THE ROAD <^ 



Let the farmer who has a stumbler look at the shoes of his horse. In 

 what part is the wear and tear ? — The toe of the shoe will become round, 

 or even be altogether gone, when the heel is scarcely touched. 



For pleasant riding, and for safety also, a hackney should not carry his 

 legs too high. His going a little too near to the ground is not always to 

 be considered as an insuperable objection. The question is, does he dig 

 his toe into the ground ? 



Mount him and put him to the test. Take up his feet and examine . 

 them. If the shoe, after having been on a week, or a fortnight, is not 

 unnecessarily worn at the toe, and you feel him put his foot flat on the 

 ground, do not scruple to buy him, nay, esieem him a " choice-gifted 

 hackney," although he may not have the lofty action which some have 

 erroneously thought so necessary. 



Every horse, however, is liable to fall, and hence comes the golden rule 

 of riding '■^ never trust to your horse," — always feel his mouth lightly. 

 He does wrong who constantly pulls might and main ; he will soon spoil 

 his horse's mouth, and render his own work always necessary. He does 

 worse who carelessly throws the reins on the neck of the horse. Alwvys 

 feel the mouth lightly ; you will thus be able to give the animal assistance 

 immediately, before he is too much off his centre, and when a little check 

 will save him. By this constant gentle feeling you will likewise induce 

 him to carry his head well, than which few things are more conducive to 

 the beautiful, safe, and easy going of the horse. 



The road-horse may, and should, like the hunter, possess different 

 degrees of blood, according to the nature of the country, and the work re- 

 quired of him. When approaching to thorough-bred, he may be a splendid 

 animal, but he will be scarcely fitted for his duty. His legs will be too 

 slender ; his feet too small ; his stride too long ; and he will rarely be able 

 to trot. Three parts, or half, and for the horse of all-work, even less than 

 that, will make a good and useful animal. 



The hackney should be a hunter in miniature, with these exceptions. 

 His height should rarely exceed fifteen hands and an inch. He will be 

 sufficiently strong and more pleasant for general work below that standard. 

 He should be of a more compact form than the hunter, and have more bulk 

 according to his height ; for he has not merely to stand an occasional 

 although severe burst, but a great deal of every-day work. 



It is of essential conse<iuence that the bones beneath the knee should be 

 deep and flat, and the tendon not tied in. 



The pastern should be short, and although oblique or slanting, yet far 

 less so than that of the race-horse, and considerably less than that of the 

 hunter. There should be obliquity enough to give pleasant action, but not 

 enough to render the horse incapable of the wear and tear of constant, and 

 sometimes hard work. 



The foot is a matter of the greatest consequence in a hackney. It 

 should be of a size corresponding with the bulk of the animal, neither too 

 hollow, nor too flat ; open at the heels ; and free from corns and thrushes. 

 The fore legs should be perfectly straight. There needs not a moment's 

 consideration to satisfy us that a horse with his knees bent will, from a 

 slight cause and especially if he be overweighted, come down. 



The back should be straight and short, yet sufficiently long to leave 

 comfortable room for the saddle between the shoulders and the huck with- 

 out pressing on either. Some persons prefer a hollow-backed horse. It 

 is generally an easy one to go. It will canter well with a lady ; but it 

 will not carry a heavy weight, nor stand much hard work. 



