88 THE DIFFEKKXT BREEDS OF ENGLISH HORSES. 



deal more on the manner in wliicli he puts his feet down, than on that in 

 which he lifts them up : — more on the foot being placed at once flat on the 

 ground, or pei-haps the heel coming first in contact with it, than on the 

 highest and most splendid action. 



^Vlien the toe first toviches the ground, it may be readily supposed that 

 the horse will occasionally be in danger. An unexpected obstacle ^\all 

 throw the centre of gra^dty forward. If the toe digs into the ground 

 before the foot is firmly placed, a little thing will cause a trip and a fall. 



For pleasant riding and for safety also, a hackney shoidd not carry Ids 

 Jeijs too high. His going a little too near to the ground is not always to 

 be considered as an insuperable objection. The question is, does he dig 

 his toe into the ground ? 



He shoidd be mounted and put to the test. Let his feet be taken up 

 and examined. If the shoe, after having been on a Aveek, or a fortnight, 

 is not unnecessarily worn at the toe, and he is felt to put his foot flat on 

 the ground, he may be bought without scruple, although he may not have 

 the lofty action which some have erroneously thought so important. 



Eveiy horse, however, is liable to fall ; and hence comes the golden rule 

 o^ ri^in^, '■ Never trust to your horse,' but ahvays feel his mouth lightly. 

 He does wrong who constantly pulls might and main ; he Avill soon spoil 

 the animal's mouth. He does worse who carelessly throws the reins on 

 the neck of the horse. Always feel the mouth lightly, Avith a simultaneous 

 gentle pressure of both legs. By these means the rider Avill insure a regu- 

 larity of pace, and command the safety and speed of his horse. If he 

 depends entirely upon the feeling of the hand, the mouth may become too 

 sensitive, and refuse to have the proper beariiig upon the bit. The action 

 of the horse may also be uncollected, so that the hind feet may strike 

 against or overreach the fore feet. Again, if the horseman neglects the 

 elasticity and fine feeling of the liand, and makes too much use of his legs 

 alone, a callous mouth and boring upon the bit will most likely result from 

 the practice. By this uniformity of feeling, the horse may thus have 

 occasional and immediate assistance before he is too much off the centre 

 of gravity, and when a little check Avill save him. By this constant 

 ^ewile feelivg he will likewise be induced to carry his head well, than 

 which few things are more conducive to the easy, beautiful, and safe going 

 of the horse. There is one unerring criterion hj which a good hack may 

 be knoAATi : if he can walk well he can do no other pace ill. 



The road-horse may, and should, like the hunter, possess different de- 

 grees of breeding, according to the nature of the country, and the work 

 required of him. When approaching to thoroughbi-ed, he may be a splen- 

 did animal, but he Avill be scarcely fitted for his duty. His legs Avill be 

 too slender ; his feet too small ; his stride too long ; and he will rarely be 

 able to trot. Three parts of blood, or even half, for the horse of all- work, 

 will make a good and usefal animal. 



The hackney should be a hunter in miniature, with these exceptions. 

 His height should rarely exceed fifteen hands and an inch. He Avill bo 

 sufficiently strong and more pleasant for general work below that standard. 

 Some will imagine, and perhaps with justice, that the portrait which we 

 give of the road-horse represents him as somewhat too tall. He certainly 

 should be of a more compact form than the hunter, and have more bulk 

 according to his height ; for he has not merely to stand an occasional and 

 perhaps severe burst in the field, but a great deal of every-day Avork. 



It is of essential consequence that the bones beneath the knee should be 

 deep and flat, and the tendon not tied in. 



The pastern should be short, and although oblique or slanting, yet far 

 less so than tliat of the race-horse or the hunter. There should be obliqixity 



