THE GUIDE 



PLAIN AND USEFUL DIRECTIONS, 



TO PERSONS, ON GOING TO PURCHASE A HORSE, 

 WITH RULES FOR DISCOVERING THE PERFEC- 

 TIONS AND BLEMISHES OF THAT NOBLE 

 ANIMAL. 



Nothing is more true than the common observation, 

 that in the art of horsemanship, the most difficult part 

 is that of giving proper directions for the purchasing 

 of a horse free from fault and blemish. The decep- 

 tions in this branch of traffic being numerous, it is the 

 object of the following remarks, to shew, in a plain 

 manner, the perfections and imperfections, to which 

 horses are liable, by nature and mischance. 



The persons about to purchase a horse, should not 

 only keep in mind the color, height, and price of a 

 horse, but also the usual defects of the country; such 

 as faulty sight, flat hoof, too brittle, or too soft, and 

 affections of the lungs. 



Those things being well thought of, the purchaser 

 will look at the horse sideways, at a tolerably distance; 

 he will choose him as nearly as possible one tenth lon- 

 ger than he is high, measuring from the breast to the 

 quarter, and from the withers to the ground, so that if 

 the horse be five feet high, his length should be five 

 feet and a half. 



Preserving the same situation, he will see, 



1st. If the horse has a small head, not too fleshy, 

 perfectly free from tumors, and well placed, neither 

 carrying it too high nor too low. 



2d. If he has not an ill-shaped neck, with his wind- 

 pipe hanging too low, or bending. 



3d. Whether his withers be either too sharp or too 

 large ; with fleshy shoulders. 



4th. Whether he is not hollow backed. 



5th. Whether his chest be v/ell formed ; neither too 

 round nor too flat. 



