CHAPTER VL 



" Broken knees" deserve to have a chapter dedi- 

 cated to their exclusive service. 



Every tyro that has ever mounted a horse in his 

 life, flatters himself that at least he can detect a 

 "broken knee;" and if a square inch of hair is 

 removed, disclosing a wound of an inch diameter, 

 perhaps he may ; but should my pages be honored 

 by the notice of a reader of this description, he will 

 probably be astonished when I tell him, that the 

 actual injury may be ten times more extensive, when 

 the apparent blemish is almost imperceptible. A 

 wounded knee, as such, is only a blemish, and, ab- 

 stractedly, of no more consequence than any casual 

 disfigurement of the head or flank ; but it is always 

 an indication of existing or recent unsoundness : at 

 least it should, in prudence, be always so regarded, 

 unless it happens to be within the purchaser's personal 



