Tim LADY'S noksE. \x 



o 



balance, and will" instantly detect any serious flaw. When 

 selecting for a lady who, he knows, will appreciate sterling 

 worth rather than mere beauty, he may feel disposed to 

 gloss over a certain decidedness of points and dispense with" 

 a trifle of the comely shapeliness of truthfully moulded 

 form. Having satisfied myself that the framework is all 

 right, I would order the horse to be sauntered away from 

 me with a loose rein, and, still with his head at perfect 

 liberty, walked back again. I would then see him smartly 

 trotted backwards and forwards. Satisfied with his natural 

 dismounted action, I should require to see him ridden in all 

 his paces, and might be disposed to get into the saddle 

 myself. Having acquitted himself to my satisfaction, he 

 would then have to exhibit himself in the Park or in a 

 field, ridden in the hands of some proficient lady-rider. A 

 few turns under her pilotage would suffice to decide his 

 claims to be what I am looking for. If he came up to my 

 ideas of action, or nearly so^ I should not hesitate — subject 

 to veterinary certificate of soundness — to purchase. Finally, 

 the gentleman to examine the horse as to his soundness 

 would be one of my own selection. Certain of the London 

 dealers insist upon examinations being made by their own 

 " Vets," and " there's a method in their madness." When 

 such a stipulation is made, I invariably play the return 

 match by insisting upon having the certificate of the Royal 

 College of Veterinary Surgeons, where the investigation is 

 complete and rigorous. The very name of "the College" 

 is gall and wormwood to many of these "' gentlemen con- 

 cerned about horses." 



