SUMMERING THE HUNTER. 187 



vantageous in preventing a disposition in them to 

 become flat or convex, instead of moderately con- 

 cave ; and for this purpose was the " horse-pad,'' 

 or " elastic stopping," invented by Mr. Cherry, 

 veterinary surgeon of London, which may be pre- 

 ferable to the tow, but not always at hand. When 

 the latter is used, it should be forced into the foot 

 with all the strength of a man's fingers or thumb. 

 The food of hunters thus summered should be 

 regulated by circumstances. Good flesh, we know, 

 is strength ; but that which is generated in com- 

 parative idleness only contributes to weakness. 

 Our object, then, should be to prevent a horse, 

 treated in the manner we now allude to, from 

 throwing up much flesh, and we must therefore feed 

 accordingly, and also study constitution. At all 

 events, three small feeds of oats (we do not feel 

 ourselves justified in recommending beans, although 

 we know some sportsmen give them ; except in very 

 peculiar cases, such as extreme delicacy of consti- 

 tution, a disposition to scour, or throw ofl" food,) 

 per day are sufficient for any horse, with the addi- 

 tion of a large, sloppy, bran-mash, once or twice 

 a-week. As to green food, we recommend that 

 with caution. We approve of its being given occa- 

 sionally for three or four days in succession, merely 

 as soiling, to attenuate the blood, not to produce 

 flesh ; and this repeated now and then at intervals, 

 whilst the green meat (be it what it may) is young, 

 but by no means afterwards. Many grooms mix 

 hay with green food, which, after the first two or 

 three times of giving it, we think a judicious plan. 



