HINTS ON BUYING, 171 



to be supplied with an animal fit to show, but not fit to go. 

 The nagsman who will ride him up and down the yard is 

 pretty certain to be an artist in the saddle, one who, as he 

 gets " the office," rides either to sell or to buy. As in this 

 case the object is to effect a sale, the buyer must not be 

 disappointed if the fine goer he saw at ^Ir. Topsawyer's 

 marching in such grand form, and trotting as loftily as old 

 Shales himself, on changing hands, settle down into a very 

 ordinary performer. If satisfied, he should, before closing 

 the transaction, endeavour to get the horse on trial for two 

 or three days. Many dealers, if they know the animal they 

 are selling to be a genuine article, will accede to this arrange- 

 ment. It is never good policy to let the animal be sent 

 home without previous examination by a veterinary surgeon. 

 If the price to be paid be a high one, then a warranty of 

 soundness should be exacted. 



If, however, the intending buyer be thrown on his own 

 resources, then, in guarding himself and his pocket, the 

 following hints may prove of value : — 



Never take any notice of those advertisements emanating 

 from persons whose names are not in the directory, calling 

 attention to some marvellous specimen of horseflesh fresh 

 from the breeder's hands, a weight-carrier, brilliant fencer, 

 up to twenty miles an hour on the road, carries a lady, very 

 handsome, on short legs, and so forth. 



Where practicable, it is advisable to buy direct from tlie 

 breeder rather than the dealer. This method, however, is 

 attended by the drawback that, as breeders like to realize 

 as soon as possible, the purchaser may have to content 

 himself with a young, immature, and half-broken colt or filly, 

 of an age when many " go roarers." On the other hand, he 

 may be pretty sure of getting something fresh and sound. 



In treating with the ordinary run of dealers, sharpers who 



