CUT YOUR COAT TO YOUR CLOTH. 51 



The man who keeps a stud of fourteen or 

 fifteen hunters may do this and hunt six days a 

 week^ having a second horse out each day ; but a 

 man who keeps but few, if he wishes to have his 

 horses as fit to go as those of his wealthy brother 

 sportsman, must limit his hunting to the strength 

 of his stable ; he may (if from the fixture he 

 anticipates a regular clipper) occasionally treat 

 himself to having a second horse out; but he 

 must also occasionally, if he has had a burster 

 with a first fox, go home ; for ditto with a second 

 would probably prevent his horse coming again 

 for ten or a dozen days. By this management I 

 have, with my short stud, at times hunted six 

 days a week ; but to do this a man must not take 

 liberties with his horses. I do not call getting a 

 good place and keeping it taking liberties, for I 

 am quite satisfied that a man who judiciously 

 goes straight distresses his horse the least; but 

 then he must have tact, judgment, and a watchful 

 eye, to make the most of his horse at proper 

 times, and in proper situations ; and, what is still 

 more necessary, to (if I may use the expression) 

 make the least of him when and where he can do 

 so without losing his place : this is done by re- 

 gulating the pace and form of your horse^s going 

 in accordance with the ground you are going 

 over, by never omitting to take a pull at him 

 the moment you find he wants it, by taking 



£ 2 



