TChe Stable Handbook 



horse. Thus if you want a horse to hunt in a 

 deep country, the depth through the heart will 

 enable him to stay through a long hunt ; a short- 

 backed horse will go up hills with more ease to 

 himself than a long horse with slack loins. In 

 any case you need good legs and hocks and well- 

 shaped feet ; yet all these points must be modified 

 by your experience of the horse in saddle or 

 harness, for the courage, dociHty, and gameness 

 of a horse go for much, and will often compensate 

 for apparent defects of bodily structure. 



If, on the whole, you like a horse, then proceed 

 to ride and drive him. The first thing to do is to 

 put the saddle on, and note where it rests on his 

 back. It is a great point for the saddle to be 

 carried on the right place. Once mounted, start 

 off at a quiet walk, and you will be able to notice 

 how he uses his shoulders. This is a much 

 greater point than any apparent slope as viewed 

 when standing alongside the horse. Nor is it 

 difficult to judge of. If a horse strides away 

 easily and freely, the shoulders are right. Now 

 trot steadily for a mile or so uphill and down, and 

 then turn the horse round, and, easing the rein, 

 let him walk back with his head free. If he does 

 this without tripping or stumbling, and at a fair 

 pace, moving freely and easily, the chances are 

 he is all right. Now take him into a field and 

 gallop him smartly round twice. When he pulls 

 up note how soon and in what way he blows his 



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