SELECTING. 



SELECTING. 



In selecting an animal, the character of the work for 

 which he is required should be taken into considera- 

 tion. For example, in choosing a hack, you will con- 

 sider whether he is for riding or for draught. In 

 choosing a hunter, you must bear in mind the peculiar 

 nature of the country he will have to contend with. 



A horse should at all times have sufficient size and 

 power for the weight he has to move. It is an act of 

 cruelty to put a small horse, be his courage and breed- 

 ing ever so good, to carry a heavy man or draw a heavy 

 load. With regard to colour, some sportsmen say, and 

 with truth, that " a good horse can't be a bad colour, 

 no matter what his shade." Objection may, however, 

 be reasonably made to pie-balls, skew-balls, or cream- 

 colour, as being too conspicuous, — moreover, first-class 

 animals of these shades are rare; nor are the roan or 

 mouse-coloured ones as much prized as they should be. 



Bay, brown, or dark chestnuts,* black or grey horses, 

 are about the most successful competitors in the market, 

 and may be preferred in the order in which they are 

 here enumerated. Very light chestnut, bay, and wliite 

 horses are said to be irritable in temper and delicate in 

 constitution, t 



* The French dealers of the present day choose, for gentlemen's 

 hack-horses, chestnuts with legs white half-way up, causing the 

 action to look more remarkable. " There's no accounting for 

 taste." 



+ It is to be remarked of bays, mouse-colours, and chestnuts, 

 having a streak of a darker colour over the backbone from mane 

 to tail (which sometimes, as with the donkey, crosses the shoulder) 



