62 CONDITION. 



the oxidation of the body ; consequently^ the 

 animal begins to lay on flesh rather rapidly. When 

 a dealer disposes of a horse, the animal appears to 

 be in the most blooming condition imaginable ; 

 but when it comes into the purchaser's hands and 

 leads a normal existence, performing a reasonable 

 amount of work, it very often begins to fall away in 

 flesh ; in fact, so much so, that the buyer hardly 

 knows his horse, and is inclined to think that the 

 animal is out of health, whereas it is simply because 

 the horse has not been in a fit state for work. But 

 fatness does not imply condition ; in fact, it must 

 be taken as evidence of softness of constitution. 

 Every horseman knows that the term " condition " 

 ought to imply physical fitness for work, and that 

 this can only be brought about by regular feeding ; 

 regular exercise ; good grooming ; and the supply of 

 a moderate amount of the best forage ; along with 

 proper attention to the ventilation, and lighting of 

 the stable. In order to get a hunter fit for work, 

 it is necessary to begin several months before the 

 hunting season commences; and "Nimrod," in his 

 work on the condition of hunters, was strongly 

 opposed to the summering of these animals, believing 

 that the few weeks' preparation after a summer's 

 run were quite inadequate for the following season's 



