68 TREATMENT AETEK CHASE. 



great secret of success, is patience and steadiness, — using food 

 of the best kind, and frequently giving it in small quantities. 

 The exercise, at first, must be gentle and regular ; no ^dolence 

 nor rashness, either with physic, food, or exercise; but easy 

 sweats, small and frequent feeds, with long continued grooming, 

 Avill do more in a month or six weeks towards the result sought 

 for, than any other mode with which I profess to be acquainted. 

 In addition to what is already stated, the feet and legs of the 

 animal will require constant attention. 



Having now, I will suppose, prepared the hunter for the 

 duties of the chase, we have in the next place, to speak of the 

 best course to pursue, in order to keep him fully to the mark 

 during the continuance of the hunting season ; because upon 

 this will depend, in a great measure, the continuance of his 

 usefulness. 



Treatment After the Chase. — The utmost care is 

 necessary in the treatment of the hunter after a severe day's 

 sport ; particularly if the animal should possess a delicate 

 constitution, or is a delicate feeder ; the difficulties of the case 

 are then verv much increased. In instances of this nature, a 

 good groom will be found invaluable. A good groom to an 

 exhausted hunter is, in fact, what a good nurse is to a wounded 

 soldier. 



The moment the animal enters the stable after the severities 

 of the day, he should be taken in hand by a couple of men who 

 are well versed with the duties of their business. One should 

 gently unloose the girths, and remove the saddle and bridle, 

 while the other should induce the animal to drink from two to 

 three quarts of warm gruel.* After which he should be 

 thoroughly washed from head to foot with warm water and 



* A mixtui'e of boiled linseed gruel and oatmeal gruel, prepared separately in 

 the first instance, and aftcr^vards mixed in equal proportions. 



