45 



THE TESTICLES, ETC. 



Look up at the testicles : they should be small 

 and closely hung up. Swollen testicles are very 

 common, and may prove a considerable draw- 

 back to his speed. The testicles, even when not 

 enlarged, are sometimes diseased. I don't know 

 if this can be detected by the feel, or appearance 

 of them, but a horse's value in India is diminished 

 fully one-third by being gelt. 



" A small yard in a horse," says the native 

 adage, " is an infallible characteristic of high 

 blood ; the foal he gets, will certainly be good." 

 There is more truth in the first part of this 

 sentence than in most of their sayings. As to 

 the latter, it must depend, of course, on the 

 kind of mare he is put to. 



If you are purchasing in the highways and 

 byways, you may inspect the vein of the neck, 

 and also the chest, to see if he has been often 

 bled or rowelled (lower the neck to the ground 

 to detect the small swelling from bleeding) : 

 these are operations that are generally performed 

 for disease, though the former too often when 

 there is no need for it. 



