128 HINTS ON HORSEIVIANSHIP 



he has been out eight hours on the Monday, then 

 he will not be ready till the following Saturday. 

 If he had been kept out ten hours on the Monday, 

 then he would not be fit for hunting again under 

 a week — or until the Monday following. 



To put this statement axiomatically we can say, 

 ' ' A horse can hunt regularly throughout the 

 season, two days a week, provided he has not left 

 his stable on each occasion (under ordinary con- 

 ditions) for more than six hours. Every hour he 

 is out over and above those six hours, defers his 

 hunting capacity by one day. 



This is only a little rule of my own. I do not 

 mean to lay down any hard law, which many 

 may disagree with. It is only intended to help 

 some of my less experienced readers, who may like 

 to know of a good working rule that will get the 

 most out of their horses without overtaxing them. 



Drinking when Hot. — After a long day's^hunting 

 it is the custom not to let a horse drink but a few 

 mouthfuls on his way home. A long draught is 

 supposed to give him colic. I do not think there 

 is any reason for this supposition. Provided we 

 are not gomg to ask him for any further efforts, 

 I do not think there can be any objection to 

 lettmg him drink as much as he likes. 



It is just the same as for ourselves. When hot 

 and tired after a strenuous game of tennis, most 

 of us do drink copiously. Just as much as we 

 want, in fact. But if we had not finished, and 

 had another set to play, then it would be most 

 unwise to do so. And so with horses. If we 



