HEROD
,—commonly called King Herod, was the first horse of his time as A RACER, and afterwards as A STALLION. He was bred by the then Duke of Cumberland, and got by Tartar out of Cypron, who was got by Blaze; he was foaled in 1758, and, after beating every horse that could be brought against him at four, five, and six years old, he became a stallion of the first celebrity, and transmitted a greater progeny to posterity, than any other horse in the whole annals of sporting, unless Eclipse and Highflyer (his son) are admitted upon the score of equality.
HIDEBOUND
—is an impoverished state of the frame and system to which horses are frequently reduced, and partakes much more of neglect in food and stable discipline, than of constitutional defect, or acquired disease. A horse said to be HIDEBOUND has the appearance of being emaciated; the coat is of a dingy variegated hue, staring different ways, with a scurfy dust underneath; the skin is of an unpliable rigidity, seeming to adhere closely to the internal parts, denoting a deficiency of the fluids, an obstruction of the porous system, and a languor in the circulation.
The whole, or any part of these, may originate in various causes; as a short allowance of good and healthy food, or a profusion of bad. Nothing will produce it sooner than hard work with bad keep, and a constant exposure to all weathers, in the severity of the winter season. Musty oats, mouldy hay, and winter straw-yards, are generally the harbingers of this appearance, which in all cases is very easily removed: good stable discipline, in wisping and dressing, regular daily exercise, a few mashes nightly of ground malt and bran, equal parts, followed by a cordial ball every morning, or an antimonial alterative powder nightly in the mash, will soon be found to answer every expectation, and restore the subject to good condition.
HIGHFLYER
—was the name of a late celebrated HORSE, that, taken "for all in all," (as a RACER and a STALLION,) far exceeded any other ever known in this kingdom. He was foaled in 1774; was got by Herod out of Rachel, who was got by Blank; her dam by Regulus, &c. He was purchased of the breeder, when a colt rising two years old, by the late Lord Bolingbroke, and was then thought to be getting too large and unpromising for any capital performances upon the turf. It was, however, observed by the training groom, that he displayed astonishing powers in some of his first trials; and it was upon his suggestion Highflyer was immediately named in the most capital sweepstakes and subscriptions then open; winning all which with the greatest ease, he was at the very zenith of his celebrity as A RACER, when Lord Bolingbroke, disgusted with the villainous deceptions and variegated vicissitudes of THE TURF, as well as declining daily in his health, Highflyer was purchased of his Lordship by Mr. Tattersal, who fixed him as a stallion at a farm of his own near Ely, in Cambridgeshire, where his success soon stamped the spot with the name of Highflyer Hall, which it will most probably ever retain. Here he covered for some years at THIRTY GUINEAS; and from the almost incredible number of mares he was permitted to cover, it was concluded he produced to his owner no less than from fifteen hundred to two thousand pounds a year, for many years in succession. His progeny of winners only exceeded THREE HUNDRED in number, who received, in subscriptions, plates and sweepstakes, above a THOUSAND PRIZES. Amongst the most celebrated of his get were Escape, (who once sold for 1500 guineas,) Euphrosyne, Bashful, Maid of all Work, Plutitia, Sir Pepper, Sir Peter Teazle, Skylark, Skyrocket, Skyscraper, Spadille, Rockingham, Toby, Thalia, Walnut, Old Tat, Vermin, Skypeeper, Grouse, Oberon, Screveton, Diamond, Sparkler, Guildford, Moorcock, and Stickler: of whom several are now stallions in the highest reputation at ten and fifteen guineas each.
HIND
—is the female of the species called RED DEER, the male of which is termed A STAG: the offspring of both is, during its first year, called A CALF; and these only are the deer hunted by the King's stag-hounds.