64 PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



which is easy to ride, it is most necessary that he should 

 buy a horse of experience. It is, therefore, perhaps, 

 better to begin with a horse who is past mark of mouth, 

 or, in other words, over eight years old. Such horses 

 have probably been hunted for two or three seasons 

 or more, and they know their business, and are less 

 likely to turn out difficult to ride than younger horses, 

 no matter how fresh-looking the latter may appear 

 to be. Moreover, it takes a long time to get real hunting 

 condition on to a horse, and the well-cared-for hunter, 

 who keeps sound and is of good constitution, is at his 

 best from eight to twelve, and very often an awkward 

 horse in his first, or even in his first two seasons. Not 

 so many months ago I knew a beginner who wanted 

 a couple of horses for the present season. He was told 

 to go to the sale of the Blackmore Vale hunters, and 

 some half-dozen of these were recommended as likely 

 to suit him. One he bought, but he did not like the 

 others, and, after spending many hours among the 

 dealers, he bought a second horse privately. The 

 Blackmore Vale horse has carried him well, three 

 days a fortnight up to now ; but the other horse ran 

 away with him, and was then sent to a roughrider, 

 and got so badly cut by wire that he has not worked 

 since, and he will be no good this season. This I quote 

 as illustrative of what I have written, but, of course, 

 there is no golden rule in any matter connected with 

 buying horses, and one man may secure a bargain in 

 lot one, while the purchasers of lots two and three 

 may do just the reverse. Judgment, brains, common 

 sense, and knowledge of horses and horsey matters 

 will, of course, go a long way, but the real novice should 



