THE SELECTION OF A HORSE 



Proportion is the main point to look for. 

 There is no good having a horse with powerful 

 hind quarters if his forehand is weak, as he will 

 probably overjump himself, and come down on 

 his head at a fence. Similarly, if his forehand 

 is too heavy and powerful for his hind quarters, 

 he will not be able to lift himself over his fences ; 

 but given fairly good proportions, providing a 

 horse is not overweighted, is allowed to carry 

 his head where he likes, and balance himself so 

 that his strongest parts do the work in hunting, 

 he will last for years, although his shape and 

 make may not be all one would desire. But it 

 should be borne in mind that nothing compen- 

 sates for a weak pair of lungs, and in choosing 

 a hunter one should specially notice whether, 

 when galloping, sneezing or coughing, the horse 

 expels the air with force or not. 



If when trotting you can rise and fall 

 equally comfortable on either diagonal, and 

 you find yourself strongly thrown up from the 

 saddle, the hind legs are probably all right ; 

 if the horse also canters equally well leading 

 with either fore leg, and turns and twists about 

 easily to either hand, and backs readily, there 

 cannot be much the matter with him. 



A lady's horse should have an undeniably 

 strong and sound off hind and near fore leg, as 



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