It is impossible for hounds to drive and run hard unless they are fed strong, and are full of muscle.
A thin hound is a weak hound and tires at night.
Hounds ought always to be cast in front of their huntsman, but this cannot be done unless they are really strong and vigorous.
If to these important qualifications can be added a fine horseman, so much the better; but riding is really a secondary consideration in a huntsman, provided he is workman enough to keep pretty handy with his hounds.
There is no occasion to give young gentlemen a lead over the country, let them find the way for themselves.
A good cheery voice is also a valuable property in a huntsman.
For his whipper-in, he will have a young man who has learnt his duty, as described in a little book called Hints to Huntsmen,[ [2] by heart. If he knows that, and practises it, he will have all the necessary knowledge.
A more abominable sight does not exist than the hard-riding whipper-in, he is, for the most part, a useless, conceited lad, who will never do any good in this world or the next.
The second whip should be a nice, quiet boy, and a good horseman.
Having got our establishment into working order, we will now take it out for a hunt, which I will try to describe from the point of view indicated in my opening paragraph.