THE HACK. 5 



remounts, since, owing to the greatly diminished demand for 

 these roadsters, comparatively few are bred ; and as they con- 

 stituted an excellent source for the supply of cavalry, this arm 

 is now mounted with the greatest trouble, and at a much 

 higher rate than formerly. A good road hack was the type of 

 a good troop horse. 



Such a horse should stand from fifteen hands to fifteen 

 hands two or three inches ; he ought to be able to walk at the 

 rate of four miles an hour, and to trot from eight to twelve, or 

 even fourteen miles in the same time. His action should be 

 easy, true, and level ; neither too high — which would be 

 fatiguing on long journeys, as well as damaging to legs and 

 feet — nor yet too low, for then he would be liable to stumble, 

 or even fall, especially in travelling over uneven roads, and 

 particularly when tired. 



In order to ensure good action, as well as to guarantee the 

 necessary amount of strength, the road hack in make and 

 shape should be, like the hunter, as near perfection as possible 

 in all those points which are necessary to this end. The 

 requirements to be met are, therefore, somewhat numerous, if 

 a typical animal is to be secured, and they have been enume- 

 rated as follows : — The head should be small and fine, broad 

 between the eyes and between the branches of the lower jaw 

 at their angles ; also the distance from the eye to the angle of 

 the lower jaw should be great. The nostrils should be large, 

 wide, clean, and well-defined ; the mouth small, with the lips 

 thin and firm. The ears should be small, fine, and pointed, 

 being carried firmly, with their tips inclining slightly inwards 

 towards each other ; while the eye should be large, full, and 

 prominent, with well-developed eyebrow. The neck must be 

 long, somewhat thin, and fit well into the space formed between 

 the branches of the lower jaw — being longer on its upper than 

 its under surface, as well as being convex on its superior 

 border. The head should be well " set on " to the neck, which^ 



