By long observation thus you will construct your
ideal of the mountain horse, and in your selection
of your animals for an expedition you will search
always for that ideal. It is only too apt to be
modified by personal idiosyncrasies, and proverbially an
ideal is difficult of attainment; but you will, with
care, come closer to its realization than one accustomed
only to the conventionality of an artificially
reared horse would believe possible.

The ideal mountain horse, when you come to pick
him out, is of medium size. He should be not
smaller than fourteen hands nor larger than fifteen.
He is strongly but not clumsily built, short-coupled,
with none of the snipy speedy range of the valley
animal. You will select preferably one of wide full
forehead, indicating intelligence, low in the withers,
so the saddle will not be apt to gall him. His sureness
of foot should be beyond question, and of course
he must be an expert at foraging. A horse that knows
but one or two kinds of feed, and that starves unless
he can find just those kinds, is an abomination. He
must not jump when you throw all kinds of rattling
and terrifying tarpaulins across him, and he must not
mind if the pack-ropes fall about his heels. In the
day's march he must follow like a dog without the
necessity of a lead-rope, nor must he stray far when
turned loose at night.

Fortunately, when removed from the reassuring