IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 113 



become yet more apparent: the reverse is usually 

 the case when the feet or legs are in fault. He 

 will lie down and rise with great difficulty. In all 

 these cases, of course, much depends on the degree 

 of injury ; but however trifling, it is likely to show 

 itself more in proportion as speed is increased or 

 continued; and in this respect it differs essentially 

 from slight injury in other parts of the leg. It is 

 well known that this is often concealed from the 

 eye, by urging the animal to his full pace ; hence 

 the reluctance to lay aside the whip, when the 

 dealer is showing his horse. 



It so rarely occurs that the lameness of a shoulder 

 can ever be concealed from the notice even of the 

 most superficial observer, that it is unnecessary to 

 put him on his guard against imposition here. 

 Where it does exist only in a slight degree, and 

 arises from ohQ&t-founder, it contracts the motion 

 of both legs equally, and gives the horse more of a 

 wooden hobbling than a limping or halting action. 

 A man may be led by this to consider that which 

 is really lameness, to be only defective action : if 

 he only views it in this light, it is quite a sufficient 

 reason for rejecting the horse altogether: at all 



