•62 UNASKED ADVICE. 



those who take us^ all sooner or later, on our last journey. 

 For any other purpose they would be wholly useless. 

 With an appearance sufficiently imposing to the unlearned 

 eye_, they combine almost every fault of shape that a 

 horse can reasonably be expected to possess. They are 

 all exactly alike, too, the only difference I have ever noticed 

 between any one and another being length of mane, 

 which is not uniform, their locks being cultivated to the 

 greatest possible length — also some difference in action. 

 How their attendants know them apart in the stable is a 

 mystery to me, perhaps they don't ; or experience may 

 give them the power of distinguishing one from another, 

 as it is said to do to monthly nurses, who, I am informed, 

 profess even to see a difference in babies, a talent not 

 given to any ordinary mortal. Circus horses have not 

 been alluded too, as they are selected for colour, and are 

 consequently no particular sort. However, it is a good 

 thing that there should be that market for fancy coloured 

 horses, as they would otherwise be slightly unsaleable. 

 I once, to be sure, saw a piebald horse at the covert 

 side — in a crack country too — but he was, as far as my 

 experience has gone, the exception that proves the rule. 

 There is a wonderful difference in the extent to which 

 performing horses can be trained, and many people may 

 be surprised to learn that a " trick horse/' one who 

 retrieves, jumps through hoops, &c., is more easily to 

 be taught, and consequently less valuable when taught 

 than a good " bare backed horse.'' The latter seeming 

 to exhibit no talent as he canters round and round th 

 ring, with heaven knows what acrobatic performances 

 going on, on, or off, his back. He really has an 

 immense responsiblity. A change in his pace, a hanging- 

 back, or rushing forward, would play the mischief 



