134 HORSEMANSHIP FOR WOMEN. 



has a broad shoulder and a pretty neck and head and 

 we gave him a long drive the other day and he never 

 missed a step and he isn't afraid of anything and I 

 drove him fast up a steep hill and jumped out at the 

 top to give him a bunch of clover and took the oppor- 

 tunity to listen to his breathing and to feel his pulse 

 and there is nothing the matter with his heart or wind 

 I assure you and I will promise to go to the stable once a 

 day to see him." Then the chances are that, after laugh- 

 ing at the long sentence without a stop, and telling her 

 she is a runaway filly herself, papa will say, " Well, sup- 

 pose we take a look at this wonderful animal ; we are 

 not obliged to buy him, you know, unless we please, 

 and I don't say what I may decide finally," and her case 

 is won. To be able, however, to make the reply above 

 supposed, simple as it sounds, indicates a very unusual 

 amount of observation for a young girl. 



There are many ladies who can at a glance tell real 

 point lace from artificial, be the imitation never so good ; 

 but there are comparatively few who know the points 

 of a horse, or can detect any but the most glaring de- 

 fects or blemishes. The reason is simply want of prac- 

 tice, for the difference between the well-made and the 

 ill-made horse, or between the sound animal and the 

 spavined or foundered one, is far greater than that be- 

 tween the two pieces of lace above mentioned, which to 

 most masculine eyes would appear exactly alike. With 

 her superior delicacy of observation and quickness of 



