38 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



I have said nothing about the * spicy screw' 

 for I imagine my readers will want to see sound 

 horses in their stables. But there are many 

 excellent hunters which will not pass a veterin- 

 ary examination, but which will and do pass 

 many of their sound rivals in the hunting field. 

 I have had one or two of the sort and have never 

 regretted it. If any of my readers are smitten 

 with a horse of the kind I can only say to them 

 '' Insist on a day's hunting and judge from the 

 result. *' 



In the above hints in horse buying I have said 

 nothing about the harness horse as such, but of 

 course the same remarks apply. '' A good saddle 

 horse is always a good harness horse '' is an old 

 proverb the truth of which has been proved over 

 and over again, though the reverse does not 

 apply ; and the best harness horse I ever sat 

 behind was bought out of a selling race. I should 

 however not look for harness horses amongst 

 the ranks of selling platers but go to the dealer in 

 harness horses, who is far likelier to have steady 

 horses in these days of motor vehicles and electric 

 trams than the private vendor. 



