THE SORT TO RIDE. 103 



you the necessity of investigating tlie qualifi- 

 cations of your grooms in future, he will have 

 done you a great deal of good, and, depend on it, 

 the only good he is likely to do you ; so," said I, 

 extending my hand, " good night/^ 



Breakfast over the next morning, we " paraded " 

 the stud, and, at my friend^s request, I accepted 

 the temporary honour of being rough rider to the 

 establishment. 



Fii'st came the bay, looking just as a horse 

 should look ; cheerful, cool, and collected ; his 

 firm step, fine shaped head, large intelligent eye, 

 and well-defined muscular form, all indicating 

 being able and Avilling to do " all that may be- 

 come a horse.^^ I mounted. There is something 

 in the feel of some horses that at once tells a man 

 they are such as he could ride in comfort on ; 

 that is, feel at home upon, or not. Half a dozen 

 steps satisfied me I was on such a nag as it is a 

 treat to ride. His gallop was what a hunter^s 

 should be, light, quick, and determined : his fine 

 gaskins and strong loins brought his hind legs 

 under him with a sweep that showed it was for- 

 tunate for his fore ones that he put them well 

 forwards. I put him at a flight of hurdles ; these 

 he went at coolly enough to show^ he held them 

 as a trifling affair, yet free enough to show he 

 meant neither swerve nor baulk, and took them 

 like a greyhound when not excited. The next 



H 4 



