UNASKED ADVICE. 



remembered tliat in this instance we want tlie perfection 

 of a hack. Other horses may be " picked up'^ in odd 

 corners cheaply by those who follow what I think must 

 be the insupportably fatiguing plan of *'' always looking 

 out^^ and "keeping their eyes open.'' Certainly I know 

 a most respectable hunter which came out of a Hansom 

 cab, but he has failed to convince me that the " rank'' is, 

 as a rule, the place to go to for fliers. Vivian, the steeple- 

 chaser, came out of an Irish car ; and it was by dragging 

 about a watercart that the Godolphin Arabian improved 

 his shining hours in Paris, before he took up the position 

 of Father of the British Turf. These, however, are ex- 

 ceptions to the general rule, for at present neither steeple- 

 chasers nor racehorses are found, or looked for, in carts. 

 Salamander, Lord George, Alcibiade, and other horses who 

 have made themselves a name across country, were bought 

 — and paid for, too, no doubt — as first-class young horses. 

 A first-class hack, being a fancy article, will always 

 command rather a fancy price, and for a lady, as before 

 remarked, we want perfection. A gentleman's hack, if 

 a good goer, may be pardoned one or two minor faults 

 which would spoil him for a lady. For example there are 

 many good hacks with rather straighter shoulders than 

 are desirable, but yet posessing good action and plenty 

 of liberty. Such horses would not do for a lady, as the 

 side saddle, being at best rather a cumbrous afiair, on a 

 horse who is at all " short in front" puts the lady's hands 

 in an inconvenient position, for she can then hardly get 

 them down in a difiiculty ; and, worse still, throws an 

 undue share of weight on the near fore leg. Another 

 most important point is the way the horse carries his 

 head. If he puts it up or pokes out his nose, he will not 

 do. A lady's bridle hand is of necessity higher than that 



