i8o HORSE MA XSH IP. 



cleverest little horses that ever faced a country, and a winner 

 of the Goodwood Stakes ; a rare galloper and jumper that, 

 at the end of the season, found his way into the stables of a 

 sporting Lord Chief Justice of England. 



A horse bought from a dealer is almost invariably in big, 

 flabby, show condition, and, if put immediately to strong or 

 even moderately long work, will assuredly " go-all-to-pieces." 

 He must, by judicious exercise and feeding, be brought by 

 degrees into working condition. When not in trim the back 

 is soft and tender and requires seasoning ; this gradual con- 

 ditioning is especially necessary when he is destined to carry 

 a side-saddle. 



No docked horses are allowed in the army, so by being 

 docked, the sale of many a handsome, showy, charger-like 

 animal is rendered less easy. Intending purchasers can 

 always satisfy themselves as to this operation having been 

 performed or not by examining the dock. In its natural 

 state the hair grows thickly at the point or end of the tail, 

 leaving no bare bald space, whereas, when the caudal guillo- 

 tine has been used, the circular space at the end or butt is 

 entirely bare of hair. There can be no possible advantage 

 in docking a riding horse. 



Some very good horses are to be picked up at auctions. 

 At the end of the London season many of the best hacks 

 are sent up to Tattersall's to be sold without reserve. At 

 this and other first-class repositories, metropolitan and pro- 

 vincial, the horses are on view two or three days prior to 

 the day of auction. The uninitiated had better go round 

 the stables accompanied by some good judge. It is not 

 a very difficult matter to find out some of the antecedents 

 and particulars of the animals in the catalogue ; the sharp- 

 sightedness of gold is proverbial, and the universal solvent 

 may here be used with advantage. 



