PREFACE. XVil 



attain the age of six years, the period of 

 iiiaturity, without being injured or ble- 

 mished in some part of their frames. Tlie 

 question therefore arises, whether any exist- 

 ing defect or blemish, which has a tendency to 

 produce lameness or unsoundness (although 

 that unsoundness has not yet taken place), 

 shall be considered as making the horse un- 

 sound at the time of sale. It may be 

 argued that the purchaser buys the animal 

 with his eyes open, and, therefore, has no 

 right to make objections subsequently to 

 the purchase. Such an argument may 

 apply to those who are well skilled in the 

 trade ; but when it is considered how few 

 there are who understand those matters, 

 sojne rule should be established lor the pro- 

 tection of the ignorant against the arts of 

 the dcsig^nino-. 



In forming an opinion of the soundness of 

 a horse, it will be necessary to refer to the 

 original principles of his animal economy. 

 Thus, it Avill be necessary to recollect that 

 the natural shape of the hoof of a colt is cir- 

 cular, and that his legs aie free from swell- 

 ings or exuberances about the joints. Yet a 

 horse may have lost tlie circular form of the 

 hoof by bad slioeiiig, and other circum- 



