THE HORSE. 33 



their good qualities sometimes obtains a pleasant horse 

 cheaply. 



To others than good horsemen, such animals are 

 very dangerous dear at a gift. Boots are a little 

 safeguard. Down hill is their worst chance, and the 

 attempt at holding them up, except by the thorough 

 horseman, too often brings them down. 



Reject them if you value your limbs or your neck, 

 although they are allowed to be SOUND ; and properly 

 so, where they are capable of going at the usual pace 

 without inconvenience, performing the usual work of 

 horses of their class (not speedy cutters) with ordi- 

 nary usage, without the necessity of boots or more than 

 ordinary care. But where, as is frequently the case, 

 the horse cannot travel usual distances at the ordinary 

 pace, with the common rate of horsemen, without seriously 

 cutting and otherwise endangering himself, there ought 

 to be a difference ; / myself do not believe that he is 

 SOUND. I would recommend the seller, where there 

 is the least tendency to this defect, always to except 

 speedy cutting in his receipt ; otherwise, he is likely 

 to get into a dilemma. The door is open for dis- 

 pute. Where is the man who is not a horseman 

 in his own estimation ? Who is there among our 

 acquaintances that, if he is not a whip or horseman 

 of the first water, is not considerably above the 

 average ? Do you know any one so modest as to 

 allow that he belongs to the second-class? On the 



