72 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



of action, he will not be long before he learns for 

 himself, in what its elegance consists. 



With one further hint to him, in reference to lame- 

 ness, I shall quit the subject. Be careful to observe 

 if a horse, apparently even free and bold in action, 

 does not occasionally drop ; if a casual halt or a sort 

 of misgiving on any leg is perceived, reject the ani- 

 mal at once ; he will fall almost to a certainty when 

 put to his work. It is difficult to penetrate the 

 cause of this defect — in some cases it arises from 

 splents, in others from sprains, in many from the re- 

 maining debility of a sinew, that has formerly been 

 strained, and in most, perhaps, from thrush, corns, 

 tender heels, and other affections of the feet. If it 

 is exhibited on the ride, the legs may reasonably be 

 suspected ; if on the stones, the feet are probably 

 bad : but wherever the fault exists, it is a decided 

 fault, and the horse is an unsafe purchase. 



While I am adverting generally to the selection 

 of a horse, I may allude to one or two other points 

 deserving consideration. In judging of his height, 

 be careful to have him placed on level ground. In 

 the usual way in which horses are shown, purchasers 

 may be deceived to the extent of an inch, or perhaps 



