56 THE ORANGE COUNT? 



action. Many faults may be tolerated in the racer or hunter, 

 but if the former have speed, and the latter bottom, this may 

 be oA^erlooked in consequence of the animal being otherwise 

 well adapted to the purpose for which he is intended. The 

 racer is frequently vicious, and the hunter scarcely less so 

 both perhaps from injudicious or cruel treatment; but next to 

 safety, it is requisite that the hackney should be quiet and 

 docile, always ready to identify his movements with those of 

 the rider, whether he be in action or standing still waiting the 

 transaction of his owner's business. By kind treatment a 

 horse acquires a knowledge of his owner's movements almost 

 as readily as a dog, and is as ready to acquiesce in them ; so 

 that his teaching in this respect devolves on his owner, as 

 much for his own interest as for the perfection of his horse. 



The degree of substance which the saddle-horse should 

 possess must depend upon the weight he has to carry, and 

 the consequent degree of exertion required of him. A coun- 

 try, the surface of which is irregular or hilly, will require 

 strength and action as primary requisites before speed, or at 

 least to be combined with it. It is no doubt agreeable to 

 possess a splendid horse; but it is questionable whether his 

 services will be superior to those of one of less pretensions. 

 It is by no means essential that he should carry his legs too 

 high, so that he goes clear over the ground. The height of 

 the hackney should be from fourteen hands and a half to fif- 

 teen hands and an inch, having a body of a compact form, 

 with his joints well knit. 



The head of the saddle-horse should be small, and the 

 neck inclining to be thin towards the head. The head will be 

 then well set on, and it will form that angle with the neck 

 which will give a light and pleasant mouth. This, however, 

 depends much on the rider, who, if he do not feel his mouth 

 lightly, may easily spoil its sensibility to a light touch, and 

 may entail upon himself a great deal of unpleasant atten- 

 tion to his horse's movements. The animal, when well man- 

 aged, is accustomed to depend on his rider for Ins guidance; 

 and if the rider have not as much sensibility of touch in his 

 hand as his horse has in his mouth, he is not in a situation to 

 give hinL an immediate check, so as to prevent accident to 

 either. Besides which, a light touch always gives a graceful 

 position to the horse's head, and is eminently conducive 

 towards ease and safety of action. 



The shoulders of the saddle-horse, compared with those 

 of the racer, or even with those of the hunter, should have a 

 little more substance or thickness, and they should slope 



