.52 HUNTING AND RIDING 



is not only ruinous to his reputation as a sportsman, 

 but he frequently comes to grief, and gets laid up at 

 the very time when his services are most urgently 

 needed. 



Hunting and riding should not clash with, but 

 should accompany, each other, and the master who 

 cares more for the latter than the former is unworthy 

 of his profession, and should betake himself and his 

 talents to some other sphere, such as racing, etc., for he 

 will never succeed in giving satisfaction in the hunting 

 field. No ; give me the man who shows constant 

 sport, and who is able to live with his hounds without 

 jealousy or the desire of obtaining notoriety for himself 

 or his horses. 



It is the opinion of many people that since the 

 Government have devoted a sum of money for 

 breeding purposes, the judges should not be selected 

 by vote from the owners of horses, as proposed, but 

 that a paid and regularly certificated judge should 

 be employed, and that the examination for such an 

 important post should be competitive. Such is not 

 a duty which should be lightly undertaken by 

 anyone. What the Government require is a good 

 stamp of horse for remount purposes, out of half-bred 

 mares by a thoroughbred horse, and such produce 

 would at times sell for remunerative prices at three or 

 even four years old. 



The candidate who obtained the greatest number of 

 marks in such an examination as I have described 

 might be appointed to the post of judge, or might 

 also combine the united duties of judge and 

 veterinary surgeon, though there are many reasons 

 why the two duties should be kept separate. 



