THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 119 



Having now touched upon earth, air, wood, and 

 ■water, with enough of fire to w^arm me on the subject, 

 I have little more to offer in shape of advice to rising 

 sportsmen, with regard to their horses, on the use or 

 abuse of them. I would, however, add this memento — • 

 Do not keep a horse which you dislike, and never part 

 with one that really suits you. The filthy lucre of a 

 great premium on your bargain, will not replace that 

 which is neither " gemmis venale, nee auro ;" and, on 

 the other hand, a useless horse eats as much as one 

 that is invaluable. He may be undeniable, but if he 

 be not exactly your sort, follow the old maxim concern- 

 ing white legs, and 



" If lie don't suit you sell him to your friend, 

 But if you like liim, keep him to life's end." 



Cherish him, spare no pains to preserve him ; he will 

 get no less used to you, than you to him ; and he will 

 repay all your cares fourfold ; — as he cannot endure for 

 ever, he will serve as a model for your future choice 

 as to shape, &c. Never think of colour ; foreigners 

 have a prejudice against a speck of white, and are 

 guided by similar nonsense in their selection, though, 

 truly, they have expatriated some of our best blood ; 

 but the possessors of large studs will tell you that they 

 have had equally good horses of all colours ; little ones 

 are said to beat big ones, and it cannot be doubted 

 that there are more real good ones below the height 

 of fifteen hands, three inches (which is high enough), 

 than above it ; but there is, probably, something in the 



