THE ROAD-HACK 121 



find in discussing the mode in which the several paces are performed, the 

 trot of our horses is somewhat different from that of the Americans, the 

 knee in ours being more rounded, and the foot therefore reaching the 

 ground with a greater tendency to " toe " it. AVith regard to shape, 

 though, as in the race-horse, there is a particular formation which is more 

 likely to give good hacking powers than any other, yet experience teaches 

 every horseman that it cannot be relied on either negatively or positively. 

 From a stable full of hacks no one would dream of making a selection 

 without seeing them out, for it would be a hundred to one that the same 

 animal would not be fixed upon before and after a trial. Every butcher's 

 boy who has been a year or two in the trade will tell you that hacks, still 

 more than race-horses, go in all shapes, and though oblique shoulders may be 

 desirable, yet many a good hack is without. Action is the sine qua non, 

 united to stoutness, temper, and soundness both of wind and limb, as well 

 as of the eyes. A horse with a thick-loaded shoulder often makes a good 

 hack, while a very thin one is not suited for long-continued journeys, its 

 muscles soon tiring, and a trip, or series of trips, being the result. There 

 are, however, one or two essentials in the shape of a good hack which 

 should never be overlooked, let the action be what it may. Firstly, the 

 shoulder-blade must be wide enough at its upper part and sufficiently 

 clothed with muscle behind it to keep the saddle in its place, which may 

 readily be ascertained by the most inexperienced person by putting one on 

 and riding a mile or two, partly down-hill. The horseman knows at once 

 whether the shape of this part is suitable, but practice is required for this, 

 and unless it has been obtained, it is better to leave nothing to chance, but 

 to take the trouble to ascertain the fact. Secondly, the jaws should be 

 wide, and the head and neck so put together that they can be bent into 

 proper form, without which the mouth cannot remain good, and no hack 

 can be considered perfect. This, however, I have previously enlarged upon 

 at great length, and therefore I need not repeat what I have written. I 

 have alluded to the walk, trot, and gallop in mentioning the paces of the 

 hack, but have said nothing of the canter, because it is not much used by 

 gentlemen, on account of its wearing the off-leg out more than the trot, 

 from the great stress laid upon that limb. Even if the lead is continually 

 changed, more mischief is done by 10,000 hard blows than by 20,000 

 comparatively gentle, and therefore, excepting on the turf by the side of 

 the road, the canter should not be indulged in by the male sex. 



The park-hack should be the road-hack I have described with the most 

 showy form within reach ; but as this last is the point which is the most 

 attended to, an animal is often selected of the most worthless kind in other 

 particulars, either from some deficiency of constitution or infii^mity of legs. 

 There are every year some scores of useless brutes turned out of the racing- 

 stables with legs which will not ^tand a preparation, in consequence of 

 their tendency to inflame and become unsound. Now, these horses are 

 often barely up to 11 stone, and also unfit for the hunting field, from de- 

 fective hocks, or from some peculiarity of temper which prevents their 

 taking to jump. They are " well topped " — that is, well formed about the 

 head, neck, and body ; and to the inexperienced eye are very taking. 

 They may also have high action, and sometimes particularly so ; for the 



