HINTS ON HORSES 



87 



horse to wear a shield or guard. Such a 

 necessity reduces the value of the steed. 

 Now get your runner to open the horse's 

 mouth, and form your opinion as to whether 

 his age is suitable. If so, have the horse 

 run out. In the open you can quickly note 

 his proportions — slope of shoulder, length of 

 back, carriage of tail, depth of girth, form 

 and condition of legs. Look at the horse 

 all round, and if you fancy him at all, have 

 him trotted up and down. Then make your 

 hieroglyphic note, denoting whether the animal 

 is worth your full price, or whether he would 

 do at a bargain price. If unsuitable, scratch 

 him off. In this manner, before long, you 

 will find only a few "possibles" left. Run 

 these out again, but do not confine yourself 

 only to one or two, as you may thereby give 

 yourself away as to which you fancy. 



The difficulty now arises in the order in 

 which the lots will be put up for sale. Your 

 first choice may be the first of the " possibles," 

 in which case you can bid comfortably up to 

 your limit. On the other hand, your pet 

 selection may be low down, and you will have 

 to use your own judgment. The tendency is 



to diminish your bids for the earlier lots. If 

 you have failed to buy, and the last "possible" 

 is up for sale, remember that if you fail to suit 

 yourself you will have to reckon your out-of- 

 pocket expenses as dead loss, and, conse- 

 quently, it may be worth your while to raise 

 your bids slightly. If you fail to buy, your 

 runner will be able, very often, to find out if 

 any of your lots were unsold, and are for 

 disposal by private treaty. In this case you 

 would probably have to pay more, but for the 

 extra you would get a thorough trial. If you 

 have bought a horse, try him, to see if he fulfils 

 his warranty, and notify in plenty of time if 

 3^ou wish to return the animal. If he carries 

 out his requirements you are fitted up with 

 a horse at market price. If after a bit you 

 don't care for the beast, you have every reason 

 to expect to get market price back again for 

 him ; but do not send him straight back to the 

 yard from which you bought him. Horses 

 that are constantly changing hands become 

 known, and are avoided. The market price of 

 horses varies with the season, e.g. if you want 

 a harness horse for the summer, buy a hunter, 

 which is quiet in harness, at the end of the 



