THE HUNTER. 85 



better qualified to get over awkward fences 

 than the thoroughbred, who has for generations 

 and generations been bred for flat racing, and 

 consequently has to some extent lost the knack 

 or power of jumping over a high fence, although 

 he can easily defeat the half-bred over a wide 

 jump. Moreover, the hot, fiery, and eager 

 temper of the thoroughbred is not qualified to 

 negotiate high, frequent, and difficult fences 

 with calmness, and therefore accidents are more 

 liable to happen ; whilst the half-bred being of 

 more equable temperament is not flurried to 

 such an extent, and when in any difficulty at a 

 fence is more likely to recover himself and 

 carry his rider safely to the end of the run than 

 the thoroughbred. As a rule, the thoroughbred 

 is not good over rough ground, for although he 

 may not actually have been trained or raced, 

 his parents in all probability have, and of course 

 the training-ground and race -course being 

 smooth and level, they have had no necessity 

 or opportunity of picking their way and regu- 

 lating their steps to the ground over which they 



