HUNTERS. 25 



his stick in his hat with the same object, and one or two of 

 his satellites will be giving him a little assistance in this 

 manoeuvre. Whether a horse is sound or unsound, there is 

 always the very greatest difficulty to have him run at a slow 

 trot, and it is best to refuse to have anything more to do with 

 him unless he is made to go at the pace required. 



Having seen the horse at a walk and at a trot, have the 

 saddle put on in order to ascertain how he carries it. He 

 should then be again walked and trotted from and towards the 

 purchaser, with a man on his back. Some horses go lame with 

 weight on their backs, and sound without. It is well to get 

 the horse out of the town, on to a quiet road, and either have 

 him ridden at a gallop, or the purchaser should ride the animal 

 himself. The latter is much more satisfactory as the rider 

 can then judge whether the horse is rough or not in his gallop, 

 what sort of mouth he has (the latter being a most important 

 consideration), and he also can " try his wind ; " as a rule, how- 

 ever, there are very few hunters brought to fairs with any 

 defect or impediment in their respiratory organs. The dealers 

 know their horses are always galloped, so there is not much 

 chance of their getting rid of such horses ; occasionally they 

 may try to push a slight " whistler " through a deal, but it is 

 not often. 



The more frequent cause of lameness in hunters is 

 navicular disease ; that is to be observed both in and out of 

 the stable. A horse may be so slightly lame that it is scarcely 

 discernible ; but a good sharp gallop on the hard road may 

 render it a little more perceptible, provided the horse is put in 

 the stable and has time to cool down before being brought out 

 again. The purchaser should go quietly into the stable before 

 he is brought out, and watch the horse carefully, so as to note 

 whether he " points " or not. Pointing is standing with the 

 lame leg flexed. Horses with very slight lameness will 

 occasionally " point." 



