In selecting a hunter it is necessary to bear in mind the country i\\ which he is to be ridden. In the grass countries of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, etc, the hunter must be nearly if not quite thoroughbred: the enclosures being large, the fences strong, and the scent over the grass good, nothing but blood can go the pace and keep on jumping. The reason is this: when going with hounds the thoroughbred is never really extended, but is always going within himself, while the half-bred is going all the time at the top of his pace, and necessarily becomes much sooner exhausted.

In a close country, on the contrary, the half-bred hunter is preferred. The pace is not so fast, and the horse is constantly eased by being pulled up and steadied at the fences; for it is a well-known fact that fences stop hounds more than they do horses. In countries of this description, as Essex, Herts, Surrey, etc, the land is generally ploughed, wet, and heavy, the enclosures are smaller, and the fences being principally bank and ditch, must be taken steadily and carefully. I have seen some quite common half-bred horses go remarkably well over a close country that could not live for five minutes over the grass countries.

The points essential to a hunter are a lean head and neck, well set on to good oblique shoulders, a strong back and loin, wide hips, a deep body and back ribs, good muscular quarters, and gaskins well let down to the hocks, and clean, firm legs and feet. He must be temperate, with plenty of courage, and have a good mouth and manners. His size will vary from I5hds. 1in. to 16hds. 2in., according to the weight he has to carry and the description of country he has to cross. From I5hds. 3in. to 16hds. 2in. is perhaps the best size for the flying grass countries, while from I5hds. 1in. to I5hds. 3m. will be found better and handier for the close deep country.

The Irish hunter is very much improved of late years. From the importation into Ireland of some of the best-bred English stallions, they have lost a good deal of the mean appearance they formerly had, are better-bred, and better-looking, with deeper and longer quarters. The Irish horse had generally a small neat head, oblique but rather weak shoulders, short back ribs, and mean, drooping quarters - all which has been very much improved, and some very first-class horses are now bred in Ireland. They are generally very clever, particularly good timber-jumpers, better adapted perhaps for the close heavy countries than the grass. When honest and good-tempered, they are very pleasant to ride, but from often being tricky and shifty require care in purchasing. The price of the hunter depends very much on his breed, appearance, manners, and ability. For the grass countries it would vary from 100l. to 300/., and for the close plough countries from 80/. to 200/.

The amount of work that may be fairly expected of a hunter is one day a week with staghounds and three days a fortnight with foxhounds. From being particularly liable to accidents from blows, thorns, overreaches, etc, it will generally be found that out of a stud of four, one will be "hors de combat." The best and hardiest colours are bay, brown, dark chestnut, and black. Light chestnuts are very often hot and irritable, and also bad feeders when put to work. Horses with short back ribs, too, are almost invariably bad feeders.

Hunters go in all forms, but a loose, weak neck and twisted fore-legs are always to be avoided. The former is the most dangerous fault a hunter can have: it is impossible to steady him at his fences or in any way interfere with his mouth, without his at once throwing up his head; consequently he cannot see where he is going, and serious falls are the result. With twisted fore-legs, the horse is liable to hit and cut himself under the knee, and on the fetlock joint, resulting in lameness and swelling, even if he do not fall.

These horses are bred principally in Yorkshire and the North of England, are bought there by the principal dealers and jobmasters at three and four years old, are broken, driven, and matched by them for some time before they are fit for the carriages of the nobility and gentry. Carriage horses are always either bay or brown, those without white are preferred. They must be fully 16hds. high, with rather long rainbow neck, strong but oblique shoulders, deep round body, with long muscular quarters, carrying a good tail, clean, flat legs, and good firm feet. Being kept more for show than work, grand stylish appearance and action are indispensable, and from being generally loaded with flesh, unless the feet and legs are good, they will soon wear out. A pair of well-matched carriage horses, with style and grand action, will fetch a long price, as much as 600/. or 700/. being sometimes given.

This is easily accounted for if we bear in mind the great expense, trouble, time, and risk that are involved in purchasing, breaking, and perfecting a pair of horses of the size and style required. In fact, so great is the risk and so many the disappointments, that many do not buy horses for their carriage, but prefer hiring them of a respectable jobmaster. But in this, as in all other sorts and descriptions of horses, there are various classes, and the purchaser can suit himself, from the pair of good useful average horses, at about 270/., up to almost any price for first-rate style and action.

The great defects to which carriage horses are liable, from their size and general formation, are - defect of the wind, either roaring or whistling, horses with long rainbow necks very frequently becoming so after a bad cold, or an attack of influenza. All large horses, too, are more or less liable to their wind becoming affected after illness. Inflammation of the feet is another common complaint with horses of this class. Loaded with flesh to improve their style and appearance, and with high action in addition to their weight, two great causes of inflammatory attacks, they are very liable to this complaint, unless great care is taken to guard against it. Many carriage horses, too, have flat feet, rendering them doubly liable to an attack of this description; in them the sole of the foot will sink, becoming convex instead of concave. When such is the case great care is requisite in shoeing, or the horse will not be workably sound.

Some few years since grey was the most fashionable colour for carriage horses, now bays and brown have quite superseded it for all descriptions of horses; and unless he is very first rate, a grey horse is almost universally objected to.

In hiring or jobbing carriage horses the price per month varies according to the time of year. For the months of May, June, and July, the height of the London Season, it would be about 21l. or 22l. per month for a pair of good-looking, useful horses. For the rest of the year it would vary from 16l. to not less than 12l. per month, according to the time of year and the value of the horses. If hired by the year the price would be from 90l. to 100l. for a pair of horses, and 60l. for a single horse. The hirer in all cases to provide fodder, etc, and to pay all expenses, as shoeing, etc, unless a separate agreement is entered into, when the price will be proportionately more.