SELECTING. 5 



Respecting soundness, though feeling fully compe- 

 tent myself to judge of the matter, I consider the half- 

 guinea fee to a veterinary surgeon well-laid-out money, 

 to obtain his professional opinion and a certificate of 

 the state of an animal, when purchasing a horse of any 

 value. 



The Hack for Drauglit ought to be as well formed as 

 the one just described ; but a much heavier shoulder 

 and forehand altogether are admissible. 



No one should ever for a moment think of putting 

 any harness-horse into a private vehicle, no matter 

 what his seller's recommendation, without first having 

 him out in a single or double break, as the case may 

 be, and seeing him driven, as well as driving him him- 

 self, to make acquaintance with the animal — in fact, to 

 find Mm out. 



The Hunter, like the hack, should be particularly 

 well-formed before the saddle. He should be deep in 

 the girth, strong in the loins, with full development of 

 thigh, short and flat in the canon joint from the knee 

 to the pastern, with large fiat hocks and sound fore legs. 

 This animal, like the road-horse, should lift his feet 

 clear of the ground and walk independently, with evi- 

 dence of great propelling power in the hind legs when 

 put into a canter or gallop. 



A differently-shaped animal is required for each kind 

 of country over which his rider has to be carried. In 

 the midland counties and Yorkshire, the large three- 

 quarter or thoroughbred horse only will be found to 

 have pace and strength enough to keep his place. In 

 close countries, such as the south, south-west, and part 



between his fore legs, the neck being over-arched, goes where he 

 pleases : such is called by horsemen " a borer." 



