Defective Vision.—A horse that has any defect in his sight should be at once rejected by the buyer. It is the only safe way in dealing, unless the desire is to buy a blind animal at a blind price. There is generally a plausible reason given for every suspicious appearance, whether it be a sightless eye or a pair of broken knees.
Blinkers.—I greatly disapprove of these for breaking. Let the colt or horse see what you are doing. In this I am aware that many disagree with me, but I usually hold to my opinions, as I do not form them in a hurry.
Amateur Blacksmiths.—If you want to be independent of the forge when frost sets in, you can do it in this way. As soon as the hunting season has fairly begun, have your horse’s shoes made with square holes punched at the extremities and at the toes. Have these fitted with slightly tapering plugs of steel, with sharp projecting points. The plugs should be about two inches in length, and must be made to fit the holes both accurately and tightly, but not to go quite through the shoe to the foot. When frost appears, and you want to go out, insert the plugs yourself in the holes, tap them slightly on the points with a hammer, and when the horse puts his weight on them it will drive them “home.” The plugs will last for three or four days, and are both cheap and easily renewed. When you require to take them out, another quiet tap or two (delivered a little at the side) will start them, owing to the taper on the part that fits into the shoe.
“Hot Fitting.”—I entirely approve of this, when properly conducted. It would need a very lengthy application of a hot shoe to affect the hoof to any depth—quite four minutes to cause a marked increase of temperature in the upper part of the foot—while, in reality, the hot shoe is not usually applied for more than three or four seconds.
Temperature of Stables.—The average temperature of a stable should be about 48° F. Never clip until the whole of the winter coat has appeared—then do it once for the entire season. Leaving the saddle-place unclipped will be more likely to provoke galls than to prevent them.
Supply of Hay.—Six pounds of hay per diem is quite sufficient for a horse, when plenty of other food is given. Too much hay is a mistake.
Quartern.—Everybody knows that this weighs 2½ lbs.
Stable Forks.—Do away with steel, and use wooden ones.
Shoes.—A set ought to last four weeks, unless the work be constant and the going very hard.
Hunting Scarlet.—Do not don red in the hunting field until your “salad” days are over. It is a remarkable colour, and of late many excellent sportsmen have discarded it altogether. This may, perhaps, be owing to the fact that ladies are putting it on! Two fair Dianas who ride very straight with the Meath hounds adopted scarlet last season, and doubtless many more will ere long follow suit. It is not to be admired, in my opinion, and can scarcely fail to remind the beholder of things usually associated with street-organs and itinerant grinders of these instruments!