THE IIOrvSE ON WHICH TO HUNT 21 



with a sloping shoulder-blade, is highly desirable, 

 and means weight-carrying power ; but it is not 

 uncommon to hear men ' crab ' horses thus formed 

 for having what they call ' coarse shoulders.' A 

 straight shoulder, by which I mean an upright 

 shoulder-blade, is of course an abomination for a 

 hunter. I have known many horses with this 

 defect jump well, but they can only go on doing bo 

 at the expense of their fore-legs, and, if they make a 

 mistake, they are naturally not in a position to 

 recover themselves ; but this is a point on which it 

 is unnecessary to dwell. 



Do not touch a leggy horse. Horses of this 

 stamp are generally well-bred, pleasant to ride, and 

 Le-gy often good enough jumpers ; but they can 

 horses ggiciom stay, they generally throw their 

 legs about and sprawl when jumping, and conse- 

 quently nearly always, when tired, hit themselves 

 all round. As a rule, too, they are delicate, seldom 

 good doers, and therefore not a credit to your 

 stable. With care they may make good and showy 

 chargers, but as hunters are to be avoided like 

 poison. 



If I have not advised you to do so before, get 

 and study Hayes' ' Points of the Horse.' It is 

 most sound, but should be read, as indeed should 

 everything worth the reading, critically and not 

 blindly. 



