THE NEW POCKET FARRIER. 35 



the toes of his hind feet against the corners of his shoes 

 before, which occasions a clattering noise as you ride ; 

 and this proceeds generally fronn the weakness of his 

 fore legs, he not having strength in them to raise them 

 up sufficiently quick to make way for the hind ones. A 

 horse of this kind is not near so serviceable as the horse 

 exempt from it, and the dealers, to get rid of him, will 

 make abundance of pretences : if he has been just 

 shoed, they will say the farrier has put him on too long 

 shoes; if his shoes are old, they will tell you he is just 

 come off a long journey, and is much fatigued ; you 

 must not therefore be over credulous to any thing a 

 jockey or dealer affirms, for what they say in this man- 

 ner, is too often with intent to deceive ; and it is very 

 certain that a horse who forges can never be sure-footed, 

 any more than one who has tottering or bow-legs. 



WALK AND TROT MOUNTED. 



On his being mounted, see him walk. Observe his 

 mouth, that he pulls tair, not too high, nor bearing 

 down ; then stand behind him, and see if he goes nar- 

 rower before than behind, as every horse that goes well 

 on his legs goes in that manner. Take notice that he 

 brushes not by going too close ; a certain sign of his 

 cutting, and tiring in travelling. Have nothing to do 

 with that horse who throws his legs confusedly about, 

 and crosses them before; This you may observe by 

 standing exactly before or behind him, as he is going 

 along. In his trot he should point his tore legs well, 

 without clambering, nor yet as if he were afraid ; and 

 that he throws well in his hind legs, which will enable 

 him to support his trot, and shoot his fore parts fore- 

 wards. 



