OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 61 



horse is only at three-quarters, and the latter 

 will always go through dirt (as the term is) best. 

 I have been very much astonished in hearing 

 men whom I have known to be good sportsmen, 

 and who were in the habit of riding well to hounds, 

 argue in favour of the former ; but some persons, 

 for the sake of argument, will even attempt to 

 lay down positions at variance with their own 

 opinion. Many also differ about turning horses 

 out for what is called a summer's run : I did it 

 because I could not afford to do otherwise. I 

 always thought my horses in the best condition 

 when I left off hunting; the turning them out 

 to eat sour grass not only puts them entirely 

 out of condition, but very often injures them 

 materially, I am all for dry food, given in a 

 straw-yard, where the animal can have a barn 

 or open stable to go to, and plenty of good water. 

 By this means how much sooner your horse will 

 be in condition, and what an advantage it will 

 give you before Christmas ! Horses that have a 

 summer's run at grass, seldom are in condition 

 before January. I shall not here trespass upon 

 your patience, by enlarging upon a topic which 

 from time to time has been treated upon in the 

 Sporting Magazine, by one of its ablest writers. 



Of course you will be aware that I am alluding 

 to those well known articles on the condition 



