THE ROAD. 
draught, and the play and force of his muscles serve to con- 
tinue it. Light horses, therefore, how good soever their 
action, ought not to be put to draw a heavy load, as 
muscular force cannot act against it for any great length 
of time. 
The average price of horses for fast-coaches may be 
about twenty-five pounds. Fancy teams, and those 
working out of London, may be rated higher, say thirty 
pounds ; but taking a hundred miles of ground, well 
horsed, the former is about the mark. * The average 
period of each horse's service does not exceed four years 
in a fast-coach ; perhaps scarcely so much, although still 
equal to more moderate work. In a slow one we may 
allow seven ; but in both cases we are alluding to horses 
put to work at five or six years old.f Considerable 
judgment is necessary to the selection of horses for fast 
work in harness ; for if they have not action which will 
command the pace they are timed at, they soon destroy 
themselves. For a wheel-horse he should have sound 
fore-legs, or he cannot be depended upon down hill. 
Good hind-legs and well-spread gaskins are also essential 
points in a coach-horse ; the weight or force applied 
proceeding from the fulcrum formed by the hinder feet. 
The price we have named as the average one for such 
animals may appear a very low one ; but we must 
* Of course we speak of prime cost ; for coach-horses increase in value 
as they acquire condition, and are found to be equal to their work. 
+ There are at this time two leaders on the Dover road, which have run 
together over the same stage upwards of twelve years ! 
