126 THE SINGLE CARRIAGE HORSE. 



usually either dull and heavy or stubborn and vicious. From 

 this nondescript class the inferior carriage, hack, express 

 and other orders of draft horses are drawn. A conservative 

 or timid buyer is often persuaded to take one of these " nice 

 useful sort," as they are termed by the auctioneers, because 

 they appear to be docile and are " sold for a mere song," 

 though they are actually dear as a gift. The author's advice 

 is to look for more breeding, it is cheaper and safer in the 

 long run. The value of a horse of the stamp above de- 

 scribed ranged in 1898 between forty and one hundred 

 dollars. 



THE SINGLE CARRIAGE HORSE. 



In consequence of the practical economy of establishing 

 a balance of forces, the design and weight of the carriage 

 should in a large measure determine the size and build of 

 the horse which is to draw it. Any lack of harmony, aris- 

 ing from the horse being too large for the vehicle or vice 

 versa, ought to be guarded against. The incongruous effect 

 made by placing an ill-shaped, spiritless jade in the shafts 

 of a stylish carriage is another common instance of bad judg- 

 ment in the original or subsequent purchase of a horse. 

 Hence for an establishment where only one horse is to be 

 kept, the special or various kinds of work which the animal 

 will have to perform should guide the purchaser and prompt 

 him to select a horse within certain limits. 



The work of one horse in the city will, in most cases, be 

 that of drawing a brougham, or its equivalent in the matter 

 of weight, twelve to fourteen hundred pounds, therefore a 

 horse measuring from 15 hands 2 inches to 16 hands i inch 

 and weighing between ten and twelve hundred pounds will 

 be required, varying according to the size of the vehicle. 



