204 The Book of the Horse. 



A good horseman, when he knows the country, and that his puUing hunter really knows 

 his business, will take the opportunity of a sharp run to ride across a line of his own at least 

 fifty yards wide of the hounds, and alongside them, and never let the animal know that he 

 is running away. The very best horses pull when they are fresh, and require daily exercise. 

 Some of the most perfect harness-horses cannot be left two consecutive days in the stable 

 without showing that " they are above themselves." When you are young and strong, and 

 a tolerable horseman, you will not find fault if your saddle-horse plunges and pulls a little 

 when he leaves the stable ; but a horse in harness, driven in town, that cannot be stopped, 

 is a most dangerous animal. 



If a harness-horse carries his nose in the air, as some very fine steppers do, to hold him 

 you must put a standing martingale on him, fastened to his nose-band, or buckled to the 

 rings of a snaffie, as the case may be. A light-mouthed horse of this kind will often go best 

 with a ring-snaffle and martingale. A severe bit on a high-couraged horse, driven in harness, 

 soon entirely spoils his mouth. For such cases Blackwell's patent reins are to be recommended, 

 especially for coachmen with heavy hands. A coachman must be able to turn quickly and stop 

 short. He can do neither if he cannot hold his horse. 



After making due allowance for the effects of idleness, that is freshness, if a horse is 

 found bull-necked, with a leather mouth, get rid of him for the benefit of some hansom cab. 

 A runaway horse in harness may cost you not only life or limb but hundreds of pounds of 

 damages in a few minutes. 



A horseman can manage a puller that is not also a rogue in the country but not in town. 

 In a field he may ride him in a circle until he gives way to the bridle ; on downs or sands he 

 may ride him until he slackens his pace. In a word, when a new purchase, in other respects 

 to your mind, pulls hard, and would run away if he could, try the effects of regular exercise, 

 and find a bit that will make him bend to your hand ; try every kind until you find what 

 suits him, but have nothing to do with a mad or vicious runaway brute at any price. 



The very fine horses occasionally found in hansom cabs, "steppers," without a blemish, are 

 generally vicious horses that nothing but daily hard work can keep in decent order. 



CONSTITUTION AND TEMPERAMENT. 



No horse can be placed on the list of useful that has not a good constitution. He may be 

 sound, good in all his paces, handsome to look at, pleasant to ride and drive, quiet in the stable ; 

 but if he is always sick, easily tired, or incapable of a long day's journey, he is out of place except 

 in the long stud of a rich man. There he may be a luxury — admirable for park and parade 

 purposes— just able to do a little gentle exercise, and then rest, after being fed by the ounce; but 

 to the man of moderate means he is useless. 



The greatest defect in this line is bad feeding, in fact, bad digestion ; and, consequently, bad 

 appetite. You may meet with a horse that will bound from the door the picture of health and 

 strength at a rare pace, and so continue for a short time, then flag, drop to a slow jog-trot, and 

 require the whip to keep up a decent pace— this occurring when in full hard condition. Another 

 form of the same defect is where the horse goes bravely all day, but on returning, after a reasonable 

 day's work, say twenty miles with a bait, refuses his provender, and hangs his head the picture 

 of misery. If you can give him a day's rest, perhaps he will come again for a short turn, quite 

 fresh ; but if j'ou work him from day to day he loses flesh, his coat stares ; in fact, he starves 

 in tlic midst of plenty. 



