THE CHOICE OF A CARRIAGE. 83 



purposes of the owner are satisfied. A particular horse may 

 not necessarily control the character of the vehicle, but a cer- 

 tain vehicle should determine the stamp of the horse. A horse 

 of the proper shape and make can always be obtained for 

 any of the standard types of carriages ; but fortunately the 

 latter do not invariably correspond with every class of animal. 

 Before finally selecting any one carriage the prospective 

 purchaser is advised to consider the following pros and cons 

 which enter so largely into the acquisition of a carriage : 



1. For what use is the vehicle intended ? 



2. What type of vehicle best fulfils the requirements? 



3. Will it serve those requirements, if necessary, in 

 summer and winter and in wet weather ? 



4. What is the cost of a vehicle, not merely of this type, 

 but of the best in the matter of material and workmanship? 



5. If the desired vehicle is too expensive, what other 

 more moderate priced type could be substituted ? 



6. How many horses and of what stamp will be required ? 



7. If properly turned out, what harness, livery and 

 robes, etc., will be needed ? 



8. Is the stable servant competent to give such a vehicle 

 proper care ? 



9. Is the vehicle of such a design that it is likely to 

 command a fair price if sold again ? 



If the bank account is large the purchaser is fancy free 

 to follow his own inclinations wherever they may lead 

 him ; but when a certain sum has been carefully saved for the 

 buying of the first carriage or its purchase constitutes the 

 only outlay of this nature to be made for several years, a 

 thoughtful person is guided in his selection by many consid- 

 erations. It is important to know beforehand whether the 



