CHAPTER VII 



THE SADDLE HORSE OR RIDER 



The word " hack " as opposed to " hackney " is apphed 

 to the saddle horse, and it may be worth while to repeat 

 the maxim that " a hack is a horse to ride, but a hackney 

 one that should not be ridden/' This is a very trite 

 maxim and implies a good deal more than it expresses. 

 The conformation and action of the hack should be 

 diametrically opposed to that of the hackney, though 

 quite a number of hackneys have been, and still are, sold 

 for hacking purposes. This, however, does not alter the 

 truth of the previous remarks. 



Every saddle horse should have good manners, a light 

 mouth, a good temper, and be familiar with all road 

 nusiances, such as tractors, motors, etc. etc. Horses 

 that are troublesome on the road or in traffic are a nuisance 

 and sometimes dangerous. Vice often becomes active 

 when the surroundings are most unsuitable for the rider, 

 and many very nasty accidents have arisen in this 

 manner. If one can purchase manners — which can 

 sometimes be done — it is, in the author's opinion, far 

 more important than absolute soundness. This is 

 particularly necessary in the case of those who like myself 

 are of nervous temperament. Some horses — certainly the 

 exception rather than the rule — have very sweet tempers, 

 wiU pass anything on the road, and, having good manners, 

 it follows that a light mouth must be a complement. It 

 is quite a difficult matter to buy a really good hack with 

 manners, mouth, action, and pace. The majority dis- 

 close some fault — venial in some cases, rotten in others. 

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