SADDLE HORSE. 15 



the seller, and damages could be recoverable ; but be 

 your own judge, not permitting any declaration tha't 

 may be made by the seller, to alter your opinion ol 

 form, age, condition, movements, action, &;c. As 

 the eyes of a horse are the most important organ, first* 

 let him undergo a strict examination; ascertain his 

 age, examine his figure and action; guarding yourself 

 against being too much pleased or fascinated with the 

 appearance of a new object; view his feet and legs; 

 large ridges on the hoofs, or very flat feet, discover a 

 horse to be subject to founder : large gouty legs, with 

 enlarged tendons indicate strains and other injuries, 

 examine his hind legs, with great attention, just below 

 the hock and inside the hind knee; if there is any 

 unnatural prominence or knot, unlike the other knee, it 

 wears the appearance of a spavin, which renders a 

 horse of but little value. Splint, which appears on the 

 inside of the fore legs, and wind-galls, upon the ancles, 

 are unpleasant to the eye, but seldom produce serious 

 lameness ; they furnish plain proof that a horse has 

 been serviceable, and are very seldom productive of 

 any other injury than stiffness, as he advances in years. 

 Ride yourself, for the purpose of trying his gaits and 

 qualities; as a rider accustomed to a horse, by private 

 signs, such as manner of riding, bearing on the bit, 

 leaning forward or backward, holding the heels close 

 to his sides, &c. &;c. &c., can make a dull horse appear 

 gay and spirited, a wild horse gentle, a stumbler clear 

 footed, one that is blind appear to see, and a starting 

 horse free from that great objection, &c. &c Before 

 mounting him, examine his knees, to discover if they 

 are skinned, the hair off, or scarred; those are strong 

 symptoms of his politeness to a fault. Ride with your 

 bridle loose over any uneven ground : if he is in the ' 

 habil of stumbling, he will very readily inform you- 

 2* B 



