XXll PREFACE. 



bear sufficiently hard upon the buyer, with- 

 out his being exposed to the risk of acci- 

 dents that migiit happen to the horse on the 

 road, during his return. The proper mode 

 to be adopted in a dispute of this nature, is 

 to send the animal to a neighbouring livery 

 stable, there to remain until the final issue 

 shall take place; and, consequently, at the 

 expence of that party to whose lot he may 

 ultimately fall. 



In addition to the above precautions, it is 

 adviseable that the purchaser should neither 

 have the horse newly shod, nor the shoes 

 removed, until a sufficient time has elapsed, 

 from the period of the purchase, for the 

 discovery of lameness. The policy of tiiis 

 measure is obvious, as it gives the seller no 

 opportunity of attributing the lameness to 

 either of those causes. In case, also, of 

 any bodily unsoundness, the purchaser 

 should be careful not to administer medicine, 

 lest the seller should ascribe the com])laint 

 to an injudicious treatment of the animal, 

 after he was out of his hands. 



Purchasers of horses are generally desir- 

 ous to keep the price secret; hence, it sel- 

 dom happens that a third person is preseat 

 during the negotiation. On this account, 



