102 HINTS TO horsemen; oe, 



and consequently misjudged, in the county in which 

 they may have been ridden. Now, it is not absolutely 

 necessary that these horses should be cured of such 

 failings as they may possess, even supposing such 

 failings to be curable ; for a man of quick perception, 

 knowledge of different countries and different men's 

 tastes, habits, and stjde of riding, knows where, and 

 with whom, different horses may be placed, so as to 

 give satisfaction even with all their imperfections 

 still existing ; for a bungler at walls will not be de- 

 tected in being so, where there are no walls to jump ; 

 and, on the other hand, a horse that will skim over 

 water like a swallow, is not wanted where there is 

 no water to skim over. Thus, the hunting dealer 

 having, in figurative terms, got the cards, sorts them, 

 and, by doing so judgmatically, ensures playing a 

 winning game, and this without any deception as 

 regards horse, customer, or himself ; but, on the con- 

 trary, by knowing the peculiarities of his horses and 

 customers, can have the gratification of pleasing each 

 purchaser. 



I have hitherto alluded to the hunting dealer buy- 



