138 THE HORSE. 



ship are discovered ; set up one of another descrip- 

 tion, particularly if fearful, and the cunning varlet, 

 though he proceed at first, will soon find a spot at 

 which to stop, or will refuse to go beyond a walk, on 

 correction making a full stop, bending his neck, 

 rejecting the government of the bit, sucking his 

 wind, and swelling out his body as if to burst the 

 girths. Nothing short of the discipline of the whip 

 and spurs, administered by a knowing and able hand, 

 can be remedial in this case ; nor is the attempt by a 

 rider of inferior description either efficacious or safe. 

 These remarks amount to as much as to say, let the 

 buyer claim the privilege of riding the horse several 

 miles on the common road, in his walk, trot, canter, 

 and gallop, and thence judge for himself whether, in 

 the first place, he may find those paces of the nag 

 agreeable, whether he ride pleasantly in hand, neither 

 bearing too hard on the bit, nor too lightly, with a 

 tender mouth and loose neck; whether he go safe 

 and carefully, without being timid or skittish and 

 ready to shy at every extraordinary object; but, of 

 all things, whether he trot steadily and well downhill, 

 naturally throwing his weight upon his haunches, 

 and bearing light on the rider's hand, one of the 

 highest qualifications of the saddle horse, since a 

 horse going in that compact form, on a declivity, is a 

 general indication of good shape, and of adaptation 

 to general use. It is a great objection to a hack 

 requiring either martingale or crupper. The wind 

 and condition of horses made up for sale, must not be 

 put to immediate and too severe tests ; and, if wanted 

 for hard work, should have sufficient preparation by 





