HORSE DEALERS. 369 



beautifully horsed ; because such stables are regarded as nurseries, al 

 though, more than occasionally, they are used to coax a sick animal 

 back to health. Here the jobber's understanding with the coachman 

 comes into play. The driver makes repeated complaints of a certain 

 horse. "It nearly overturned them to-day." "The servant is certain 

 an accident must happen." "He must really leave a kind employer, if 

 that horse is to be kept." The job master at length is sent for; of course 

 he is deeply pained; but, to oblige Lady Everard, he most reluctantly 

 consents to receive back a vigorous young horse, and agrees to supply 

 its place with a debilitated cripple, which has but recently left a loose 

 box in some veterinary establishment. 



One hundred and fifty pounds may appear to be a heavy sum to pay 

 annually for the use of a single pair of horses ; but the agreement is not 

 strictly of this nature. The job master contracts to keep a carriage 

 horsed for one year, and to feed the animals while so engaged. To do 

 this properly will, on some years, require the services of four or five 

 horses. The job master also agrees to take back all sick quadrupeds, 

 and to pay for all necessary treatment, as well as to put up with every 

 kind of unavoidable accident. In London, moreover, all Cleveland bays 

 are expected to possess high action. Such a form of stepping soon 

 disables the feet; while the bearing-rein speedily renders the animals 

 "roarers." 



These evils are, generally, confirmed before the advent of the sixth 

 birthday ; thus, few of the quadrupeds live to be discarded, — in proof of 

 which, Cleveland bays are not to be generally seen upon the cab rank : 

 very rarely is this favorite of fashion to be encountered performing any 

 of the lower grades of equine service. 



With these creatures the London dealer does not habitually meddle ; 

 neither does he pretend to regularly trade with racing stock, although it 

 is not unusual to meet in his stables some thorough-bred which was at 

 its birth entered for the Derby. These bloods, however, are always 

 "weeds;" or, in plain language, they are quadrupeds which have been 

 rejected by the trainer as worthless. Their bodies are short, and lack 

 substanc^; their chests are narrow; while their long legs are deficient 

 in bone and in tendon. Their quarters are mean, and their withers low. 

 One or two of this kind stand in the stalls of most dealers. They are 

 pretty and graceful, being agile and light ; but, when shown to a cus- 

 tomer, they usually stand upon slightly rising ground, which may "acci- 

 dentally " give to them an extra half hand of height ; for such specimens 

 of horse flesh are all of stunted growth. 



Hunters are not, as a rule, to be bought in London; nor does the 

 term, in strictness, imply any particular breed. Animals in a condition 



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