170 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



revered uncle as regards horse affairs ; but there 

 are thousands who perfectly know a handsome 

 one when they see him, a goer when they see 

 him move, and a pleasant one when they ride ; 

 nay, further, can ride him very well, and yet want 

 that particular sort of knowledge that alone can 

 enable them to manage well, and without use- 

 less expenditure. These are very ticklish gen- 

 tlemen to handle ; here the most candid friend, or 

 the veterinary surgeon, sometimes gets into a 

 dilemma. 



We will say a gentleman shows a horse to a 

 friend, or a veterinary surgeon, with something 

 about him amiss, that it is at once seen will take 

 a considerable time under the immediate care of 

 the vet., and then a winter's rest to make all sure. 

 Formerly a winter's run implied a straw-yard, 

 and the occasional luxury of a meadow, wet as a 

 bog in open weather, and hard and rough as a 

 heap of stones in frost. This saved keep, it is 

 true ; but the expense of getting such a horse 

 again into condition was more than that of — as 

 we do now — hovelling him comfortably, and 

 giving him hay and oats. So the expense in one 

 way or the other for keep must be considerable, 

 before the horse is fit for use; then comes the 

 veterinary surgeon's bill. 



The owner will, in the first place, possibly ask 

 if it is probable the horse will come up sound ? 



