FOBM AND ACTION OP GOOD SADDLE HOKSES. 163 



die horses. This change of system on the turf would 

 be followed by a loss of some speed, but the new class: 

 of horses would have more strength and constitutional 

 vigour, and those gentlemen whose principal hobby is 

 betting, would win and lose their cash with as much 

 facility as at present. The loss of speed in our race 

 horses would amply compensate the public by the im- 

 provement in the strength and activity of our saddle 

 horses, as well as by the increase in their numbers. 



In the breeding of hunters and roadsters, strong 

 enough to carry fair average weights, it is folly to have 

 recourse to much racing blood, as the produce would 

 lack compactness of form and physical strength. This 

 is one cause why we have so few saddle horses able to 

 carry about fourteen or fifteen stone, which are not so 

 badly bred ; but they both want activity and endurance, 

 while our better-bred horses are so light and so short of 

 strength, that they are unable to carry more than a very 

 light weight. It is highly desirable that we should be 

 able to buy saddle horses to carry us safely and agree- 

 ably at a reasonable price, for which the demand would 

 always exceed the supply, as in that case a new class of 

 customers would be created ; for, besides invalids, there 

 is a large mass of the English community who are con- 

 fined to the house or office a portion of their time, by 

 duties of more or less public importance, and many of 

 whom, in middle-age, become somewhat heavy, and 

 those who are fond of horse-exercise require animals 

 to carry them of considerable strength ; but in the pre- 



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