72 PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



since then, and is still clear -winded, but he could not 

 " pass the vet." w^hen a young horse, and this failing 

 to satisfy an expert is very common indeed. Still, if the 

 novice wishes to be on the safe side, he should take 

 a professional opinion, as many clever buyers will 

 miss an incipient cataract or some semi-hidden fault 

 which a skilful veterinary would detect. The beginner 

 should, before he buys a horse, have made up his mind 

 what he wants, especially in the matter of size. A 

 little man on a very tall horse looks like a robin on a 

 rail, and a heavy man palpably underhorsed is almost 

 as ridiculous. For the average man, whose height 

 is not more than 5ft. 9in., a horse of 15.3 is about right, 

 and, as a rule, medium -sized horses have smoother 

 action than very big onews. Colour is not of much 

 moment, but a beginner, if at all doubtful of his own 

 capabilities, should avoid a very gaudy horse, which 

 would render him conspicuous in the field« ' 



