ON THE NATIONAL UTILITY OF HUNTING. 23 



and although, no doubt, other instances might be found, steeple- 

 chasers taken generally are quite as likely to find their way be- 

 tween the shafts of a hansom cab, as between the knees of a hunt- 

 ing man, and nine times out of ten it is the fittest place for them. 

 There is an obvious reason for this, which is so well explained 

 by Harry Hieover, one of the best writers on sporting matters 

 we have ever had, that I shall give it in his words. He says, — 



"The exertion of the steeplechase horse seldom exceeds 

 fifteen (minutes), generally less, but we must bear in mind that 

 the hunter has to sustain his load for more hours by far 

 than the race-horse does minutes, and, on an average, half as 

 many hours as the steeplechaser is asked to carry his minutes : 

 therefore, though exertion that may be called beyond the 

 strength of the animal may last for a brief period, and even 

 then excite our surprise and admiration, he cannot go on with 



it. K you hunt in a fast country, you will 



frequently get a burst very little inferior as to pace to a steeple- 

 chase. After the tliree or four miles of a steeplechase, distressed 

 or not, the horse is clothed up and led home. After a burst of 

 the same distance with hounds, his work is only, comparatively 

 speaking, begun." 



In another place the same author says, — ''I know of few 

 cases in which a man would probably deceive himself more 

 in getting together a stud than by attempting to select them 

 from steeplechase horses." 



In one thing it might have, with a show of confidence, been 

 anticipated that the steeplechase would be of advantage, viz., 

 the discovery of horses as sires fit to get hunters; but, after 

 some forty years in which the sport has flourished, it has done 

 nothing of the kind, and I cannot now recall to my mind the 

 names of half a dozen steeplechasers who have become success- 

 ful hunter sires. Hence we must place it, as far as national 

 utility is concerned, far below the legitimate chase. 



Let me now pause for a moment to see what are the quaK- 

 fications necessary in a really first-class hunter. First, he must, 



