IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 403 



during wliich he must enjoy absolute, and therefore 

 unprofitable rest. That sleek and fat condition 

 which recommends a horse to an inexperienced buy- 

 er, does not qualify the animal for work, and is at 

 once detected by a dealer. It may obtain a guinea 

 or two more, because the dealer finds the horse more 

 marketable, but it will scarcely obtain such an addi- 

 tion to the price as will countervail the previous ex- 

 pense : a knowing hand prefers buying a horse in his 

 rough state, or in daily work. 



If the seller sends his horse to Tattersall's, it is 

 desirable to bespeak a separate box for him (assum- 

 ing him to be of value,) or to send him so early as to 

 insure his being placed in the eight-stall stable. 

 The sale begins at twelve, and the earlier horses in 

 the catalogue are of course sold first ; but the yard is 

 not filled, at least not with fashionable customers, 

 till a much later hour, and of course it is an object 

 so to place him in the list as to insure his being 

 brought out at the most favorable period. This pre- 

 caution is scarcely necessary at any other place of 

 public sale. I have found by experience, since my 

 first edition was published, that some ingenuity is 

 requisite to get a horse received at all by Messrs. 



