648 REMARKS ON THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS. 
instead of their being taken up the first week in August, let them 
be stabled the first week in July. This will give a month more 
to prepare them for their next season; and, when we consider 
that they have not been lowered or weakened in their bodies, 
only unbraced for the time being, it will be hard if we cannot 
manage to get them into very tolerable hunting plight again by 
November, there being no good occasion for them in October. 
If there be any difference of opinion between our friend Nim¬ 
rod and ourselves on this subject, it is that we are greater sticklers 
for turning out for spring-grass ; for cold air ; for water at com¬ 
mand ; for liberty: at the same time we repeat, we would have 
all this within limits. We are convinced that hunters may do 
their legs, and their bodies too, a vast deal of harm, by playing 
and scampering about in large extended pastures. On this 
account, we particularly object to parks ; wherein they not only 
have too ample room to stray away, but meet with many strange 
companions, with whom they become induced to frisk and 
gallop about a great deal more, probably, than they would with 
those with whom they had been accustomed to be stabled. 
Effects of Condition—The Stable , and Stable Management. 
A horse out of condition and a horse in condition are in nature 
two different animals. As Nimrod happily imprints it upon the 
mind—“ in persona , he is the same ; in re, quite another being: 
in the one state, being weak and powerless; in the other, equal 
to greater exertion of power and speed combined, than any other 
animal which the hand of nature has formed.” 
“ Condition is the work of time, and can only be acquired by 
slow degrees ; it being in vain to expect it on other terms than as 
the result of a long course of preparations, followed by severe 
work. In a clear fortnight after he has had his last dose of 
physic, he should begin to do some work, for without it no pro¬ 
gress can be made. For the first month, this should consist of 
long protracted exercise rather than what is called “ good work.” 
He should be kept out of his stable for three or four hours in the 
course of the day; and if ridden gently across a country, and 
now and then with a pack of harriers (weather permitting), it will 
greatly promote his condition, by hardening his flesh, increasing 
his strength, and improving his wind. At this time, the use of 
alteratives is indispensable. By their mild and gradual impres¬ 
sion, a healthy action of the bowels is obtained, and thereby 
what in stable language is termed 1 fog,’ (but which might more 
properly be termed debility) is got rid of, and the general appear¬ 
ance and condition of the animal much improved. Indeed, with¬ 
out the use of alterative medicines—exclusively of physic—no 
