156 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



such a case, the recommendation of a good servant 

 is not to be despised. But there is one serious 

 consideration to be discussed here. Is the groom 

 that such a man would take competent to give 

 advice ? for I should be led to fear that want of 

 knowledge of horses would also comprehend the 

 same want as regards the qualifications of a groom. 

 And we may fairly infer the sort of servant he 

 would get would be a shade or two behindhand 

 in point of knowledge, if compared with such 

 men as have charge of studs at Melton. Of 

 their opinion I should be always happy to avail 

 myself; but then it must be remembered that 

 they are selected by those who know perfectly 

 well the duties of a stud-groom, and only keep 

 them to save themselves trouble not because 

 they are incapable of giving proper directions 

 themselves. These grooms know this, and though 

 highly respectable men, it has no small share in 

 contributing to their strict attention to their 

 duties and their stud. Such servants are a great 

 addition to the expense of each horse, we know ; 

 but they effect a very considerable saving in the 

 long run when compared with valuable horses 

 being under injudicious management, whether 

 that proceeds from master or man, or both. 



Such men are not wanted, of course, by persons 

 who keep three or four ordinary horses for or- 

 dinary purposes. Such would not warrant the 

 expense ; but for them, unless their master 



