SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 147 



stable. The thoroughbred pony does not seem to withstand the constant 

 strain he has to undergo in twisting and turning during a game of polo ; his 

 constitution is very often delicate, and his narrow formation in front and 

 high withers prevent him from turning very sharply." 



SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 



The successful man of business realizes the importance 

 of having a thorough knowledge of whatever he deals in, 

 and his general want of confidence in human nature prompts 

 him, when investing in something out of his line, to buy of 

 a well-known and reliable firm. The writer advises the self- 

 dependent novice in horse matters to take the same precau- 

 tion. Though the original outlay may be more, in the end 

 the purchaser has something of credit to show for his money 

 instead of from one to six worthless cripples. It may be 

 asked, how is the beginner to know where to find a good 

 dealer ? The answer is simple. Go to a well-known car- 

 riage builder or one of the firm, not a salesman, or to any 

 of the well known horse owners. Other channels of infor- 

 mation are the advertising columns of the sporting period- 

 icals and daily papers. As the former journals have the in- 

 terest of lovers of the horse at heart any advertisement 

 which is evidently of a questionable nature is usually de- 

 clined ; whereas the proprietors of morning and evening 

 papers too often shut their eyes to the character of the 

 notices which are obviously intended to deceive the public, 

 and it is in the columns of these papers that most of the 

 crooked order of the fraternity set their bait. 



Sir George Stephen, as will be seen from the following 

 quotation, is even more sceptical of advertisements than the 

 writer : 



" Whenever you see a horse advertised for sale, avoid him as you would 



