210 THE HORSE. 



is taking weight with him, which is the surest cri- 

 terion to judge by, and which never escapes a quick 

 and experienced eye. What are called lobbing goers, 

 take a greater weight with them than horses of finer 

 action, that is, provided they are equally close 

 workers. 



The powers of a horse in a fast coach can be mea- 

 sured to a mile. He may be very good for eight or 

 ten, but very bad for twelve miles of ground ; with 

 heavy loads the priming is soon taken out of most 

 of them, and, therefore, they must be looked to. 

 Wheel horses have the hardest place, as they are at 

 work up hill and down; nevertheless, if favour be 

 shown, it must be to the leaders. You may drag a 

 tired wheeler home ; but if a leader cuts it, you are 

 planted. Always put your freest leader near side, 

 as you will have him better in hand than if he were 

 on the other. If a leader is weak and cannot take 

 his bar, tie up the wheeler that follows him, and he 

 will place him by the side of his partner. Leaders 

 should be fast trotters, for fast coaches. When they 

 are galloping, the bars are never at rest, conse- 

 quently much of the draught is lost in the angles 

 they describe." 



SECTION XXXII. 



The above quotation has proved such a hobby horse 

 to me, that I have transgressed considerably in res- 

 pect of space, and must dismount and have recourse 

 to abbreviation, with the endeavour to render it as 

 intelligible and useful as possible, by extracting and 



