104 THE HORSE. 



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 regu- 

 larly 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 prejudice of all but true 

 horsemen, Avho well know the valuable qualities of old 

 horses. On the other hand, wliere you have time, and 

 want your horses for ornament, you will find great pleas- 

 ure 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, witliout which it is very difficult to do the 

 young horses justice. 



A further reason why the old horse suits many persons 

 is, that wlien he is eight years old or more, and has never 

 "been down," great reliance may be placed upon his being 

 foot sure: he will never fall, until either the senile weak- 

 ness of extreme old age comes upon him, or he becomes, 

 from continuous hard v/ork, leg- weary. In fact, such 

 work as tliis will bring " down " any horse, whatever be 

 his age or make. 



By the time, too, that he has arrived at this age, great- 

 er dependence can be placed upon his eyesight; for all 

 ravages made upon his eyes by disease n.re, at the comple- 

 tion of his eighth year, pretty well defined, so that they 

 will thenceforth remain in their then condition, till work 

 and time causes the pupils to dilate. Old horses, finally, 

 are little apt to notice objects, even in the most trifling 

 way, as there are few things tliat they have not pre- 

 viously reen and become accustomed to: and when they 

 do me?" anything strango and out of tlie common, tlicy 



