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