155 



or gallops well. Still there is no doubt that in pro- 

 portion as the animal is sound, and good in all his 

 paces, his value is greater for -whichever service he is 

 designed. 



I may also remark that few people are very par- 

 ticular about driving a horse in a boot, or with a 

 blemished knee, while the blinkers will hide any 

 obvious defect in the eyes. Thus other serious ob- 

 stacles that occur in the purchase of a saddle horse 

 are removed. 



Subject to these preliminary observations, I would 

 suggest that the form of a stanhope horse should be 

 carefully considered ; a full shoulder and a well 

 filled-up loin, are of consequence : the action should 

 be free, and rather high than otherwise; the body 

 should be compact and close, the legs short, and 

 rotundity the character of the whole. 



Steadiness is a great virtue in a gig-horse ; for 

 his duty is in the streets, where every provocation 

 is given to the contrary, and where the least swerv- 

 ing from the direct line may cause infinite mischief. 

 It is quite impossible to decide whether a horse 

 deserves this character till he has been tried; but 

 a single drive down Oxford street or Holborn, will 



