168 CONFESSIONS OP A. HORSE DEALER. 



must be long, while they cannot be so without inclining 

 well back. If a horse so formed has good hind-leg 

 action, he will be very valuable as an active weight- 

 carrying cob, because this form of shoulders is, I regret 

 to say, now rarely to be found amongst our saddle horses? 

 as in the majority of them that come within the pale of 

 a moderate price, the "girths are continually slipping 

 forward, causing the rider to sit on the horse's withers 

 rather than, on his back ;' and this is one cause of horses 

 falling down, as the weight of the rider pressing on 

 the top of their shoulders seriously interferes with their 

 free action, and when they make a slight stumble it is 

 next to impossible for them to recover their feet. 



The best height for horses intended as hacks of the 

 first class is about 15 hands. Tall horses are not so good 

 for hacks as those of lower stature, as they do not move 

 with so much ease and lightness, wearing their legs 

 more, and causing more fatigue to their riders. The 

 majority of tall horses are, now-a-days, only tall 

 because they have long legs, which are very objection- 

 able, as they never wear well, and are mostly allied 

 with a very shallow body. These horses may do well 

 enough when a showy appearance is the only object in 

 view ; but they are not calculated for hard work, or 

 to ride in hilly country. I may dismiss this subject by 

 remarking that I would not advise the purchaser to 

 reject a horse just because he does not happen to possess 

 all the good qualities I have here recommended, as they 

 will remember the old adage, " That there never was 

 a perfect horse." 



