HUNTING CONDITION. 65 



no matter whether the horse in condition be much used 

 or not. 



Formerly it -was the invariable practice to turn every hunter 

 to grass, during the spring and summer months ; observation, 

 however, has proved this practice to be decidedly injurious. The 

 organism of the hunter can be relaxed of its tension, and again 

 brought to the state required by other methods equally simple, 

 and in the end far more efficient to the living economy. 



The system generally pursued, will perhaps be the best 

 understood, if I furnish the reader with an outline descriptive 

 of the course usually followed in this department of equine 

 management. Let the reader suppose the hunting season over, 

 and every hunter belonging to any given establishment to be 

 in perfect health. The duties necessary to be performed, and 

 the results to be accomplished, are then, compartively speaking, 

 light and easy. In the first place, he must further suppose it 

 desirable to slacken the tension of the organism of every animal 

 comprising the stud, for a period of from two to three months ; 

 at the end of which time it becomes again necessary for every 

 horse to attain condition similar to what existed prior to its 

 relaxation. The principles held in view, and the methods 

 pursued, differ but slightly, and they may be enumerated as 

 follows : — 



About the month of May (or earlier, weather permitting), 

 every horse is turned at liberty within a paddock, and allowed 

 to partake freely of green food. In addition to which, each horse 

 will have at least two, and in many instances three feeds of 

 oats per diem, with hay ad lihitum. The paddocks are well 

 provided with dry comfortable sheds, plentifully supplied with 

 straw. Into these sheds every animal is at liberty to go during 

 the day, and within which they are secured for the night. The 

 oats are old, perfectly s^:\eet, and of the best quality. The hay 



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