54 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



not overwork them, I think their legs stand wonder- 

 fully. The strains and injuries occur to tired and 

 unfit horses. The work is very severe. For a heavy 

 season's hunting I like five or six horses ; and of 

 them, three out for each day's hunting. I know a 

 certain man who had eleven horses of the " caster " 

 class for hunting this season. I would rather have 

 had half the number for the same money of a better 

 class. Our friend, though, was right in wanting 

 several horses. You must change your horse after 

 every run : a gallop in grass or thick cover is most 

 exhausting. No horse should be called on to do 

 more than three really severe runs in a day two 

 such are ample. It is the tired horses that always 

 cause the grief. 



If you are lucky enough to be in a district where 

 there is no competition ride the cheapest you can 

 get. But, I beg of you, keep one good horse for the 

 pleasure of his company. 



My advice to you, therefore, is to buy the best 

 horses (Walers) your means will allow raw from 

 the dealers. Their price will run from 700 rupees 

 to 1500 rupees in proportion as you insist on the 

 qualities laid down for our ideal pig-sticker. A 

 horse costing 1000 rupees to 1200 rupees raw, if he 

 turns out well, ought to make a very nice pig-sticker, 

 and sell for 1500 rupees. The Bombay market is 

 probably cheaper than Calcutta, where horses are 

 snapped up for the paper chasing. Your native 

 cavalry horse should cost you considerably less. 

 If you buy " made " horses you are not a poor man. 

 You are either a rich man or a confirmed optimist. 



A few words on training and I have done this 

 long chapter. 



Train your horse exactly as you would a polo 



