144 



THE HORSE. 



a single mile of our first rate trotters, with a high 

 weight, was about twenty to tweniy-five seconds less 

 than three minutes. An old Norfolk stallion trotted 

 over the common road, seventeen miles in about fifty- 

 eight minutes, carrying twelve stones or upwards. 

 Nearly, or about forty years since, Ogden's chesnut 

 mare, with upwards of ten stone, trotted on the 

 Herts road, thirty miles, in several minutes less than 

 two hours ; she had also first rate speed. In the 

 present spring 1829, two American trotters have 

 arrived, one of which, Ratler, with nine stone, trotted 

 ten miles over a level road, in about thirty-one minutes 

 and a half, the particulars of which match may be 

 found in the Sporting Magazine. The present price 

 of a good sound and fashionable five or six year old 

 hack, to carry fourteen stone, varies between five and 

 thirty and fourscore pounds; time has been when we 

 could purchase such, at from twenty to forty pounds. 



SECTION XXIII. 



Much care, and very laudably, seems in general to 

 be used in the selection of ladies' horses, and our 

 ladies appear to be sufficiently attentive to that 

 necessary accomplishment, equitation ; this is evi- 

 dent from the comparatively few accidents which 

 happen to females on horseback. For elegance, a 

 lady's pad should have a considerable show of blood, 

 and I think, should seldom exceed fifteen hands in 

 height ; the paces should not be rough ; and an easy 

 slow trot, the pace of health, is a valuable qualifica- 

 tion ; the canter is of the chief consequence, and that 



