4S4 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



compelled sometimes to leave the stable in 

 disgust. 



If, iiowever, you have seen any thing likely 

 to suit your purpose, return the next day, and 

 take an opportuHity of seeing hiin in the 

 stable. To see a Horse in his stall is one of 

 the most satisfactory examinations we can 

 have, as f<ir as it goes. By watching the 

 motions of his legs and feet, lameness may be 

 easily detected, should it exist ; as well as his 

 quietness in the stable be tested. Much 

 knovvlfdge of the disposition of the animal 

 may be traced from his countenance. There 

 is not a surer index. Before, however, going 

 into the Horse's stall, it will be highly proper 

 to make the inquiry if the Horse be quiet to 

 go up to ? 



We suppose the price may have been as- 

 certained, or nearly so ; and the ceremony of 

 examining for purchase will now commence. 

 On being assured that he is quiet to approach, 

 you will give some gentle warning with your 

 voice, and go up to him on his near (left) 

 side, and laying your hand on his forehand (to 

 regard his height,) you will proceed from 

 thence to examine his eyes, mouth, and coun- 

 tenance ; still holding his head, and turning 

 your own to the right about, you have a view 

 of the curve of his neck, the height of his 

 forehand, the position of his shoulder, and the 

 substance of his forearm. Returning to his 

 forehand, you descend to his legs and feet, 

 minutely examining with your lingers every 

 part, from above, below, withinside, and with- 

 out. You will not forget the knees, as the 

 value of the animal so much depends on their 

 perfect state. 



Having satisfied yourself respectina: his 

 fore-parts, your eye will glance over his back, 

 girthing place, carcass, and loins ; thence 



proceeding to his hind- quarter, and the set* 

 ting on of his tail. You will judge how far 

 he agrees in each and every respect with 

 those rules of proportion already laid down. 

 The hinder legs and feet will demand a share 

 of attention equally minute as the fore ones; 

 nor should the inside or hollow of the hock be 

 passed by without due notice, since it often 

 happens, that the injuries of hard labour are 

 most apparent in those parts. A survey of 

 the other side of the Horse will complete the 

 stable examination. Some prefer examining 

 the Horse's eyes in the stable, and place him 

 in such a position that the light may fall 

 only in one direction, and see that they are of 

 the same size, and equally full ; that the haws 

 are not prominent, and that one does not pro- 

 ject more than the other; that the eyes are 

 perfectly clear and transparent, and that the 

 pupils, or apples of the eye, are exactly alike 

 in size as well as colour. 



Mr. John Lawrence, in speaking of the 

 too common practice of dealers using the 

 whip, gives the following caution, as wells as 

 expresses his honest indignation at its prac- 

 tice, which does honour to his humane and 

 enlightened mind. He savs : — 



" Suffer no person belonging to the seller 

 to be with you in the stall (unless you know 

 and are well satisfied with the dealer's cha- 

 racter) during your inspection, that the Horse 

 may not be rendered unquiet, either design- 

 edly, or at the mere presence of an habitual 

 tormentor. A short time since I had occa- 

 sion to examine a Horse, for a friend, at the 

 stable of a considerable dealer ; it was a very 

 beautiful and well shaped nag, but, as is com- 

 monly the hard fate of such, he appeared to 

 have done too much work. The attendant, 

 from a superabundant share of regard to ray 



