is on her _right_.

The height of a horse is always estimated in _hands_, of four inches
each: it is always measured at the tip of the shoulder. A horse is never
spoken of as being so many hands _tall_, but so many hands _high_.

[Illustration]

THE LADY'S HORSE.

Although the lady usually has a horse selected for her, by some
gentleman, either of her own family or her acquaintance, it may not be
inexpedient to inform the fair reader of those qualities which, combined
in the same animal, may be said to constitute a complete lady's horse.
Such a creature, however, we must observe, is exceedingly difficult to
be procured, even by those possessed of the nicest judgment on the
subject; and, to whom, the usually important question of price is not an
object of consideration.

The beau ideal of this kind of horse is superlatively elegant in form,
exquisitely fine in coat, and unexceptionably beautiful in colour; of a
height, in the nicest degree appropriate to the figure of the rider;
graceful, accurate, well-united, and thoroughly safe in every pace;
"light as a feather" in the hand, though not at all painfully sensitive
to a proper action of the bit; bold in the extreme, yet superlatively
docile; free, in every respect, from what is technically denominated
"vice;" excellent in temper, but still "though gentle, yet not dull;"
rarely, if ever, requiring the stimulus of the whip, yet submitting
temperately to its occasional suggestions.

[Illustration]

In some, though not in all respects, the form should approach closely to
that of a thorough-bred animal. The head should be small, neat,
"well-set" on the neck, and gracefully "carried." The nostrils should be
wide; the eyes large, rather protruding, dark, yet brilliant; the ears
erect, and delicately tapering towards their tips. The expression of the
countenance should be lively, animated, noble, and most highly
intelligent; the neck rather arched and muscular; the ridge of the
shoulders narrow and elevated; the chest full and fleshy; the back
broad; the body, round or barrel-like; the space between the hips and
tail, long, and very gradually depressed towards the latter organ,
which, it is essential, should be based high on the croup. The fore and
hind limbs should be distant, the one pair from the other; the "arms"
muscular; the knees broad, the hocks (laterally) wide; the legs flat
and sinewy; the pasterns rather long; and the hoofs large, and nearly
round.