THE NEW PQCKET FARRIER. 43 



A SADDLE HORSE. 



A horse with thin shoulders, and a flat chest, whose 

 fore-feet stand holdly forward and even, his neck rising 

 semicircular from the points of those thin shoulders to 

 his head, may justly be said to have a light forehand 

 and' be fitter for a saddle than a collar. As most horses 

 in the hands of farmers are drawn while they are 

 young, which, notwithstanding their make, occasions 

 them to move heavily, if you desire a nimble-footed 

 horse, choose one that has never drawn. 



In buying a horse enquire into four other things, viz. 

 biting, kicking, stopping, and starting. 



STARTING AND SHYING. 



Starting is when a horse grows wanton or skittish, 

 and takes every object he sees to be different from what 

 it is. It is one of the worst habits a horse can have, 

 and tends to reduce his value much, for as good a rider 

 as a person may be, he cannot be on his guard against 

 a starting horse. 



If you would ascertain that a horse starts, mount him 

 yourself, ride first slowly and then fast towards and 

 along by objects that you discover are offensive to his 

 eye, and you will soon assure yourself whether or not 

 he has this bad habit. 



Horses that have been kept pampered in the stable for 

 some time, without regular airings or exercise, are liable 

 to start when first ridden out, but are in general easily 

 cured. 



Some horses will observe particularly all objects they 

 meet, and sidle a little, or shy from it, but a starting 



