102 THE HORSE. 
his boots and leathers. For this purpose the hack must be a galloper, 
capable of keeping up a fast hand-gallop all the way from point to point ; 
he should be an easy goer at this pace, safe, and clever enough to take 
any moderate fence which may interfere with a short cut from one point 
to another. Green lanes are often very deep, and it would be impossible 
to get along them at the desired pace ; the only alternative therefore is to 
turn out on the adjoiming sound ground, and get over or through the 
fences as well as the hack is capable of doing them. If he is a perfect 
covert-hack he will creep or jump in hand, or get across the country in 
some way, according to the weight he has to carry; and he should there- 
fore be a miniature hunter, with the additional requisite of being a good 
hack on the road. Many a horse is a pleasant and safe goer on soft 
ground, but if he is set going on a turnpike-road he will roll over his rider 
in the first half-mile. This is what the covert-hack should not be; what 
he should be is, a clever and safe galloper. A trotter is tiring, in the first 
place ; and in the second, is not suited for the green sides of a road or the 
green lanes which can generally be met with in reaching the meet. About 
fourteen hands is the best average size for these hacks, whatever the rider 
may be; if for sixteen stone or upwards, the hack must be a cob; but if 
for much less, he may be blood-like, or even quite thoroughbred, if he can 
be obtained of that breed with sufficient action. Most covert-hacks, how- 
ever, are under-sized hunters, the produce of mares intended to breed 
something more valuable in the market; but not growing into the con- 
templated proportions, the breeder is obliged to sell them as hacks; and 
when fast and clever enough, they are devoted to the purpose now under 
consideration. Action is the main point; not too high, so as to throw 
time and space away, but a fast stealing-away kind of style, which gets 
over the ground without distressing either horse or rider. If the hack 
can get along in this way, safely over all sorts of ground, and can last at 
his three-quarter pace for ten or a dozen miles, he is a good covert-hack, 
let his appearance be what it may; but most men prefer good looks in 
addition, especially as these hacks are available during the summer for 
other purposes. A neat head and neck, with a general outline calculated 
to please the eye, are therefore eagerly looked for ; and the consequence 
is that one of fourteen hands, or a little more, tolerably well-bred and 
good-looking, which is capable of carrying from twelve to sixteen stone 
comfortably, and at a fast pace for the distance above specified, is worth 
from 500. to 100/., according to his looks and action. A good judge will 
of course suit himself for one-half the lower sum; but in London, or any 
of the best hunting countries, such an animal is worth as much as I have 
stated. It must be recollected that he requires all the good qualities of 
the horse, except flying speed and great size; and that he must possess 
beauty of form and good temper, safe and fast action, cleverness, and 
above all good sound feet and legs to stand the battering of the roads over 
which he must often be ridden at his three-quarter pace. Now, many 
scores of hacks, so called, may be looked over before a good judge could 
select one corresponding in all points with the above description, and con- 
sequently when one is found it is fair to expect that his value will be 
estimated accordingly. Such animals fetch long prices even at the 
hammer; and when Mr. Tattersall has one before him, with a known 
good character, it more frequently reaches above the first-named sum than 
drops below it. 
THE ROAD-HACK varies from the foregoing in being necessarily more 
of a trotter than a galloper, inasmuch as he is intended for use on 
