XVI ' CONTENTS. 



To make the horse a steady, prompt, and safe fencer. Hold 

 hard! — when the jump probable to reach the other world. The 

 old wild goose chase and modern steeple hunt. More 

 mettle than wit, and q. s. of cruelty in these heroic feats. Did 

 Nimrod ever ride to a steeple? YVelch creeping, p. 237 — 249. 



SECTION XXXVI. p. 249. 



Slang of the Field. Cockney introductions. Examples of various 

 attempts at an overstrained refinement of language. Dr.Cursham 

 and his female dog. The Sporting Magazine the text book for 

 slang. History of that popular periodical, at first not received 

 by the Sporting world — with most difficulty by the field. Advent 

 and success of the celebrated Nimrod. Controversy on sum- 

 mering the hunter. Early examples of this controversy. The 

 summer stabling practice first introduced by continental mare- 

 chales and grooms. Quotation from Michaell Baret — from Beck- 

 ford — from a former book of the author. Reference to the Lords 

 Derby and Petre — Mr. Farquharson and Mr. Maberly. A famous 

 run of Mr. Farquharson's hounds. True spring and summer ma- 

 nagement of the hunter. The rationale as 10 hard meat. General 

 and most prevalent opinion on summering. Accidents at grass, 

 how avoided. Home, or near pasture, a great convenience. 

 Letter from the proprietor of a celebrated pack of fox hounds, 

 p. 241—251. 



SECTION XXXVII. p. 251. 



Training the hunter. As to sweating. Feeding to be regulated 

 by appetite and digestion. The muzzle, its supposed use in the 

 old school — shoes of advantage. Quotation from Nimrod. Dan- 

 ger of making too free with good flesh, and of feeding beyond 

 the digestive powers of the horse. Strong work and sweating 

 the day before the hunt, a rash and needless anticipation of 

 labour. An unsound hunter a dangerous shift. No parallel to 

 be drawn between the continent, or India, and this country, 

 with respect to summering the hunter. As to the grass proper 

 for hunters. Artificial grasses. Use of carrots in early spring. 

 General stable routine. The hunter not to be denied water, on 

 going out, nor to be too empty. Ill effects of the old discipline of 

 lengthened starvation. Treatment of the hunter after a hard 

 day's work, p. 251 — V56. 



SECTION XXXVIII. p. 256. 



From steeple hunting to riding horses to death in the field. A 

 hero to the nackers. Risk of neck-breaking by way of a lark. 

 Danger of broken ground. Material difference in the case be- 

 tween a horse failing in the field through his own and bus rider's 

 enthusiasm, and his being driven to death by the force of whip 

 and spur. The latter a strange spectacle to be coupled with 



