STABLE MANAGEMENT. 
215 
food or water after six in the morning until the horse is 
returned to his stable at night ; we should not mention such 
a thing did we not know it to be commonly done ; and how 
an animal can be sustained during severe exertion under such 
circumstances it is difficult to see, particularly an animal like 
the horse, which naturally, from the conformation of his 
digestive system, is always feeding or sleeping. Remem- 
bering the time at which meets take place now, there can be 
no objection to the usual feed and water the first thing, and 
another feed and a smaller portion of water prior to starting, 
especially if the meet should be a few miles distant. 
The sport being ended, the next course will depend on the 
condition of the animal. If the run has been moderate, the 
horse not exhausted, but still fresh and light in his rider’s 
hand, his stable not many miles distant, let him be ridden 
steadily home at once, not walked all the way ; because, after 
the excitement has passed off, the longer he has to bear his 
master’s weight on his back the more he will suffer for 
it afterwards. The system of stopping on the road for an 
hour, to give the horse a pail of gruel, — which, by-the-by, 
should generally be read, to give the rider a chop and a glass 
of sherry, — is a bad one, if it can possibly be avoided ; the 
stables are nearly certain to be bad, the accommodation 
altogether very rough ; the horse, being merely a chance 
customer, is not much cared for, and probably gets cold and 
stiff before he starts again. Should, however, the distance 
from home be considerable, a little refreshment for man and 
beast may be necessary before the distance be completed ; 
but as soon as the horse has taken his gruel, or water and a 
mash, or whatever can be obtained for him, by all means keep 
him moving. Arrived at his stable, he may be treated very 
much as the hack after a long journey ; carefully dressed, well 
littered down, a bran mash with oats in it placed in his 
manger; and the next day be again, in most cases, ready for 
quiet exercise with the saddle on. 
We have taken for granted that our hunter has been 
ridden by a man who knows his capabilities, has remembered 
that he does not keep a large stud, and has gone accordingly, 
giving his horse no more than a good day’s work. But we 
must indulge a moment in a glance at the exclusive hunter, 
the animal that is cultivated for the special purpose, and 
whose owner would as soon think of using him in any other 
capacity as he would of losing him altogether. We must see 
him arch his proud neck as his rider takes him in his hand, 
and steadies him at the first “ rasper” to the music of the 
ringing “ Tally-ho !” We must follow him through “a good 
