IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. Ill 



break in the hair will become more apparent : by 

 slightly parting the hair with the finger, (an 

 operation, by the way, to which all dealers and 

 ostlers have a supreme aversion,) a scar may be 

 easily detected, if any exists. A practiced eye 

 will perceive a blemish without half of these 

 minute precautions ; but as I am writing for the 

 benefit of the inexperienced, I would not advise 

 the omission of one of them, whenever a doubt is 

 entertained. 



It would not be inexpedient to look for a scar 

 on the head, and above the eye ; for a decided fall 

 often leaves very unequivocal symptoms there. 

 During the whole' process, the purchaser must stop 

 hi^ears with cotton. 



Lameness of the shoulder is by no means so 

 frequent as is commonly supposed. Every ignorant 

 smith, who finds a horse lame, and cannot discover 

 any very obvious cause, such as those I have 

 been describing, attributes it, as a matter of 

 course, to the shoulder. I believe that nineteen 

 times out of twenty, the foot will be found to be 

 in fault ; there are many cases in which disease 

 undoubtedly exists in the feet, where no outward 



