54 PINK AND SCARLET 



horse rears over backwards and is put back in 

 stable. Next day a brother officer with experience 

 tries his hand, and by dint of all sorts of tackle, men 

 behind with hunting crops, etc., rides horse out. 

 Finds he is a roarer. Further examination dis- 

 covers that his hocks have been fired, and that his 

 knees are slightly marked. Very valuable horse 

 this! 



There is no redress, he was bought as he stood, 

 without any warranty. Fact is even stranger than 

 fiction ! 



How well does Franklin's saying, " Experience 

 keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no 

 other," apply to cases like this ! 



Nothing that has been said is intended to dis- 

 suade the young soldier from reading about the 

 horse, quite the contrary, for it is necessary for him 

 to read and re-read just as he must do regarding 

 his profession. But it is intended to convey to him 

 that no amount of reading without practical ex- 

 perience will make him a judge of a horse, any 

 more than the study of the strategy and tactics of 

 Frederick the Great or Napoleon will enable him 

 to lead his squadron or company in the field if he 

 has not been right through the mill of practical 

 work. 



Regarding literature on horses, Horses and Stables 

 (Sir F. Fitzwygram) and The Points of a Horse 

 (Captain M. Hayes) will give all that is wanted. 



The former is plain and concise, and it gives hints 

 on stable management, and also on the purchasing of 



