VARIETIES OF THE HORSE. 59 



He has not to do much walking, but still a bad walker is 

 a continual bore. He need not exhibit the gaudy trotting 

 action desirable in Rotten Row, but he must trot fast. 

 Here action behind is of the first importance, indeed 

 quite indispensable. He must further be able to canter 

 with ease to himself from nine to twelve miles an hour, 

 and to go on doing so as long as he is wished to. 

 He must open gates artistically, and, if required, he 

 must be able and willing (which is often another thing,) 

 to jump any small fence alongside of a locked gate. The- 

 immortal "Mr. Sawyer" was obliged to ride his hack 

 over the gate itself, and an " oxer" or so into the bargain, 

 but it was hard lines, even upon him, to be dependant 

 for pilotage on such an undefeated customer as "the 

 Honourable Crasher !" I should individually be satisfied 

 if my hack can be depended on at a hurdle, or small 

 fence, nor should I when it could be avoided trouble him 

 even with these, and in any case I should leave gates and 

 " oxers," in cold blood to the attentions of my betters, in 

 the way of nerves. The covert hack ought to be, and 

 indeed generally is, the animal most fit to go in the 

 stable to which he belongs. His work is regular, and 

 not liable to be stopped by accidents, like that of the 

 hunters, his stable companions. Indeed he must be 

 pretty fit, to go fast to covert three or four days in a 

 week. Nobody ever has too much time to spare on a 

 hunting morning. The M.P. must write certain letters ; 

 the steadiest going sporting squire is liable to arrest at 

 the hands of his bailiff, just as he ought to be starting ; 

 whilst ardent youth is not only, to a certainty, late for 

 breakfast, but if there be daughters, or other young 

 ladies, in a country house, it is fifteen to one at least, that 

 when he ought to be miles on his way to covert, ardent 



