A Ride on a Rearer 



that he knows these fences. Similarly, had your infatua- 

 tion not impaired your judgment, you might have 

 discovered how the young owner had his leg shattered ! 



Back at the farmhouse you try to give the impression 

 you are not very keen, and for that reason dissuade 

 your friend from giving him another gallop. You 

 become almost angry at your friend's whispered innuendo 

 that " It's a wonder such a good-looking horse would 

 be left to see six years old without someone buying 

 him, unless . . . . ! " You make the deal, test his wind 

 in the stall, give him a more minute vetting, pay, and 

 send the wizened blocker, leading him on a halter, to 

 the nearest railway station. You feel intensely happy. 



Two mornings later you tell a groom, who is going 

 out riding exercise, that he cannot ride a donkey. You 

 order him off your purchase with impolite language 

 and mount yourself. You want the animal to go the 

 road to the right; he intends going to the left, and 

 before the argument develops, he scorns the compass 

 and goes straight up to heaven, and I'm afraid your 

 heart goes down to the lowest depths of another place. 



You have paid good money for the worst type of 

 rogue that could be " lapped in a hide." You may 

 punish him for rearing skywards ; you may break bottles 

 of water over his head in your efforts to prevent him 

 from toppling backwards and killing you; you may try 

 fancy bits in his mouth, but it is all hopeless. Tying 

 his head down may prevent his rearing, but he is useless 

 for hunting, as the moment he finds his head free he 

 begins his old tricks. Rearing horses look very effective 

 on the Films, but these animals are trained and can 



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