139 



I stanhope-horse, without first driving it himself, 

 s a fit subject for a commission of hmacy. It 

 s not enough to put him in the break ; he should 

 36 harnessed at once to the stanhope ; and it is 

 )rudent to observe closely how he bears the cere- 

 nony of being harnessed, and what kind of a start 

 le makes. Much may be predicted of his qualifi- 

 :ations for draught, or at all events of his familiarity 

 vith the collar, by the degree of quiet with which 

 le allows himself to be put to. If the ostler runs 

 ilong-side of him at setting off, as is often the case, 

 lOVL may be sure that the horse is distrusted : if you 

 iistrust yourself, have nothing to do with him. 



One of the best horses which I ever had in my 

 ife, as a gig-horse, was a little animal scarcely 

 burteen hands and an inch high, w^hich I bought 

 )f a dealer named Thompson, an excellent judge 

 )f a horse for harness, and who, I believe, now pur- 

 chases horses for Mr. Robinson, of Little Britain. 

 His case was in some respects peculiar, and worth 

 nentioning. I bought him for a relative, of very 

 ight weight, but a timid rider. He was just such 

 I horse as I have described; about half-bred, and 

 ncUning in form to a cob. My relative rode him 

 •or about two or three months, during which time, 

 either he or the horse so contrived it as to fall 

 3very ten days; the last fall was a very serious 



