VARIETIES OF THE HOESE. 57 



quite the exception. As a rule^ they are not allowed to 

 be singed^ probably in consequence of their having to 

 stand about in cold weather ; and as the troop horses are 

 never clipped or singed^ a clipped horse in front of the 

 line would spoil the uniformity. Colour is a matter of 

 taste. Everyone knows that the Household Brigade ride 

 blacks and nothing else^ and the " Greys" grey horses, 

 the " Bays-'-' probably bays ; but in other regiments all 

 colours excepting piebald are to be seen. Many colonels 

 will not have greys_, especially as first chargers_, and no 

 doubt they are conspicuous, and spoil the look of the 

 line. The nearer approach to thorough-bred the charger 

 is, the better. Thorough-bred ones are much bolder 

 among '' sights and sounds" than half-breds. The height 

 must be, unless for a very diminutive officer, 15.2. It 

 need never be over 15.3. Indeed, with length and power, 

 the lower in reason that a charger is, the better will he 

 look, unless the rider be unusually tall. One more thing 

 is most important. He must not have a notion of rearing ; 

 or, if he be possessed of anything like a mouth, that 

 accomplishment will be developed, to a " moral," by his 

 course of training in the school. 



THE COVERT HACK. 



If the park hack be a luxury, which he undoubtedly is, 

 his brother, the covert hack, may be considered as a 

 necessary of life to the hunting man. Modest men may 

 walk in the park, may sit on chairs, or may stay away 

 altogether, and in either case exist and enjoy life without 

 the possession of a London hack ; but the hunting man of 



