I7S HORSEMANSHIP. 



are too palpable to deceive any save the most unwary. 

 When a horse is lame on one foot the sound one is lamed 

 by inserting a piece of iron, wood, or other hard material be- 

 tween the shoe and the sole of the foot, thus, by compelling 

 the poor animal to distribute his weight equally on both poor 

 feet, to stop "nodding" and disguise his infirmity. In other 

 cases the sound foot is pared right down to the sensible sole. 

 In buying from an acquaintance or from any private 

 source, if the purchaser's name and credit be good, there 

 ought to be no difficulty whatever in having the horse sent 

 on trial for a few days. A well-known authority tenders 

 the following sage advice, " Never purchase a horse from a 

 friend ; nor from a litigious man, nor a petty lawyer ; nor 

 from one who cannot pay the expenses of a lawsuit." The 

 law of warranties being so uncertain, and the capacity of 

 fracturing the ninth commandment among the horse-deaHng 

 fraternity so illimitable, my advice is, never go to law on 

 a horse case unless you have a fancy for squandering your 

 substance on those harpies who thrive on ''litigious terms, 

 fat contentions, and flowing fees." Better far " make your 

 loss " than get into the law courts. When a dealer demands 

 payment before delivery, in the face of good references, 

 then be more than ever suspicious, and insist on a trial. 

 Never return a horse that has been paid for until the price 

 be refunded ; or, mayhap, you may lose the quadruped and 

 have to whistle for your money ; and, in sending him back, 

 state plainly the cause why. If you have made up your 

 mind not to keep him, and have, on the score of unsound- 

 ness or wrong description, valid excuse for so doing, state 

 plainly where the fault lies and stick to it. 



As possession is nine points of the law, delay payment, 

 if possible, until the horse can be thoroughly examined and 

 as thoroughly tried. Some horses, odd as it may appear. 



