92 CAPRICE. 



though ridden successively by the most skilled nags- 

 men Dycer's yard could produce, as well as by Dycer 

 himself. 



I proposed to try my hand, and the animal at first 

 start pursued the same uneasy half-canter with me ; but 

 perceiving that he seemed particularly desirous to take 

 a drink from a trough that happened to be in the way, 

 I allowed his attention to be distracted by taking as 

 much water as he pleased from it ; and then turning 

 him in the opposite direction from that in which he had 

 so obstinately persisted in his own gait, patting and 

 doing all I could to reassure him, dropping the bit-rein 

 altogether, and taking a very light and lengthened hold 

 of the snaffle- rein, I let him move off at his own pace, 

 which, to the surprise of every one present (my own, I 

 admit, included), proved to be a walk, which he imme- 

 diately changed into a jog-trot all up the yard, winning 

 for me a bet of twenty sovereigns to one from the late 

 Edward Dycer, that the horse could not be made to trot 

 within a quarter of an hour of the rider mounting. 



Now, it is only caprice that can account ^or the likes 

 and dislikes of horses about going lead or wheel in 

 four-in-hand. One horse will not stir till removed from 

 the wheel, and another will be equally unmanageable if 

 assigned the leader's part, while an exchange of places 

 will perhaps render both animals perfectly tractable. 



In double harness it may sometimes be observed 

 that an animal, while working by itself, or with others 

 not faster, will casually show great spirit, but when 

 coupled with another possessing more life and action, 

 it will seem at once subdued from its former liveliness, 

 and go along like a slug, quite out of sorts at finding 

 itself outpaced, &c, while its more sprightly neighbour 



