exhibited at the Society's Meeting, 1882. 
567 
Hunters. 
Of the Hunters, and Stallions for begetting these, it is best to 
speak with the reserve which befits inexperience. When the 
Judges' report, " a very moderate lot, and calculated to do more 
harm than good," it is somewhat difficult to announce " a suc- 
cess." Indeed, not only what ^Ir. Hutchinson has written, but 
the universal expression of spoken opinion in the Showjard, 
combined to determine that circumstances are stronger even than 
the prestige of a Royal Show ; and that these have brought 
about a crisis, in the connection between the Society and 
breeders of hunting stock, which requires this portion of the 
prize-list to be entirely revised and reconstructed ; or else to be 
excised altogether. It is hardly possible and quite unnecessary 
to add anything to Mr. T. H. Hutchinson's remarks. It will be 
observed that, in this department, the Judges have given in 
separate reports. Not that there is much discrepancy of opinion 
as to what existed : and both agree that Class 30 (i.e. that for 
light-weight Hunters) had considerable merit. But it is note- 
worthy that all three of the prize-takers are entered as " breeder 
unknown." This does not occur in a district where breeding 
hunters is on a sound footing. 
Judges' Beports on Hunters. 
Class 10. The Tliorov.fjh-brcd Stallions are a very moderate lot ; and, with 
the exception of the first and second-prize horses, are calculated to do more 
harm than good wherever they are used. The first-prize is a long low horse, 
full of quality, with good knee and hock action, but has too long pasterns, and is 
rather light over his hack. The second prize has a fine top, but is too long on 
the leg, with straight pasterns, and wanting in bone. We consider giving a 
prize for stallions at this time of the year a mistake ; as no Agricultural Society 
can afford to give a prize of sufficient value to induce owners of valuable sires 
to risk them in a Showyard for a week. Besides the risks, any really good 
horse, who has made a good season, is hardly fit to show early in July. I 
think it a pity that the Eoyal Agricultural Society's stamp should be put on 
inferior stallions. Unless some means can be found to bring higher-class 
sires to their Show, it would be better to abandon the prize altogether. 
As to the Hunters brought before us, I am soriy to have to report that, 
with a few exceptions, they are a most wretched lot ; not equal to what are 
shown at many small Provincial Shows ; and they certainly are not the class of 
horse any one would expect to find at our Eoyal Show. This is very much to 
be regretted ; as many foreigners visit the Showyard, and cannot fail to be very 
much disappointed with the miserable specimens of hunters they find there. 
We think the fact that exhibitors of hunters will not bring good horses to the 
Eoyal may be accounted for by the smallness of the prizes offered, the length 
of time they are kept at the Show, and the heaviness of the incidental expenses 
incurred. As horses are always one of the greatest attractions at an Agricul- 
tural Show, surely it is worth the while of the Eoyal Society to make some 
effort to bring together a class of horse which will keep up our prestige as a 
horse-breeding country, and do credit to our great National Show. 
Class 16. — First and second prize Mares, if put to good sires, look like 
breeding good hunters ; the others are a very moderate lot. 
