170 THE STUD. 



have showy action, what becomes of those who 

 have it not ? To answer this, speaking of horses 

 as animals for various uses, in various situations, 

 and for various persons, high action is not always 

 requisite, or in many cases desirable. Race-horses 

 (we may now also mention), steeple-chase horses, 

 and hunters, would be deteriorated in perform- 

 ance, and consequently in value, by high showy 

 action. Gentlemen wanting horses for country 

 work, where worth is more requisite than mere 

 show, will purchase horses with good, but not 

 fashionable, action. Persons who only want them- 

 selves and families to get the benefit of air and 

 exercise, will buy them at a very moderate price. 

 The rest go at a little lower figure, where mere 

 animal labour is wanted. Most of such as I al- 

 lude to have moderate action ; but below this, in 

 London, a horse is, figuratively speaking, not only 

 a drug, but unsaleable. 



This mention of the purposes where high 

 action is not required, and the description of per- 

 sons who will dispense with it, will, in a great 

 measure, show the reader the circumstances under 

 which he may purchase horses without London 

 action. We will, therefore, now look to the 

 effect of action as regards utility, here it will be 

 found that, high as the fashionable goer may rank, 

 in price he will be found about on a par with 

 many men who are always, from their fashion- 



