w 



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recall, as if I had seen it yesterday, the curve of 

 neck and quarters, as, gently mouthing the bit, that 

 well-broken hunter poised lightly for its spring, and, 

 landing in the sane collected form, picked its way 

 daintily, step by step down the declivity, like a cat.' 1 



Such perfection of understanding between horse 

 and rider can only, I think, be arrived at by the man 

 who has a small stud of which he is complete master - 

 that he has, in fact, made to his hand. I would 

 argue that to have such a perfect animal is a great 

 joy and, if achieved, should more than compensate for 

 the necessity of a bigger subscription and a smaller 

 stud. 



It is very easy to have too large a stud, which 

 means a number of horses alwa-^s short of work and 

 above themselves in condition. Horses in that state 

 are never at their best or pleasant to ride. In 

 fact, the only advantage I can see in a big stud, apart 

 from the pleasure of mounting friends, is that in spite 

 of any run of bad stable luck, you can always go hunt- 

 ing. A man with only four or five horses, if sport has 

 been good and he has been really shoving them along, 

 may easily find himself with nothing to ride for a time. 



Still, a small stud saves much money, and the 

 owner will be better carried. I have often thought 

 second horses might u r ell be abolished. Second horse- 

 men do much harm, add to the expense, and when one good 

 stout hunter is tired, his rider has had a good day's 

 sport. Then, too, if none of us had second horses, 

 after a good hunt in the morning we should all ride 

 with less liberality and dash in the afternoon, use 

 our heads more and nurse our horses, but we should see 

 the sport nevertheless. Also we should find out which 

 are the really stout, staying hunters, their blood 

 would be sought after, and our breed of stayrers, not 

 too plentiful, improved. 



When second horses are used, no Mian should be 

 allowed to ride as second horseman until he has received 

 careful instruction as to shutting all gates, avoiding 

 damage to crops, together with a few hints as to his 

 general behaviour in the hunting field. 



To show how little some men know of their large 

 studs, I can quote a case of a good out very wealthy 

 sportsman who, after a quick thing in which he had 

 gone well, remarked to a friend: iat a nailer this 



