78 



THE HUNTER. 



other hand, were mares more generally used as 

 hunters, all such as proved themselves good, that 

 is, were stout, and had the peculiar kind of action 

 that enabled them to go well on deep ground, over 

 ridge and furrow, and were good leapers, might for 

 the most part be relied upon for producing good 

 ones to succeed them. It may likewise be observed 

 that, as in this case, the risk would be diminished, 

 more people would breed hunters than do at pre- 

 sent ; and it is very generally admitted, that, at 

 this time, so great is the scarcity of young horses 

 likely to make hunters, were it not for those annu- 

 ally imported from Ireland, the demand would far 

 exceed the supply. 



Next in importance to the judicious selection of 

 sire and dam, is the rearing of the colt, which it is 

 intended should make a hunter. It was the remark 

 of a gentleman, who kept fox-hounds more than 

 half a century, that " great part of the goodness of 

 a horse goes in at his mouth," and nothing is more 

 true. In the work called " Nimrod on the Condi- 

 tion of Hunters,"" (p. 223, first edition,) is the fol- 

 lowing passage: — '' It is my confirmed opinion, 

 that unless a colt be what is called ' deformed,' it 

 is in the power of good keep, exercise, and physic, 

 to make him what is termed ' a fine horse,' and one 

 which will sell for a large price, either for harness 

 or the saddle. No one who has not witnessed it, 

 is aware of the improvement in shoulders, thighs, 

 gaskins, &c., from good old oats, accompanied by 

 regular work and proper riding." Breeders of hunt- 

 ers may be assured that such is the case ; and that 



