206 FOX-HUNTING 



ness and age ; but decide for yourself what you 

 like, and do not be persuaded to buy a horse 

 that does not seem comfortable to ride. If you 

 buy only horses with really good shoulders, you 

 will never get any very bad falls. Dealers 

 cannot afford to be particular about shoulders 

 themselves, and they are rather inclined to wil- 

 fully shut their eyes to this defect when they are 

 selling. Never hazard an opinion about whether 

 shoulders look right or not, and never condemn 

 them in words, but merely say you do not quite 

 like the ' feel ' of the horse, and pass on to the 

 next. Do not enter into a discussion with a 

 dealer about a horse's good or bad points, because 

 you are nearly certain to be convinced against 

 your own opinions, but pick out those you like, 

 and buy them, if the dealer recommends them as 

 good performers. A sensible head and a generous 

 bold eye are points that the least ' horsey ' of men 

 can judge for themselves, and they are of no 

 little importance in determining the animal's 

 character. 



The poor man, or the man of moderate means, 

 will have to proceed with the purchasing of his 

 horses in a different manner, but here it is very 



