HOW TO BUY AND SELL. 37 



This is one of the principal reasons why these horses are 

 usually found such good workers. 



Ladies' horses, perhaps have their hocks most tried in 

 proportion to the weight they carry, from their contin- 

 ually cantering. This pace is most calculated to try these 

 joints, from the long exertion required in the one pace. 

 If proper horses for ladies to ride, they are "well upon 

 their haunches," and stop as well as the charger, with 

 their hind legs well under them. 



In fact, no horse can be either easy, safe, or satisfactory 

 to ride, that does not take a large proportion of his burden 

 on his hind legs. 



The hackney has some relief by change from one pace 

 to the other. But to be superior, he must take the 

 weight on his hind legs; this enables him to go in a corky, 

 light, and springy manner, no shaking. You will hear 

 this perfection thus described: "He goes as light as a 

 cork," "would not break an egg." Horses thus trained 

 cannot shake you; neither can they fall or stumble. 



The harness horse has neither to canter nor leap, neith- 

 er has he weight upon his back. Here you have to con- 

 sider the speed required, and the weight he has to draw, 

 with the style of action you desire; whether you will be 

 satisfied with merely being moved along, or whether you 

 wish to make a dash; how much of a pace, of action, or 

 of grandeur, you require or are willing to sacrifice. 



CUKBS. 



Curbs are hard bony enlargements at the back and on 

 the lower part of the hock. They may be of such little 

 consequence as to be called only enlargements on the seat 

 of curb, or large enough to be curbs. While forming, the 

 horse is sure to be lame. Either they are a proof that 

 the hocks are ill-formed (weak), or are the result of mis- 



