RIDING TO HOUNDS 189 



however, a considerable degree of weakness is connected, 

 and the racehorse occasionally breaks down in the middle 

 of his course. The hunter, from his different action, takes 

 not this length of stride, and therefore wants not all this 

 elastic mechanism. He more needs strength to support his 

 own heavier carcase and the greater weight of his rider, 

 and to undergo the fatigue of a long day. 



The foot of the hunter is a most material point. The 

 narrow and contracted foot is the plague-spot of most of 

 our racing blood. The work of the racer is, however, all 

 done on the turf ; but the hoof of the hunter is battered 

 over the hard road and the stony field, and if not particularly 

 good, must soon be ruined. 



The position of the feet in the hunter requires some 

 attention. They should, if possible, stand straight. If 

 they turn a little outward, there is no serious objection ; 

 but if they turn inward, his action cannot be safe, 

 particularly when he is fatigued or over-weighted. 



The body should be short and compact, compared with 

 that of the race-horse, that he may not in his gallop take 

 too extended a stride. This would be a serious disadvan- 

 tage in a long day and with a heavy rider, from the stress 

 on the pasterns, and more serious when going over clayey, 

 poached ground during the winter months. The compact, 

 short-strided horse will almost skim the surface, while the 

 feet of the long-reached animal will sink deep, and he will 

 wear himself out by efforts to disengage himself. 



Every sporting man knows how much more enduring is 

 a short-bodied horse in climbing hills, although perhaps not 

 quite so much in descending them. This is the secret of 

 suiting the race-horse to his course, and unfolds the apparent 

 mystery of a horse decidedly superior on a flat and straight 

 course being often beaten by a little horse with far shorter 

 stride on uneven ground, and with several turnings. 



The loins should be broad ; the quarters long ; the thighs 

 muscular; the hocks well bent, and well under the horse. 



The reader needs not to be told how essential temper and 

 courage are. A hot, irritable brute is a perfect nuisance, 

 and the coward that will scarcely face the slightest fence 

 exposes his owner to ridicule. 



It is easily credible that, entering as fully as his master 

 into the sport of the day, the horse disdains to yield to 

 fatigue, and voluntarily presses on, until nature is exhausted. 



