HORSES AND MULES. 285 



his flannels and great coat his horse is deprived of the warm 

 hair that has been growing for his protection against the winter 

 chills, and disease is almost surely the consequence. 



The practice of clipping the fetlocks is undoubtedly bad, as 

 the heel of the horse is tender, and when exposed is subject to 

 many diseases. Nature has provided the fetlock as a protection, 

 and as such let it remain. Never in grooming dash cold water 

 upon the legs of the horse. Use water with a sponge; or after 

 washing with soap and warm water, cold water may be turned on 

 the back from a watering-pot to rinse off the suds ahd shut the 

 pores. 



This should never be done in the stable where the horse has 

 to sleep, unless there be u chance to air it and dry it before 

 night. 



How TO Buy, Use, and Sell a Horse. It is useless to 

 try to buy a very good horse at a very low price. People do 

 not exchange gold dollars for dimes. A perfect horse, thanks 

 to bad breeding, bad training, and bad care, is a rare thing, and 

 is not parted with except for a fair equivalent. If the horse is 

 well and sound, and is offered low, be sure he has been spoiled 

 in training, and will fail you when you noed him most. Men 

 will prevaricate and deceive in regard to a horse, who would 

 not in other things — for such is the common custom — so the 

 buyer must always judge for himself. The eye should be ex- 

 amined from the front, with the head a little shaded. If there 

 are any white, filmy spots, or streaks, on the eye, it denotes 

 inflammation, which is likely to return, and detracts from the 

 value of the animal. Next to the eyes, or rather before them 

 in importance, is the condition of the lungs. Owing to our 

 miserable stables, a large proportion of our horses are more or 

 'ess diseased in the lungs. 



Broken AVind will be detected by galloping a horse up hill 



