UNNERVED. 1 1 9 



I have mentioned this horse as some corrobora- 

 tion of my assertion, that decided curbs are not 

 easily cured, and, if of long standing, never are ; 

 true, this horse could do more than one in perhaps 

 a hundred could, and, in point of speed, I never 

 met with one hunter that could stay by his side 

 on good galloping ground. It is also true, I sold 

 him at a stiffish price : but his curbs were only 

 at best braced up, not cured, for he was by no 

 means pleasant to sit on in his gallop ; and, at a 

 leap, from want of elasticity in his hocks, they 

 gave his quarters so sudden a jerk that, unless a 

 man was used to him and prepared for the shock, 

 he would be sent clean off the saddle. I believe 

 the comparison of what he was, and what he 

 would have been with clear hocks, completed 

 my utter detestation of curbs, or really faulty 

 hocks in any way, that is, for a riding horse. 

 I will conclude this part of my subject by men- 

 tioning another state in which it is not unlikely 

 a horse may be brought out for sale : namely, 



Xerved, or, in more proper definition of the 

 operation, 



UNNERVED. 



On this state I cannot speak practically, never 

 having owned a horse that had been operated on, 

 nor do I believe I have ridden one. 

 I 4 



