PRACTICE OF FEEDING 261 



justly urged against it. As far as the health and vigor of the 

 hunter are concerned, experience seems to have fully proved 

 which of the two plans is the best for him. Most of those 

 who have opposed the home summering, persist in magnify- 

 ing and multiplying the good effects of grazing ; but little is 

 said against Nimrod's system, except that it deprives the 

 horse of all the advantages of grazing, and that it is cruel. 

 The cruelty has been much insisted on, but without any rea- 

 son. If it can be shown that the stabled hunter has more 

 vigor at the commencement of his labors than he that has 

 summered abroad, it is sufficient proof that the horse has not 

 been uncomfortable. He has not, indeed, experienced the 

 delight of galloping in freedom with his companions, but nei- 

 ther has he suffered the pains of freedom. On the hot days 

 he has been reposing at ease in the stable, while others were 

 scorched by a burning sun, and persecuted by multitudes of 

 winged enemies. If the horse himself be consulted, it will 

 be found that, though he likes now and then to have a day 01 

 two to himself in a good pasture, yet he prefers home. If 

 every horse that has been long stabled had his own will, he 

 would walk from the field to the stall upon the third or fourth 

 day. 



I see no objection to let the hunter out for two or three 

 weeks, while the grass is young. In such a short period he 

 would not suffer much loss of condition — none but what 

 might be easily and safely restored before he is wanted for the 

 nounds. Yet I do not think he would derive any benefit 

 from this, if the pleasure it would give him be excepted. 

 There are cases in which a summer's grass may be quite ne- 

 cessary, demanded by the state of the horse's health. But I 

 am not speaking of these, nor of those to whom grazing 

 would be more than usually injurious. Thef e are exceptions, 

 and have nothing to do with the question. Hunters in full 

 work are generally lean, something exhausted, and have their 

 legs a little the worse for wear, at the end of the hunting sea- 

 son. Some may have become very lame, and these are not 

 fit for grass ; others may have been sadly over-marked, and in 

 bad health ; these would be much the better of the young 

 grass, the gentle and regular exercise, and the open air which 

 they would procure at pasture. But in all ordinary cases, it 

 appears that hunters can be better managed at home than 

 abroad. 



They are not to be constantly tied in stalls, nor even kept 

 loose boxes. If the legs be good the horses should have 



