32 lllK IIUKSE. 



legs not black, but decidedly darker, instead of being lighter 

 than the bodies. 



I have myself no objection whatever to white legs and feet, 

 of any number, or to any extent — I do not believe that white 

 hoofs are, in the least degree, softer or more brittle than black 

 hoofs ; and I believe that the old ideas current, in reference to 

 the number of white legs or feet indicating excellence or the re- 

 verse, are the merest and stupidest of all old wife's superstitions ; 

 but I do j)lead guilty to the strongest prejudice against self-col- 

 ored legs of a lighter shade than the rest of the limbs, growing 

 paler and more dingy as it descends. 



A bay horse, with pale, dingy, dull-yellow legs, approaching 

 to dirty sorrel, is, according to my notion, to whatever pedigree 

 he may lay claim, certain to be largely tainted with coarse cold 

 blood ; and a chestnut with sorrel legs, or a sorrel with whitey- 

 brown-paper legs, I think worse yet ; and I would own such an 

 one, on no consideration. On the other hand, I consider the 

 gradual darkening of the legs downward to the hoof, or if the 

 animal have white feet or white stockings, downward to the up- 

 ward margin of the white, as a corroborative indication of good 

 blood ; if the legs be also clean, flat-boned, and free from hair 

 about the fetlocks. 



All these points were conspicuous in the Galloways of 

 which I speak, and, moreover, they had long, thin manes ; 

 rather spare than shaggy tails ; small, lean, bony heads ; one of 

 them Avith the broad brow and basin face of the Arab ; thin 

 necks, particularly fine toward the throat, and setting on of the 

 head ; soft silky coats ; large eyes, and all the particular indica- 

 tions of thorough blood. 



Their paces were generally the walk or the canter ; and nei- 

 ther of the two was a particularly handsome or fast trotter, going 

 along at a good rate, indeed, but in a shuffling style, neither 

 clearly a trot nor a canter. One of them, which I often rode, 

 amhled, as it was called then and there, so fast as to keep up 

 with the hand gallop of a thoroughbred lady's mare, in company 

 with which it was constantly ridden. 



This Galloway, so far as I can remember it, was in fact nei- 

 ther more nor less than a natural pacer, and I am convinced 



