116 THE HOUSE. 



vocation, certain regulations and stipulations being be- 

 forehand agreed upon. 



Thus, if the proposed purchase is warranted to be in 

 hunting condition, a fair and moderate trial with 

 hounds, or in other words, an ordinary day's hunt, is 

 justifiable; and, if you cannot insure the company of the 

 owner for this purpose, it is important to obtain his- pre- 

 vious consent to the extreme test to which you propose to 

 subject the horse. 



For a real and experienced horseman, a short trial suf- 

 fices; for he knows well the state of condition that the 

 horse under trial requires to qualify him for his work, 

 and the necessity for making ample allowance for any ap- 

 parent defect. 



STOPPING. 



Some horses have a trick of suddenly stopping, or pull- 

 ing up short, when going at a fast pace. A horse of this 

 kind is dangerous, from the likelihood of his throwing 

 moderate riders over his head: such a trick is a 



VICE. 



This trick is additionally dangerous, because a horse 

 that has this habit, will, probably, if hastily urged on to 

 start afresh, begin some other trick. If this habit is not 

 of very recent growth, it is very difficult to cure, requiring 

 a true horseman's vigilance and patience: the horse is, 

 however, SOUND. 



But where disease of the eyes is the cause of this habit, 

 no cure can be effected until the disease is removed, and, 

 in the interim, the horse is UNSOUND. 



TURNING. 



Turning, that is, sudden and improper turning or 

 twisting round, is a dangerous and troublesome habit; 

 when it is not caused by disease, it is a VICE. 



