MODERN TIMES. 76 



three weeks of coming to post) ; lie must, to bring 

 him out fit to go, get his sweats (a thing unheard 

 of with the hunter in former times) ; but, when 

 we take into consideration that in fast countries 

 with a good scent, the first mile and a half is in 

 point of pace very nearly the same as the first 

 mile and a half of a two mile race, the necessity 

 of it will be seen; and, be it further borne in 

 mind, hunters go over heavier ground than race- 

 horses, and carry much heavier weight, to say 

 nothing of the exertion of fencing. 



We will suppose the master of a stud to be 

 obliged to be absent for three weeks : a good- 

 natured but injudicious groom might determine 

 that his horses should enjoy themselves during this 

 interval of hunting. I might applaud the man's 

 kind feeling and intentions, but I should very 

 much deprecate his judgment; such treatment 

 would be anything but kindness to the horses, 

 inasmuch as daily exertion, supposing it to be 

 more than is absolutely pleasant, is far preferable 

 to an occasional day of severe distress, which 

 must as certainly follow the want of proper pre- 

 paration as the night succeeds the day. 



"When horses come to be regularly hunted, the 

 regular training, or rather exercise, they had 

 undergone must be remitted; a day or two of 

 comparative rest during the week becomes ne- 

 cessary ; but with any horse, if in health, a short 



