70 HINTS TO HORSEMEN ; OR, 



very different story on another trial ; and though a 

 colt that shows little or no promise of running is 

 scarcely ever worth keeping over, on the chance of 

 his improving, such improvement does sometimes 

 take place, to the astonishment of the most knowing 

 and best judges. Mr. T. Parr is often called lucky 

 or fortunate in his purchases of horses thought 

 little of by others : he is lucky, I admit ; but I hold 

 his luck to be in having a head that teaches him to 

 combine circumstances, and judging by such circum- 

 stances, to make purchases that do not, in his hands, 

 often turn out blanks. 



Yery good judges, and very superior and experi- 

 enced trainers, are sometimes led into error as regards 

 ■a colt, by going on the same principle too frequently 

 adopted towards children, namely, regulating the 

 instruction and treatment of the child by its age, not 

 by its capabilities : thus, a child of somewhat weak, 

 or, at least, ordinary intellect, becomes confused and 

 dismayed, and cannot exert such ability as it does 

 possess to advantage. Correction or rebuke follows, 

 which is felt to be unjust and unmerited, and the 



