6 BUYING. 



of the north of England, a plainer-bred and closer-set 

 animal does best. 



In countries where the fences are height jumps — a 

 constant succession of timber, or stone walls — one must 

 look for a certain angularity of hip, not so handsome in 

 appearance, but giving greater leverage to lift the hind 

 legs over that description of fence. 



A hunter should be all action ; for if the rider finds 

 he can be carried safely across country, he will neces- 

 sarily have more confidence, and go straighter, not 

 therefore requiring so much pace to make up for round- 

 about "gating" gaps and "craning." * 



BUYING. 



If you propose purchasing from a dealer, take care 

 to employ none but a respectable man. It is also well 

 to get yourself introduced to such a one, by securing 

 the good offices of some valuable customer of his for 

 the purpose ; for such an introduction will stimulate 

 any dealer who values his character to endeavour by his 

 dealings to sustain it with his patron. 



Auction, — An auction is a dangerous place for the 

 uninitiated to purchase at. If, however, it should suit 

 you to buy in that manner, the best course to pursue 

 is to visit the stables on the days previous to the sale, 

 for in all well-regulated repositories the horses are in 



* The racer not coming within the province of this little work, I 

 will only offer one maxim with reference to such horses in general 

 —viz., never race any horse unless you make up your mind to have 

 most probably a fretful, bad-tempered animal ever after. The 

 course of training and the excitement of contest wiU induce such 

 a result. 



