5^ THE STUD. 



however, he received the gentleman civilly. " Mr. 

 Warde," said the dandy, " I have heard a report of 

 your horse." — ^' I dare say you have," interrupted 

 the Squire, " and so have many other people." An 

 uncontrollable burst of laughter, from some who 

 heard the reply and knew the horse, so " discom- 

 forted" the gentleman, that before any apology 

 could be made he walked off, and for that time 

 the Squire lost the sale of his nag. 



As a matter of course, the comparative ease or 

 difficulty w^th which horses touched in their wind 

 can accomplish their work, depends on how far 

 the wind is affected, and the nature of the work 

 required ; it is quite certain that no horse faulty 

 in his wind can perform fast work without con- 

 siderable distress : still he may be in that state, 

 that though it would render him unequivocally 

 unsound and reduce his value (in trade phrase) 

 seventy per cent., he might be able to perform 

 moderate work, even at a fair pace, nearly as 

 well as a sound one, if proper attention is paid 

 to him as to diet, water, and an airy stable ; the 

 only case, therefore, where we could take upon 

 ourselves to advise another person when to select 

 (perhaps take would be a better term), or to re- 

 ject, such a horse would be, when we saw how far 

 the animal was affected, and then knew the cir- 

 cumstances and habits of the purchaser. An ordi- 

 nary cob to carry an elderly man, who only rode 



