24 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



to be called such, be up to not less than fourteen stone, as most 

 men like to ride with something in hand, and the average of 

 hunting men, with their saddles and bridles, would pull down 

 considerably over thirteen. Next, he must have great en- 

 durance, for it is no uncommon thing for him to be out from 

 nine o'clock in the morning until six at night — often even 

 later — and if his master is not on his back the entire time, 

 the second horseman is, and there is a very small portion of it 

 in which he is not moving. For some part he is sure to be 

 going at a great pace over heavy, rough, and uneven ground, 

 often up to his knees and hocks in dirt, and constantly leaping 

 fences, some of them large, and requiring great exertion to cover 

 out of deep ground. To do this good wind is a sine qua 

 non. He must also have liberty of action and activity, for, 

 if he has not always what is termed "a leg to spare," he 

 will come down half a dozen times in the course of a run. He 

 must have great speed, or he cannot live with hounds, and 

 good temper, or to ninety-nine men out of a hundred he is no 

 use, though there are a few in every field who will put up with 

 an ill-tempered horse if he is an extraordinary good one, other- 

 wise he is sure to be discarded even by them. He must have a 

 good mouth and manners, or he is not safe to ride with hounds, 

 and, although he need not have high action, he must hack well 

 enough to bring his master home after a long day without 

 breaking his neck. I am aware that some very good hunters 

 have been very bad hacks, but they are endured occasionally 

 only on account of their great goodness in the field. Mr. 

 Assheton Smith's Ayston was one of these, and was always led 

 to covert with knee-caps on ; but if he had not been a veritable 

 wonder, he would have been discarded at once. Moreover, the 

 hunter must have courage, or all his other qualities are useless. 

 Here, I take it, are found a combination of qualities which 

 render the horse usefid for any purpose to which he can be put 

 save racing and heavy draught. Take what place you will, 

 except those two, and the heavy-weight hunter will fill it as 



