FOX-HOUNDS AND STAG-HOUNDS. 203 



The horse would be the better for the exercise 

 twice a-week, and his master too ; but to expect 

 one to be bottled up in London, and really go 

 with fox-hounds, or the Queen's, is out of the 

 question. I will venture to say there are more 

 horses killed, injured, and lamed, and consequently 

 more falls from those sent down to hunt under 

 such circumstances, in proportion to the number 

 out, in one season, than occur with all the de- 

 termined riders in Leicestershire in half a dozen. 

 And so it must ever be where horses are expected 

 to go without their wind, stamina, and muscles 

 being properly braced up by proper treatment. 



When I say with fox-hounds, or the Queen's, 

 or, I might add, any stag-hounds, I must remark, 

 I consider that to a horse not fully and properly 

 prepared for hunting, it makes a great difference 

 to him whether he goes with the former or the 

 latter. With fox-hounds a horse in most cases 

 gets a little trotting or cantering before a fox is 

 found or goes off; this gives him tiaie and dispo- 

 sition to empty himself before he is called upon 

 for the full exertion of his speed and lungs. With 

 stag-hounds he has no chance; the deer-cart 

 arrives, all is quiet, the deer is uncarted, and in 

 a few minutes the hounds are laid on and a sure 

 burst takes place, for which a horse ought to be 

 as well prepared as for a steeple chase. Distress 

 must follow this, and unless the rider has con- 



