PURCHASING HORSES. 181 



member, such horses are not come-at-able ; their 

 pecuUar capabihty has been found out, and while 

 they are able to bring it forward they will be kept to 

 their trade.'* 



"I have had steeple-chase horses shown me," 

 said Pupil, " that appeared to me to be in no way 

 up to the weights such horses usually carry. How 

 is this?" 



"In the commencement of steeple-chasing, which 

 was as a known sport, I should say, five-and-thirty 

 years ago, gentlemen made up a purse or stakes to be 

 run for by the fastest of their hunters, from point to 

 point, or from the starting-place to fixed points, to 

 be run to and then home ; each man went as he 

 liked, provided he rounded these given points. This 

 very soon went out of vogue, and flags were intro- 

 duced, to the left or right of which (as the case might 

 be) each rider was compelled to go. Twelve stone 

 was the accustomed weight each horse had to carry. 

 If any man had a little slight animal that might 

 carry him, riding say nine stone, of course the weight 

 shut him out of the race, and very properly so. 



