170 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



revered uncle as regards horse affairs ; but there 

 are thousands who perfectly know a handsome 

 one when they see him, a goer when they see 

 him move, and a pleasant one when they ride ; 

 nay, further, can ride him very well, and yet want 

 that particular sort of knowledge that alone can 

 enable them to manage well, and without use- 

 less expenditure. These are very ticklish gen- 

 tlemen to handle ; here the most candid friend, or 

 the veterinary surgeon, sometimes gets into a 

 dilemma. 



We will say a gentleman shows a horse to a 

 friend, or a veterinary surgeon, with something 

 about him amiss, that it is at once seen will take 

 a considerable time under the immediate care of 

 the vet., and then a winter's rest to make all sure. 

 Formerly a winter's run implied a straw-yard, 

 and the occasional luxury of a meadow, wet as a 

 bog in open weather, and hard and rough as a 

 heap of stones in frost. This saved keep, it is 

 true; but the expense of getting such a horse 

 again into condition was more than that of as 

 we do now hovelling him comfortably, and 

 giving him hay and oats. So the expense in one 

 way or the other for keep must be considerable, 

 before the horse is fit for use; then comes the 

 veterinary surgeon's bill. 



The owner will, in the first place, possibly ask 

 if it is probable the horse will come up sound ? 



