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XII. Buying Cheap Horses. 



I have endeavored to show some of the principal points to be 

 considered in buying a horse, especially those relating to the use 

 for wliich tliey are intended. There is one rule that will always 

 ai>ply in buying any horse. Xever buy him because he is offered 

 at a price evidently far below his worth, that is, except it be 

 from a friend that you can trust, who does not want the horse 

 himself, and wishes to do you a favor. These cases will be found 

 very rare. In every other case rest assured the horse has some 

 dangerous vice, or is permanently unsound. In this country 

 never buy a horse at any price w^hich has any appearance of 

 broken knees by falling. Hunting horses are too rare here for 

 one to have gotten the hurt in the field, and, accidentally, by 

 beirgput at a barrier beyond his power. 



Eeject a horse with any weakness in his eyesight, unless you 

 have use for a blind horse, then buy him at a blind horse's price. 

 A one-eyed horse may do useful, but not elegant work. Kever 

 buy a lame horse at any price, until you are assured that the dis- 

 ability is not permanent. 



Foot lameness, except it may be from a slight corn, and conse- 

 quently curable, should be an insuperable bar to purchase. You 

 can never patch up a bad foot. Therefore be sure you always 

 try the intended purchase on a hard road. Many game horses, 

 dead lamo on hard roads, will get along without much flinching 

 on soft roads, or the turf. If you are certain as to the cause of 

 the lameness and know you can cure it, the purchase, as a spec- 

 ulation, may do ; but never rely on the assurance of the horse 

 dealer. It is his business to sell. 



Never buy a narrow chested horse for hard service. It shows 

 weak lungs and those liable to inflammation. If for saddle, 

 avoid a ver}^ broad chested horse, though as trotters thev are 

 sometimes fast. The best and most perfect chest is a medium 

 between the narrow and broad chest. 



A tucked up washy looking horse should be avoided. They 

 may indeed do for light work or short drives, but are totally un- 

 fit for real work. 



