250 THE HORSE. 



son ; and should the season be droughty, the herbage 

 burnt up, and the ground hard, under which circum- 

 stances the flies are most annoying, a horse cannot 

 feed in the day time, but will be harassed and driven 

 up and down, and, instead of receiving the expected 

 benefit to his limbs and feet, will at a certainty, ex- 

 perience an increase of their maladies, and the con- 

 dition of the horse will be much reduced. Again, to 

 turn hunters into grounds with a numerous rabble of 

 horses, is the readiest possible mode to get them 

 kicked, lamed, and subjected to every variety of acci- 

 dent. But what proprietor of hunters, a real sports- 

 man, could be guilty of such an extravagance ? Be- 

 yond all question, in such a season, and pastures of 

 better condition and sheltered being unattainable, it 

 would be no part of common prudence to expose 

 hunters, or, indeed, any horses, to such useless risks, 

 from which they might be exempt and safe at home. 

 But this argument is valid only against the abuse of 

 a most useful practice. As to engaging safe and 

 proper runs at grass, for hunters, expense is quite out 

 of question; such horses are not kept for a trifle, 

 whether within doors or without. On the necessity of 

 their constant inspection whilst abroad, I have already 

 dilated. Home, or near pastures are a great conve- 

 nience, not only as the horses are then constantly 

 under the groom's eye, but that, in great heats, they 

 may be taken in during the day time. I have now 

 the letter of a gentleman before me, of the date of 

 February, 1827, proprietor of a celebrated pack of 

 foxhounds, and a stud of hunters of high repute. 

 This gentleman rode a hunter which, during the pre- 



