90 SHIKAR SKETCHES. 



more uncertain. Certainly they have greater 

 speed, but I think most old pig-stickers will bear 

 me out in the assertion that they will not stand the 

 knocking about an Arab will. Persian horses are 

 occasionally very good and hardy, but are blessed 

 with vile tempers. Of country-breds I have not 

 a good word to say. To my mind they combine 

 all the bad qualities of all breeds, with none 

 of the good ones, and I have seen very few 

 that, in my opinion, were worth their keep as 

 hunters. 



I have ridden, and taken first spears off all 

 three of the former, viz., Arabs, Walers, and Per- 

 sians, and also off a good pony ; but for choice 

 give me the Arab. Few men, however, can 

 afford to give a long price for a valuable Arab, 

 and run the risk of laming or screwing him after 

 a hog ; but there is no doubt that, if you can 

 afford the money, he will carry you better than 

 any other breed. Good horses are often picked 

 up cheaply, or used to be in my day, at the sale 

 of cast-horses from the Artillery and Cavalry. 

 They may be real good, sound horses, and only 

 cast for some little fault that makes them unsuit- 

 able for military work. One of the best animals 

 I ever knew was a Waler rnare, cast from the artillery 

 for restiveness. She turned out a grand hunter, and 



