THE HORSE. 97 



from out a hedge in a quiet by-road, or when he looks 

 curiously at anything strange to him ; he may even, 

 under such circumstances, move over askew to the other 

 side of the road, but this must not be considered to be 

 a vice. Good riding is all that such a horse requires. 



If his eyes are perfect, he is SOUND. 



Play Playfulness. 



Gamboling and good-humoured play, resulting from 

 plenty of ease, are not detrimental to the horse's value, 

 and they are easily got rid of, or, at the least, lessened 

 by a little exercise. 



They may be considered to be, generally, a proof of a 

 strong and vigorous state of health. 



A true horseman does not think any the worse of a 

 horse for this playfulness ; but as a nervous person 

 might be alarmed at this habit, and put himself to some 

 expense in trying to effect a return of the horse to the 

 vendor, it is well to add that, as playfulness is not a 

 vice, the horse is not, on that account, returnable. 



But such temper in the horse as is decidedly capri- 

 cious or mischievous constitutes a VICE. 



The act of a horse looking slily or askance at any 

 objects that happen to catch his eye, while he is 

 passing, must not be mistaken for shying ; for the 

 indecision of the rider's hand will convey a feeling of 





