Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses 93 



that he is open to buy a certain class of animal, it is unreasonable 

 to suspect that he wants to obtain it by fraud, or to get it under 

 its value. The columns of the agricultural papers offer facilities 

 of obtaining information and of transacting business far superior 

 to the oldfashioned, slow-going, time-wasting system of peram- 

 bulating the country from fair to fair. Of course, it is obvious 

 that no one would think of buying by advertisement only, and 

 without seeing the animal. The advertisement, however, gives 

 information which beforetime was difficult to obtain. Whatever 

 system is adopted, it is absolutely necessary that the animal should 

 be seen and thoroughly well examined. One pair of eyes is not 

 always sufficient for this work. The advice and assistance of a 

 friend who may be an expert as a judge of horseflesh is invaluable. 

 Indeed, if there is any suspicion of unsoundness, it may be advis- 

 able to employ the services of a qualified veterinary surgeon. 



It is of the greatest importance to ascertain whether the animal 

 is perfectly sound and free from any hereditary disease before con- 

 templating the purchase. Shire horses especially are very subject 

 to have sidebones, and Clydesdales and Sufifolks are not all free 

 from them, so that a strict examination is necessary for traces 

 of sidebone, ringbone, sand-crack, contraction of the hoof, spavin, 

 thoroughpin, or splint; for diseases of the breathing organs, such 

 as roaring; for diseases of the eyes, such as cataract; for nervous 

 diseases, like stringhalt or shivering. If there is the least trace 

 of any of these hereditary ailments in the mare, it is better to 

 avoid investing money in her, and the buyer should try for some- 

 thing else. 



Horse-buying, at best, is a risky business. There is an old 

 saying that " no man is honest in selling a horse ". The clever 

 horse dealer can hide the faults from the buyer, and parade the 

 good qualities of the animal and make the customer believe he 

 is offering him perfection. In buying a mare it is well to have 

 one that is entered, or eligible for entry, in the Stud Book. The 

 future progeny will be much more saleable, and will command 

 a higher price. 



As types of the present-day Shire mare, Dunsmore Chessie, 

 Lorna Doone, and Halstead Royal Duchess may be considered 

 models. In the Clydesdale circle, Harviestoun Baroness (now 

 in America), and Lady Peggy, from Boquhan, may be considered 

 typical specimens; whilst Bawdsey Jewel and Sudbournc Lassie 

 are good representatives of the Suffolk breed, 



