HUNTING. 161 



I have strongly recommended cooked 

 feeding, even against the uproar of a general 

 outcry against it, because I have seen and 

 proved its efficacy. Last November, on the 

 first Tuesday in the month — the opening day 

 with the Kildare hounds — we had a splendid 

 run, during which, however, I was amazed to 

 find that my great horse. Pleader, sweated 

 heavily — a thing which had never previously 

 been the case. In fact, it had always been my 

 boast that when other horses were thoroughly 

 done, mine had not turned a hair ; but, on the 

 day in question, he was in a white lather, and 

 I thought appeared distressed. Upon coming 

 home, and speakiag about it in my stable, I 

 was informed that the boiler was in some 

 way out of order, and the horses had, un- 

 known to me, been fed upon uncooked oats 

 during the preceding three days. Had I 

 required any confirmation of my theory, this 

 circumstance would certainly have famished 

 it, and entirely defeats the general sup- 

 position that cooked food renders horses 

 soft. 



I have now given the best advice I can 



11 



