THE TROOP HORSE. 137 



wish to imitate the style and character of the Hus- 

 sar, without taking into consideration the fact, that 

 that description of cavalry was intended more for 

 out-parties and skirmishing, than for coming in 

 contact with the body of an enemy ; and that, con- 

 sequently, the slender sort of horse on which the 

 Enghsh liglit dragoon has of late been mounted, 

 has not been found efficient, under the immense 

 weight he carries when in marching order, or even 

 in battle, which averages at least sixteen stones. 

 The heavy dragoon horse is, indeed, very little 

 more powerful now than that of the light dragoon 

 was, thirty or forty years back. 



The horse best calculated for a light dragoon 

 trooper, is something between the modern coach- 

 horse and the hackney ; upon short legs, with good 

 bone, and with much substance in the body. His 

 back should be moderately short, and well ribbed 

 up, his barrel round and large, to allow plenty of 

 room for food, as he is often a long time without it ; 

 and hardiness of constitution is a very material 

 point in a soldier's horse. When we look at dra- 

 goon regiments, however, the heavy regiments in 

 particular, our surprise is excited at the fine ap- 

 pearance the horses make, contrasting it with the 

 price allowed by government for the purchase of 

 them. It is true they are generally purchased 

 when young, many of those for the household troops, 

 at three years old ; and their good keep, upon hard 

 food of the best quality, forces them into shape, 

 and makes them what we see them. 



