56 THE HORSE. 



stumble soon after starting, she might be trusted to do 

 her day's work throughout, without stumbling. 



Upon examining her as to form, etc., I concluded that 

 the cause of this misbehavior must be in some fault in her 

 tackle, and I therefore inquired whether she always wore 

 the same saddle. I was told that she wore various sad- 

 dles, which were shown to me; I therefore selected and 

 marked one for her use, and very shortly afterwards she 

 ceased stumbling. 



Her groom had always considered this habit to be a 

 mischievous trick on her part, induced by her recollect- 

 ing having been brought home by her master in conse- 

 quence of the stumbling; and he told me that if she had 

 been well punished in the first instance, she would have 

 had the trick flogged out of her, and would have given no 

 subsequent trouble. I myself believe that had such a 

 course been adopted, the mare would have had her knees 

 broken, and that fistula would soon have been developed 

 upon her withers. 



As it now appeared that, though she had ceased to 

 stumble or go lame when ridden with an ordinary saddle, 

 she invariably went lame when ridden by a lady. I was 

 asked whether I could account for this peculiarity other- 

 wise than by cunning. Again I referred the evil to the 

 saddle; and, upon inquiry, I found that the owner had 

 hitherto been unable to procure a side-saddle of such a 

 make as not to raw the back of the mare when used by a 

 lady for an hour or two at a time, making it necessary, 

 therefore, that the next day should be, so to speak, wasted 

 in paying attention to the abrasion thus produced. I also 

 ascertained that the stuffing of the side-saddle had been 

 altered and shifted every time she went out about three 

 times a week. I sent for the saddler and showed him 

 what was wanting; but he either could not, or would not 

 understand me; and although he had had the saddle several 

 times under his hands, he had not been able to alter it, 



