New-York tribune., 1902-12-21
SCHOOL FOR HOUNDS.
Proper instruction for a Hunt Pack Costs a
Lot of Money.

A mack of hounds at the meet. properly turned
out is as pretty sight as man could wish to
see says a writer in The London Mall When
the season ends in April the hunt staff naturally
obtain little well earned rest after the great
fatgues of a winters hunting. For the next two
months they set a certain amount OF change. owing
to the fact that they get but little riding to do. The
old hounds glad enough to put up with the
gentle exercise given twice day by men on foot.
while the young entry. e.. the young hounds
which have to be schooled to their duties-take
considerable amount of breaking in before they can
be taken out with horses.
The first business then after dra1tlhs such oio
hounds as are considered unfit to hunt another
season. is to get in all the puppies, now full grown
which have been out "at walk since they We're
weaned The system of walking" puppies has long
obtained Fresh air and freedom have always been
found absolutely necessary for their proper growth
health and development. 1t does not do to nerd
them together in Kennels while young.
What always strikes the uninitiated with wonder
is that the huntsman and whips, with perhaps
seventy couple OF hounds in kennel. should know
all their names. AS matter of fact they know
not only the name. but the age, pedigree appetite
disposition and voice of every hound before II has
been more than a few months in the pack. In the
matter of names they have one aid to guide them
but apparently only one The name of each one
of a litter begins with the same initial as that Of
ouisberi ouf hen varniint. Vocal and so on.
Having collected, say fifteen or twenty couples
from the old hounds at first and carefully scrutin-
iZed
are singiy paraded and stood out the fiat court
yard measured and carefully examined for any
sign of disease, unsoundness or want of shape and
symmetry. Those which cast for any of
these reasons promptly killed. The rest
put TO school
Many hours daily spent by the huntsman in
the sole company of these puppies. during which
time with his pockets full of biscuits, and with
infinite patience, he endeavors to gain their conf
dence and teach them to come as their names
the waed-in paddock. and after perhaps a week,
with a few steady old hounds examples. and
having most all the young ones in couples, he
takes them out. attended by both whips and
helper two.
II being by this time close upon July, road exer-
else Is necessary not only for them but for the
seasoned hounds we'll These latter. in their two
months rest from hard work, will have generally
put on a good deal of superduous flesh, besides
letting their muscles get faccid and their feet
soft. This latter is most important matter, for
all the great authorities from Peter Beckford
downward, make a great point of hardening the
pads of hounds feet by plenty of exercise on the
road From this time till clubbing begins hacks
with long, slow trots-hound pace is six miles an
hour--in the early hours of the hottest part of
the summer The trips extend time goes up
twenty twenty-five miles in morning.
of hounds depends of course largely upon the
style in which things done. Few packs, for
instance attempt to vie with the magniicence in
which Lord Lonsdaie turns out the pack which
he controls. He probably spends 60 600 "a year.
The principal item in the feeding bill is oatmeal
of which sixty couple of hounds, the number re-
quired for hunting four days a week. will eat close
upon f5to worth in year. Meat. principally horse
besides which Goals. straw. medicine etc. for
which another fl00 must be allowed.
No fewer than twenty horses will be required
Ior the staH II they are to have as the huntsman