THE HORSE. 123 



It is a mistake to suppose that young horses will last 

 longer in work than old ones (provided that the latter 

 have not been hard-worked while young), working 

 against each other. The old one will work the young 

 one off his legs ; while with similar work the latter 

 will succumb in a much shorter time, and unless great 

 care, attention, and nursing are granted to him, and he 

 is very regularly exercised, he will become troublesome 

 and lose his health. 



The old horse, on the contrary, comes out of his 

 stable, after his rest, as staid and sober as ever. 



I am aware that in advocating for particular purposes 

 such superiority, I encounter the prejudices of all but 

 true horsemen, who well know the valuable qualities of 

 old horses. On the other hand, where you have time, 

 and want your horses for ornament, you will find great 

 pleasure in teaching young horses, in improving their 

 mouths, and in promoting in them graceful action. 

 But this should be attempted by those only who keep 

 more than two horses, without which it is very difficult 

 to do the young horses justice. 



A further reason why the old horse suits many 

 persons is, that when he is eight years old or more, and 

 has never " been down/' great reliance may be placed 

 upon his footsureness : he will never fall, until either 

 the senile weakness of extreme old age comes upon 

 him, or he becomes, from continuous hard work, leg 



