54 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



througli a hard day. The finest form is of little use without 

 good legs and feet, with plenty of bone and muscle. These are 

 of the greatest importance to the hunter, and, without them, 

 no horse can long stand the wear and tear of a hunter's life. 

 Good flat hocks are also of first-rate consideration. A fine 

 crest and neck, with high shoulders, present great attractions 

 to many, but are not essential in a hunter. Horses with rather 

 low shoulders, but fine at the point, and tliin necks, often prove 

 good in the field, also showing greater speed ; and if possessed 

 of other requisites, such as good chests and backs, standing low 

 in the body, upon straight legs, I should prefer tliem to very 

 high or large-shouldered animals. When in motion, a horse 

 should go level and easy to himself, lifting his legs sufficiently 

 high to clear the ground ; but very high-actioned horses are, in 

 my opinion, very objectionable, either as hunters or hacks. 

 Grand action is all very fine in a London carriage horse, or a 

 park pack, where show is of such great importance ; but for 

 wear and tear give me the level stepper, who will still be lifting 

 a clean leg long after the others have been strained and bat- 

 tered to pieces. 



Horses in at the elbows, as the term is, can seldom go with 

 ease to themselves or comfort to their riders : they have a short 

 and jarring action, and are liable to fall. 



In purchasing horses for myself, if satisfied with the appear- 

 ance of the animal, the only trial I required was to have them 

 led with a loose halter a certain distance, and then trotted back 

 to where I was standing, and, strange as it may appear, I 

 seldom mounted a horse before I purchased him. A farmer 

 once brought me one which, at the first glance, Isaw was just 

 the animal to suit me. Having quickly looked him over from 

 head to foot, there was nothing out of order which I could 

 detect, and I therefore inquired the price. The farmer thinking 

 from my hasty examination that I did not intend to purchase, 

 solicited me to mount and try his paces. This I declined, but 

 made him walk the horse up to the yard door and trot him 

 back. 



"Now, farmer," I said, "that will do ; how much do you ask 

 for him f 



" Why, sir, I hope you will not think fifty-five guineas too 

 much ; he is rough and dirty now, but I will take less if you 

 think the figure too high, and I wish you would only put your 

 leg over him." 



'' Put him in the stable, and here's your money." 



Those accustomed to horses seldom require more than five or 

 ten minutes to look any animal well over ; but to the inexpe- 



