POINTS. 385 



shaped, the head big, and the legs long. In short, such horses are 

 equally misshapen and mischievous. Any gentleman had better endure 

 fatigue than accept such a creature for the companion of his journey. 





Avvvv\^ _— -''-^:,^r.- 



A ROACH-BACKED HORSE. 



My respected friend, Mr. "Waller, informs me that he once had a " roach- 

 backed" or a "hog-backed" mare which was remarkable for an ungainly 

 aspect. But it had very large loins and an excellent barrel. It could 

 draw a loaded gig fifty miles in one day, and, at the journey's end, go 

 direct to the manger. Here malformation was compensated by the ex- 

 istence of other qualities ; but the above example was not benefited by 

 the "hog back," which must have interfered with its natural powers. 

 The same gentleman bears testimony to an excellent hunter, of the above 

 conformation, having likewise fallen under his observance. The animal, 

 to be sure, used to "buck jump" its fences; or, in other words, it used 

 to spring suddenly from the earth, without notice or preparation for the 

 movement. It never gave the rider any warning of its intention by ris- 

 ing to its leap. Therefore the loins must have been defective, although 

 the animal was endowed with extraordinary power, which alone could 

 have enabled it to endure the frequent repetition of so unnatural a pro- 

 ceeding. However, the person who was seated, during a hard ride 

 across country, on the top of a "roach back," and was indulged with 

 numerous "buck jumps" during the morning's amusement, although he 

 should invariably be the first in at the death, does by no means present 

 to the author's mind an object deserving of any man's envy. 



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