408 
REVIEW— PRACTICAL HORSEMANSHIP. 
stride; in short, ‘getting him on his legs,’ and trying to infuse 
some energy into him. lie hugs the rails as if he was looking 
for some vacancy to bolt through. His jockey now threatens him; 
the rogue understands the hint, and finishes his distance straight 
and well. No difficulty in pulling up here : the moment his jockey 
stopped shaking him, his pace slackened, and the only care required 
is, that he may not stop too short. 
“He is now coming back. He walks lazily, as if the sun was 
too hot for him. His jockey kicks him along, and is obliged now 
and then to give him a twist and shake to keep him going. This 
is a kind of horse some jockeys are famous for riding. Old Sam 
Darling was one. 
“I trust, from the description I have given of four different 
jockeys riding as many different horses, it will be seen, that though 
the seat of each might very nearly resemble the other under the 
same circumstances, the seat must be varied when circumstances 
vary also ; therefore, to become a horseman, it is absolutely neces- 
sary that a man must be put on different horses, to teach him how 
to act under different circumstances.” 
No man, in such natural colours, could depict such a scene as 
this, who felt not at the time that he was writing of passing events 
in which he himself ( quorum ipse, 8$c.) had not been a frequent actor 
as well as spectator, as well as a thorough experienced horseman. 
We can therefore readily believe him when he tells us, he “ writes 
from personal practice, and not from mere observation or theory.” 
For general purposes — for purposes either of business or plea- 
sure, on the road or in the park — the grand desideratum is a good 
hack, well bred, well broke, pleasant to ride, and “ as handsome as 
a picture.” Of all descriptions of horses this, perhaps, is the most 
difficult one to find, and, when found, frequently grows into such 
esteem with his master as not to be parted with for “ love or 
money.” People in general prefer a little horse or a cob for a 
hack. Our author’s “fancy” in this respect is not very far off 
from our own. 
“ I would fix the standard of such a horse at fifteen hands; cer- 
tainly not more. The more breeding he has the better, with as 
much strength as can be got without bordering on coarseness. He 
should be particularly neat and pretty : handsome is a term I 
should use to large horses. He should be long in proportion to 
his height, that length made out by the distance from the back of 
the wither to the bosom, and from the hip bone to the extremity of 
the haunch. This gives strength, propelling power, and freedom 
