424 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



which suddenly meets his vision ; and consequently by 

 starting to one side is very apt to throw his rider. 



THE CHARGER. 



Much diversity of opinion prevails in this, as well as in 

 other countries, respecting the kind of horse best suited for 

 a charger. At one period, the whole British cavalry were 

 mounted on strong, heavy horses, which were bred from the 

 large Flander's horses, crossed by those of Britain. But in 

 the peninsular campaigns, it was found that lighter horses, 

 with a considerable proportion of blood, were the most 

 useful, as they got over wet, marshy tracts of country better 

 than heavier horses. The qualities of a charger, or troop- 

 horse, are much the same as those of a hunter. His action 

 should be great, as well as his spirit ; the neck deep and 

 arched, with a large swelling breast ; the ribs full and 

 finely bent ; the chine broad an.d straight ; and the rear 

 round and full ; the legs broad and flat, and the pasterns 

 short. In action, the charger enters into the spirit of the 

 attack, as the hunter does that of the chase. In the words 

 of the poet, — 



" The fiery courser, when he hears afar 

 The sprightly trumpets and the shouts of war. 

 Pricks up his ears, and, trembling with delight, 

 Shifts place, and paws, and hopes the promised fight. 

 On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined. 

 Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind : 

 His horny hoofs are jetty black and round. 

 His chine is double, starting with a bound, 

 He turns the turf, and shakes the solid ground; 

 Fire from his eyes, clouds from his nostrils flow, 

 He bears his rider headlong on the foe." 



The charger which has been in many battle-fields retains 

 as long as he lives a remembrance of his past services, which 



