THE HORSE. 139 



an unused horse would, by being subjected to a 

 used horse trial, be degraded by that very trial to 

 this second class. See " Aged Horses." 



I mention this to show what attention and care are 

 required in the trial of a horse, and especially to prove 

 that, while the slightest marks of having been sub- 

 mitted to even one day's work vitiate his title to a 

 warranty of the first class, he is yet entitled to one 

 of the second class : for all deviations from a natural 

 state, whether such be the results of work, or of any 

 other cause, thrust him out of the class of first-class 

 warranties, but yet do not disqualify him for the 

 performance of work. Then, if a doubt arise as to 

 the power of such a horse, possessing as he does certain 

 defects and blemishes, to do his proper work conveniently, 

 the right course is to submit him to trial in his specific 

 vocation, certain regulations and stipulations being 

 beforehand agreed upon. 



Thus, in the trial of a horse as " hunter/' you 

 should try his general qualifications as a jumper, taking 

 into consideration the character of the prevailing fences 

 in the country for which he is destined. For this 

 purpose, select such leaps, in the neighbourhood where 

 he is tried, as approach the nearest in form, &c., to 

 his future work ; and, in addition, try him fairly, in 

 the ordinary work of hunters, and especially in any 

 particular line in which you may be informed that 

 he excels. 



