THE HUNTER. 211 



is closer to the ground, and should be particularly good about 

 the loins and hocks* 



His breaking begins later than that of the thorough-bred. 

 He is taken up at about three-and-a-half years old, and 

 requires a year or eighteen months to learn his work.f 



In judging him, we should specially consider his style of 

 jumping different fences, and the pace at which he takes them. 

 If the obstacle is a hedge, he should take it quietly, on account 

 of the small effort required to clear it. If it is high and stiff 

 he should collect himself for a big effort, and should go very 

 straight and steadily at it. If it is a fairly wide stream, the 

 pace should be quite different, and the head and neck, which 

 should not be hampered by the hands, should be extended. 

 The horse should stretch himself out, should take a light but 

 very free bearing on the hands, and jump at full speed with 

 freedom and pleasure. 



The only fault an English hunter has, is that he costs a 

 great deal of money. Usually one pays about three hundred 

 pounds for a good animal of this sort ; but in exceptional 

 cases, the price may be five or six hundred. I repeat that this 

 kind of horse is the only animal which is fit to hunt anywhere. 



In every country, except in England, it is generally thought 

 that as accidents are very common in hunting, only cheap 

 horses should be used for this work. All my readers know 

 from experience that in buying a horse, they cannot be sure 

 of getting value for their money. Therefore I think it very 

 foolish to practise economy when buying a hunter. The 

 English, who are very practical, and who know the value of 



* The hunter is the only horse they have not tried to produce in France. This 

 is to be regretted, because breeders would have succeeded with him, as with other 

 horses. Frenchmen make the mistake of wanting cheap hunters. 



t His work is simply jumping, and he never fetches a high price, unless he is 

 a free goer, very sure-footed and a big jumper. The long training which he 

 requires is the cause of his high market value. Ordinary jumpers are ready at 

 from three-and-a-half to four years old. 



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