IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 157 



in form to a cob. My relative rode him for about 

 two or three months, during which time, either he or 

 the horse so contrived it as to fall every ten days ; 

 the last fall was a very serious one, and the knees 

 were much blemished. He would not have produced 

 ten pounds, though I had given nearly forty. I ob- 

 tained permission to break him into harness, which I 

 did myself, without any trouble or difficulty. His 

 owner would not take him back again, but gave him 

 to me. A year or two afterwards I refused sixty for 

 him. It is a singular fact, that, for the first two 

 years that I had him, (he remained with me nearly 

 five,) he would allow nobody to drive him but myself. 

 If other hands held the reins, he would swerve and 

 shy, and at last perhaps fairly bolt ; but in mine he 

 never committed a fault. I used to drive him with 

 a sharp curb, and very little whip ; but my command 

 of him was so complete, that I have urged him to his 

 full speed, thrown the reins on his back, and stopped 

 him in an instant by my voice ! The inference 

 which I would draw is, that a purchaser should 

 always try a new stanhope horse for himself, and 

 not trust to the steadiness evinced while the reins 

 are in his owner's hands. 



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