238 THE LIGHT-ACTIOXED HORSE, A STAYER. 



But it is never advisable to purchase horses out of 

 the hunting field, without a warranty as to soundness 

 and freedom from vice, nor indeed without riding them 

 a short distance on the road. 



No rules can be laid down here for the use of pur- 

 chasers of horses for dhTerent countries, with the ex- 

 ception of those that are for heavy, deep-ploughed 

 countries ; a sharp, quick, light-actioned horse, must be 

 chosen in opposition to the heavy, clumping goers, 

 which beat their feet into the ground, and are utterly 

 unable to withdraw them as^ain without soon exhaustino; 

 their powers, however game they may be. And also 

 that thorough-bred horses are necessary for these coun- 

 tries, owing to the amount of staying powers necessary 

 to go through a run ; which are rarely ever met with 

 except in the pure bred animal with light and almost 

 dainty action. 



In countries where much timber is used for fencing, 

 I am convinced a stain in the pedigree is no disadvan- 

 tage ; but where brooks and dykes abound it is a great 

 disadvantage. 



The best rule for a purchaser to go by, is to reckon 

 up the horses in his own and adjoining hunts which 

 are held in most esteem and ridden by men of similar 

 weight, and consider the points and peculiarities — both 

 as to size and blood — of these horses, and carry these 

 in his mind's eye when in search of a horse to carry him. 



Some men go on, year after year, purchasing horses 

 utterly unsuited to their country, from some innate 

 fancy for a certain class of horse, which they are utterly 



