ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 87 



Must try her walk as well as any other pace. On the 

 whole, lualkiiig is what I should be most particular about in 

 a horse. She walks well. Somehow, she seems to have got 

 a long and loose neck, that goes up and down, and she has a 

 way of looldng from side to side, as though, when I'm off my 

 guard, she intended doing something that would rather 

 surprise me. 



Happy Tho?tght.—S\t tight. Don't be " off my guard." 



Clumber, Trott, Spoker, and Ostler are standing at stable- 

 door, watching me. 



Wonder what they're saying ? 



Should imagine it not complimentary. 



Must try a trot. 



Now, how to get her into a trot without hitting her with 

 the whip they've given me v.hich would only make her 

 irritable— or, without touching her '• quarters," which might 

 make her kick, and then Clumber & Co. would see me come 

 off, or very nearly,— or without saying " tchk " to her, which 

 might startle her. 



I give her her head. She makes use of it to stretch her 

 neck, as if she were stretching out her chin and pooh-poohing 

 me, and she only walks more leisurely. 



I must touch her with the whip. 



Now, then. I must stick my knees in firmly, feel that Vm 

 like a rock in the saddle, and then touch her — very gently. 



I do ; and am prepared for rearing, kicking, shying — any- 

 thing. 



Not a bit. She takes no notice of it. 



