200 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



** He should be at least six years old, no horse 

 under that age having sufficient strength 



old, six for a six- mile course, without running 

 the hazard of being overstrained/' 



It is evident, too, that in those days the time 

 taken to prepare a horse for a race was little, if 

 at all, longer than now would be required to get 

 him into hunting condition. To continue from 

 the same authority : 



" The next thing to consider is the limitation 

 of time for preparing a horse for a match ; which 

 . is generally agreed by judicious horse- 

 in two men, that (unless the match be for an 

 extraordinary sum) two months is suffi- 

 cient ; but in this proper regard is to be had to the 

 state of the horse's body. 



" If he be fat, foul, or taken from grass ; 



** If he be extremely lean and poor ; 



" If he be in good case and has had moderate 

 exercise. 



" For the first you must take two months at least 

 to bring him into order. 



"For the horse that is very poor, get as long 

 time as you can, and let his airings be moderate, 

 feeding him hberally, but not so as to cloy him. 



** As for the horse that is in good case and has 



I 



