174 AN EMBRYO HUNTER. 



are surprised that he cannot carry them as a hunter. 

 Now a horse may not be worth one farthing as a race- 

 horse, and become first-rate as a hunter ; but then his 

 not racing must not proceed from any other cause 

 than want of speed. If from naturally bad temper, 

 or bad constitution, he shuts up as a race-horse, so he 

 will as a hunter. I am aware, that unless we breed 

 them it is not an easy matter to get a thorough-bred 

 horse likely to make a hunter; still they are to be 

 had. A good made, strengthy, thorough-bred colt 

 may be tried as a two-year-old, and found wanting in 

 speed ; may again be tried at three years, and fail 

 again : he may then be still held over in the hope that 

 when he had nearly done growing he might make a 

 valuable Cup-horse, and thus persevered with till five 

 years old, occasionally beating still worse than himself, 

 so as just to delude his owner, which such horses 

 usually do, Master all along paying the piper, whose 

 music is not had, as Paddy says, " for less than no- 

 thing." Now this is just the sort of nag I should 

 look out for as a hunter handsome, good constitu- 

 tion, good temper, possessing all we want in a race- 

 horse except the chief thing speed. There is really 

 magic in that little word speed: it does every thing, 

 from the " terrible-terrible-high-bred-cattle-gentle- 

 man," to the " gee-wo " horse. Yes, Reader, the 

 cart-horse should have speed ; that is, speed as a cart- 

 horse. I have had a turn at this sort of gentlemen ; 

 have had twelve eating my hay and oats, and have 

 learned that pace in their walk makes a difference to 

 the farmer, Defend me from a bell-team I do not 

 mean belle, but a team that carries bells : they will 

 condescend to walk two miles and a half an hour, 

 four horses drawing two tons : they look well ; so 



