64 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



not usually possess high action, and his walk and trot 

 are slower in speed and less brisk in appearance. On 

 the other hand, his canter or gallop is more graceful, 

 more easy, and of course more rapid. His mouth feels 

 more lively or " lighter," as it is termed, to the bridle 

 hand, and there is altogether a vivacity both in ap- 

 pearance and in movement which is seldom found in 

 a half-bred horse ; wholly different however from 

 that bustling kind of activity which may be noticed 

 in a butcher's trotter. If my readers will bear these 

 general remarks in mind when he has an opportunity 

 of comparing different breeds with the eye, I think, 

 that after a few trials, he will be at no loss to form 

 an accurate opinion, even where the difference of 

 breed is not considerable. I have heard people ex- 

 claim, "What breed!" when they see a slovenly- 

 made weedy thing, with long spider-like spindle- 

 shanks, and as lean as a lath. Though a certain de- 

 gree of slimness of make is commonly observed in 

 thorough-bred horses, especially when young, there 

 is no greater mistake than to suppose that this is the 

 invariable concomitant of pure descent. Smolensko 

 was remarkable for the size and power of his limbs : 

 I once measured his leg below the knee with my 



