102 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



was only one out of five that did not show a de- 

 cided splent. 



The next point to which I would direct a pur- 

 chaser's attention is "cutting." This means an 

 abrasion of the skin on one leg, by the striking or 

 brushing of the other. Even behind, this is no 

 trifling matter; but if it occurs in the fore legs, 

 it is fatal to a horse's character, unless the wound is 

 obviously recent, and can at once be explained by an 

 apparent defect in the shoeing. Sometimes, but not 

 often, it only proceeds from faulty action ; but it 

 usually argues a far more serious defect. The cause 

 of it is a debility in the leg, arising either from old 

 injury, or recent disease : an attentive examiner will 

 generally find a blemished knee the accompaniment 

 of a wounded ancle. There are certainly many cases 

 in which a young horse, recently brought up from a 

 great distance in the country, and whose action is 

 green and untutored, will be found to have cut him- 

 self severely, without any visible afi'ection of the limb. 

 In such cases, when brought into regular training, the 

 habit is cured, and perhaps never recurs ; but though 

 this explanation is always at hand with the dealer, it 

 is never to be received for gospel, especially where 



