64 DRIVING. 



of three months is proposed because it would be impossible to 

 let valuable horses for any less period. But the hirer may pur- 

 chase after a week's trial if he so desires, when only one week's 

 hire in addition to the agreed price will be charged. 



The hire of horses taken in this way is, for a pair of horses, 

 April, May, June, and July, twenty-four guineas per lunar 

 month, other months sixteen guineas. Single horses, half 

 the above rates. The best dealers will have only, as - a rule, 

 young, sound, unblemished horses ; but there are different 

 dealers for different classes of horses ; and a gentleman, setting 

 up a stable, must decide whether he intends to pay the highest 

 price for the best stamp of horse of a fashionable West- End 

 dealer, or whether, if he wants a serviceable slave, it will not 

 suit alike his purse and his requirements to seek for him as far 

 east even as Whitechapel. The words of the late Major Whyte- 

 Melville are applicable to most of the well-known London 

 dealers. He says, comparing the modern dealer with the old- 

 fashioned coper, ' We have now to deal with a man who is a 

 gentleman, if not by birth, at least in manners and action ; and 

 notwithstanding the proverbially sharp practice of those con- 

 nected with the sale of horses, I will venture to say that in no 

 other trade will a customer meet with more fairness and liber- 

 ality than will be shown him by the great dealers of London 

 and the shires.' If, however, a buyer of horses were to decline 

 any animal which a veterinary surgeon would not pass as 

 * perfectly sound,' it is probable that he would be a long time in 

 effecting his purchase, and might pass over many horses which 

 would do the work he required of them thoroughly well, and 

 that, too, for many years. It is necessary, therefore, to have 

 some idea of what is and what is not material unsoundness 

 and here the element of price is an important factor. There 

 are some forms of unsoundness which would make a horse not 

 worth his keep, and consequently dear at a gift. For instance, 

 an animal that suffers from ossification of the joint above the 

 hoof, or the cartilages on each side of the foot, that has defec- 

 tive sight in one eye, or is badly affected in the wind, should 



