HOW TO BUY A HORSE 379 



The hind legs should either be straight from the 

 hock downwards, or having a slight inclination under 

 the belly. Horses so formed are, for the most part, 

 low in the rump, and will throw out their legs well 

 under them when in action. On the contrary, horses 

 which throw their legs outward are always disagree- 

 able to ride, and seldom work well. Horses that 

 stand with their hind legs much under them, and at 

 the same time which droop in the hind-quarters, may 

 be suspected to be diseased in the spine or the kidneys, 

 and should be carefully examined on those points ; 

 and while doing so, on no account permit a dealer's 

 servant to hold up the horse by the bridle, or to stand 

 on rising ground. This should be most especially 

 attended to while examining the legs. It is the in- 

 variable practice of dealers' grooms when exhibiting 

 a horse to throw the snaffle and curb reins over the 

 head, and to hold him back with the latter, while he 

 touches him up behind with a long whip, which has 

 the effect of making him elevate his head, and brings 

 him to his mettle, and therefore he hardly knows 

 where he places his feet, consequently he will both 

 bend his knees and throw out his feet much more than 

 he does in his ordinary style of going. These wily 

 servants take care always to bring horses to a stand, 

 with his fore-quarters on rising ground, which makes 

 him advance his fore-legs, so as to conceal any 

 knuckling of the knees, or pasterns, and will give a 

 groggy animal all the appearance of soundness. 

 Therefore let the horse that is intended to be pur- 

 chased, be examined thoroughly on level ground, with 

 his head at liberty. 



The first point to be attended to is the crown of 

 the head ; to ascertain if he has the disease called 

 poll-evil (see page 40), examine his nostrils, and if 



