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CHAPTER VI. 



THE BUYING AND CARE OF A HUNTER. 



Theoretical Instruction Useless— "An Eye "—A Verse— Buy from a Dealer— But better 

 Buy from the Farmers— Buy when you see what suits you— Horses go well in all 

 shapes— Author's Horse, The Squire— Well "balanced" Horse— Minting—Head and 

 Neck— Hint to Verdant Green— Would-be Sporting Artists— Wine and Horses— Judges 

 of Horses— Medium Class— Long Tails— High Class— Daly, Darcey, Widger, McDonald- 

 Judges of Wine— An Extract— Care of a Hunter- Only for Owners of Small Studs— 

 Jorrocks— Construction of Stable— Clothing— Clean Litter— Feeding— Buying Oats, etc. 

 —Buy from Farmers direct— Storing Oats— Watering Horses— Staling— Drink during a 

 Hun and after Work— Jogging Home— Stable Preparation for Horse Hunting— Treat- 

 ment after Hunting— Doing him up— How to Feed him— Horse's Temperaments- 

 Natural V. Artificial State— Long Fasting— Wash his Yard— Exercise— Physicking— 

 Firing, Blistering, etc.— Sea Sand, Turf Mould, etc.— Summer Treatment— Preparing 

 for Hunting— Beans— Condition— Ages of Grand National Winners— Aged Hunters — 

 Comparative Age of Horse and Man— Clipping— Shoeing— Different Sorts of Hoofs— 

 The Frogs— Contraction— Corns— Pressure on Soles or Bars— Removing a Shoe- 

 Ignorant Smith's V. Nature's Law— Cats, Goats, and Dogs in Stable— Hard Pullers 

 — Bits— Ladies' "Hands"— The Groom— A Tip on Lunging— Readers' v. Author's 

 Experience— A few Useful Recipes. 



HoA\' to choose a horse is a matter upon which no man can instruct 

 another unless the pupil has naturally an eye for form ; if he has 

 not, he need not expect ever to be able to buy on his own judgment, 

 except by chance, a horse that will please him, or turn out well. No 

 one can be taught on paper how to judge or choose a horse, it would be 

 as easy to teach him on paper to ride or drive. Nor will experience 

 much help a man who has not the natural "eye." I have known men, 

 though having dealings with horses all their lives — ay, Masters of 

 Hounds, too — who knew very little about their points (or those of a hound 

 either). 



Everyone knows a horse should have sloping shoulders, good legs, 

 back, and loins, quarters well let down and be well topped — in fact, 

 everything good ; but let me see the man who can teach in a book what 

 these essentials are. Fancy a lexicographical definition of "well- 

 ribbed-up " ! 



A head like a snake, and a skin like a mouse, 

 An eye like a woman, bright, gentle acd brown ; 



With loins and a back that would carry a house, 

 And quarters to lift him smack over a town ! 



Unless a man is a good judge and has plenty of money I am of opinion 

 he will suit himself better, more cheaply, and with far less trouble 

 by entrusting the purchase to a respectable horsedealer than he will by 

 trying to pick up what he wants (or thinks he wants) himself. Let him 

 go to his dealer and tell him what he requires, and the price he is 

 prepared to pay ; then depend upon it he will not long remain unsuited- 



