SOUNDNESS
,—in a horse, is of such extensive meaning, and infinite importance to the sporting world, to dealers in horses, and to individual purchasers, that it is exceedingly necessary some criterion should be fixed by which its present undefined meaning should be more properly and more equitably understood; for want of which, more litigation is carried into the Courts at Westminster for the emolument and amusement of the Gentlemen of the Long-robe, than any other subject whatever, the constantly increasing evil of crim. con. excepted. The general custom between BUYER and SELLER is precisely this; the horse is sold with or without certain conditions in respect to SOUNDNESS, and this is done by what is called a WARRANTY on the part of the seller thus: "He is warranted perfectly sound, free from vice or blemish, and quiet to ride, or draw," as either or both the latter may happen to be. A horse sold without a warranty, and taken as he is, is then purchased (and the purchase abided by) with all faults, and cannot be returned under any plea whatever, unless he can be proved to have been glandered at the time of purchase, in which state no horse can be legally sold.
In the strict and equitable sense of the word, a horse, to be perfectly sound, should be completely perfect: he should have no obstruction to sight, no impediment to action, but be in an acknowledged slate of natural purity; neither diseased, lame, blind, or broken-winded: he should not only be free from impediment at the time of sale, but bona fide never known to have been otherwise. Some there are who support a different opinion, and conceive (or pretend so to do) that a horse may be sold warranted perfectly sound, after he has recovered from a palpable lameness: those should recollect, that such horse is always liable to a relapse, or repetition of the injury; and whoever becomes so obstinate as to defend an action brought under such circumstance, will certainly feel the mortification of having a VERDICT pronounced against him, so soon as sufficient evidence has proved such horse to have been lame at any time whatever previous to the purchase.
Some years since, a late Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench laid it down as a rule, and promulgated the opinion, from the bench during a trial then pending, that TWENTY POUNDS was a good and sufficient price for a SOUND HORSE; and whether a warranty was or was not given, was totally immaterial: that sum implied a warranty, not only for the horse's soundness at the time of his being then sold, but that he should continue so for at least three months afterwards; a declaration so truly ridiculous in itself, and so void of every principle of equity, that any man, to make it now, would lay indisputable claim to the appellation of FOOL or MADMAN.
SPANIEL
—is the name of a dog of which there are different kinds; and even these have been so repeatedly crossed, that, unless it is in the possession of sportsmen who have been careful in preserving the purity of the breed perfectly free from casual contamination, the well-bred genuine cocking Spaniel is difficult to obtain. There are four distinct kinds of dog passing under this denomination; the large water Spaniel, and a smaller of the same sort. Of land Spaniels there are two kinds also; the one larger than the other, much stronger in the bone, but with curly waves in the hair; and the small yellow pied springing Spaniel, (used in pheasant and cock shooting,) whose hair is rather long, soft, and delicately pliable, with ears of the same description, reaching, when extended, beyond the point of the nose. The two kinds first mentioned are chiefly confined to the purposes of wild fowl shooting, in moors, marshes, and the neighbourhood of rivers; where ducks, wigeons, teal, coots, moor-hens, dab-chicks, and snipes, are to be found; to all which they are particularly appropriate; not more for their indefatigable industry in finding the game, than for their surmounting every obstacle to recover it, and bring it to hand when killed. They are also of most wonderful sagacity, fidelity, and observation; their olfactory sensations almost exceed belief, by which alone they are taught the most incredible performances. Sticks, gloves, handkerchiefs, coin, or any other article left some miles behind by the owner upon the road, or any remote spot, (totally unknown to them,) they will retrace to any distance upon a signal being given with the hand, and never relinquish the search till they bring it safe to their master.
The large springing Spaniel, and small Cocker, although they vary in size, differ but little in their qualifications, except that the former is rather slower in action; neither catching the scent of the game so suddenly as the latter, or seeming to enjoy it with the same extatic enthusiasm when found. The small cocking Spaniel has also the advantage of getting through the low bushy covert with much less difficulty than the larger Spaniel, and does not tire so soon, whatever may have been the length and labour of the day. Spaniels of each description are frequently used as finders in COURSING with GREYHOUNDS, and are indefatigable in their exertions: from the time they are thrown off in pursuit of game, the tail is in a perpetual motion, (called feathering,) by the increasing vibration of which, an experienced sportsman well knows when he gets nearer the object of attraction. The nearer he approaches it, the more violent he becomes in his endeavours to succeed; tremulative whimpers escape him as a matter of doubt; but the moment that doubt's dispelled, his clamorous raptures break forth in full confirmation of the gratification he receives. And this proclamation may be so firmly relied on, (though in the midst of the thickest covert,) that the happy owner may exultingly boast he is in the possession of one faithful domestic who never tells a lie.
As it is the impulsive principle of this animal to give the most outrageous proof of joy upon finding, or coming upon the foot or haunt of game, so it is his determined disposition never to relax in his perseverance till he brings it to view. It is therefore necessary for all young and inexperienced sportsmen, who take the field with Spaniels, not to be too tardy in their own motions, but to let their agility keep pace with the incessant activity of their canine companions, without which they may expect to cover many a weary mile without a successful shot. Spaniels, when broke for the field, should never be taken out more than one young dog at a time, and that in company with one or more old and seasoned dogs, to whom they will mostly attend in every action, and the sooner acquire the necessary knowledge of the business they are engaged in. If young dogs are taken out alone, and in too great number, their great eagerness, and emulative opposition, frequently occasions them (particularly in covert, where they are safe from correction) to hunt or chase one thing for want of finding another; and in the event of not being corrected when necessary, to become uncertain babblers, and never to be relied upon. The judicious and experienced sportsman will never be seen to hunt Spaniels with Pointers either in or out of covert; for, although it can do little or no injury to the former, it may very materially warp the integrity, if not totally destroy the principles of the latter.
SPARRING
—is a ceremony practised with game cocks during the time they are in feeding (alias training) to fight in any MAIN or MATCH, for which they stand engaged. When COCKS are brought up from their walks, and placed in their pens, some are, of course, too full in flesh; others, as much deficient: in the judgment of equalizing these different degrees, (by reducing the weight of one, and increasing the substance of the other,) does the art of cock-feeding entirely depend. On every second or third day, during the time they are preparing for the match, each cock has a sparring with an opponent of nearly equal weight with himself; and this sham fight continues a longer or shorter time, according to the flesh, weight, and wind, of each cock so exercised, in proportion to the superflux of substance he is required to lose. For the occasion, and that they may not injure each other, they are equally shielded with mufflers upon the parts where their spurs have been sawed off; and that they may be the better inured to labour, and prepared for difficulty, the ceremony takes place upon a truss or two of straw loosely scattered, that, having no firm hold for their feet, they have less power to oppose each other. Cocks too full of flesh, and foggy, that require a great deal of sweating to bring them down to their proper match weight, are sometimes permitted to continue the controversy till nearly exhausted.