Breedinrj of Hunters and Roadsters. 
349 
horbaq-e-it presents, as well as for the variety of surface it 
affords. Land laid down in seeds, though inferior to old pas- 
ture, is often serviceable to the farmer as affording an exten- 
sive range of fresh grround. 
It is not until the second summer that solts require more 
extent of ground than a small enclosed field affords ; the young 
animals, il thev have onlv an acre of space, will display their 
speed, bv galloping round their dams in a circle. Colts and 
fillies destined to make hunters, require to have their liberty for 
three full summers ; and it is a question to be settled by the 
means at hand, whether four summers should not be given. 
Hunting-colts should be taken up, broken, and be gently ridden 
at latest during the winter when thev are rising four years old : 
thev may then either be turned out again for two months during 
their fourth summer, or be ridden over the farm at that time, 
which, with a good rider and proper care, affords the best be- 
ginning for a young hunter : such usage is preferable to turning 
out, though both these courses may be followed in the same 
summer, to some extent, with good effect. 
It is riot necessary that the space of ground allotted to marcs 
and foals should furnish all their sustenance during any con- 
siderable part of the year ; most Ijreeders of hunters, however, 
will be provided with such good grass-land as will make them 
independent of much other aid during three or four months of 
summer. To a great extent the same svstem that is adopted for 
the racing-stud mav be carried on in breeding hunters ; but the 
practice of running blood-horses at two years old has induced 
breeders to stimulate their growth and development by free and, 
I may s^y, excessive feeding. 
To insure the best results, there is only one mode of procedure 
for different stock as far as the first and second summers, with 
the intervening winter, go. Whether the colt be entered to run 
lor the greatest early stakes, or destined to carry the heaviest 
amongst the fastest of riders to hounds, or designed to make a 
stallion, ample space on good land, shelter and cleanliness, are 
essentials, without too much pampering ; the food to consist of 
sound meadow^ hay and oats, to such an amount as the resources 
ot the land, and the state of the animal indicate. Growth, form, 
and tine fibre, are our requirements in the horse ; and it is bv 
giving food of a kind and quantity which can be assimilated that 
these are produced : any excess in the quantity of food given adds 
to bulk and weight, at the expense of quality. 
Thoroughbred foals and yearlings, under the present method 
of feeding, eat from 1 peck to \^ peck of oats per day ; and of 
hay, either cut into chaff or in its normal state, about 7 lbs. 
The motive for this, as I believe, excessive feeding, is not alone 
