126 FORMATION ESSENTIAL. 



as adamant. Both the walking and trotting paces are 

 superfluous, and a good, even, and moderately high 

 gallop is all that is required in the covert or galloping 

 hack. He should be a pocket edition of a Jirst-class 

 steeplechaser, both in make and shape and action, and 

 every other particular save size. 



He should not exceed 14 hands 3 in., or he will 

 not be so quick in his stride as is desirable for getting 

 safely over uneven and rough ground, in which he will 

 require the fine shoulders of the steeplechaser to enable 

 him to preserve his pace without tiring to nothing under 

 the weight. 



When I say that the covert hack must be precisely 

 similar in breeding, make, shape and action to the 

 steeplechaser, I must not be understood to mean every 

 galloping hack for every weight, from twelve stones to 

 twenty, but from ten stones to fourteen. Above this 

 weight a more coarsely-bred animal must be put up 

 with, and the pace must decrease from eighteen to 

 thirteen miles within the hour. 



For such weights a fast-trotting cob is the best de- 

 scription of animal for going to cover at a quick pace ; 

 and a cob that can be found to accomplish fourteen 

 miles over rough ground within the hour, under from 

 fourteen to twenty stones, will always command a high 

 price, and is very difficult to procure. 



The best covert hacks for galloping are to be found 

 in little cast-offs from the racing stables, which, when 

 possessed of sufficient thickness and action, invariably 

 obtain the greatest character for pace and stoutness. 



