ft HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



a ploughed field :— for single-handed indications, supposing 

 them to be correctly given, which, as I said before, I have 

 never known ; but, supposing them to be correctly given, 

 they are not sufficiently distinct to turn a horse, except in a 

 case of optimism : that is, supposing for a short time, a 

 perfectly broken horse, in perfect temper, perfectly on his 

 haunches, going perfectly up to his bit, and on perfect ground. 

 Without all these perfections, — suppose even the circum- 

 stance of the horse being excited or alarmed, or becoming 

 violent from any other cause ; that he is sluggish, or sullen ; 

 that he stiffens his neck, or pokes his nose, — single-handed 

 indications are worth nothing. But as for riding a horse 

 perfectly on his haunches, through a long day's journey, or in 

 rough or deep ground, or across country, one might as well 

 require infantry to make long, forced marches at ordinary 

 time, and strictly preserving their touch and dressing, or 

 — still to compare it with opera-dancing — Coulon to go 

 through a day's shooting with the pas de Ztphir. 



