56 



bined with other views, both height and strength 

 are indispensable, and seventy guineas will be the 

 minimum price. But it is very rare indeed to find 

 one of your " occasional hunters" fit for the field : 

 he may carry well enough over the first two or 

 three fences, or perhaps through a quiet day ; but 

 the chances are ten to one that on a second trial 

 he swerves from his leaps, or bolts, or breaks 

 down. Hunters are not sold as hacks till they 

 have proved treacherous : and of all the nuisances 

 on earth, an unsafe horse after the hounds is the 

 greatest. I once fell in with the hounds pretty 

 well mounted, but on one of these occasional 

 hunters. It was not in human nature to turn 

 away, even if I had known my horse. He bolted, 

 and dashed through a bridle gate at speed ; the 

 post fairly cut off the side of my boot — another 

 half-inch, and I should have struck it flush upon 

 my knee-pan, and of course have been disabled 

 for life ! There is neither heroism nor pleasure in 

 such fool-hardy adventures. 



But to return to my subject. If in general ap- 

 pearance the horse promises to suit, it is prudent 

 to see him through his paces before you inspect 

 him closely; the opposite course is commonly 

 followed, but I think erroneously. The action of 



