PREFACE. 



The object of this book is to show buyers of horses what 

 to select and what to reject when purchasing without pro- 

 fessional guidance. Veterinary Surgeons too often make 

 a distinction — a convenient one — between the terms " prac- 

 tically " and " legally " sound. For instance, a horse may 

 have some slight defect, not likely at the time nor indeed 

 at any future date to interfere with its working capabilities, 

 and the animal may in fact be likely to prove just as 

 serviceable as one free from the defect. Such a horse 

 would be spoken of as being "practically" sound, but 

 soundness at law means that the animal is entirely free 

 from any defects which at the time or at any subsequent 

 date could interfere with its usefulness. At law a horse is 

 either sound or unsound, no matter how trifling the defect 

 from which it may be suffering. 



Defective conformation does not constitute unsoundness ; 

 yet, as it may predispose an animal to injury, it may rank 

 as being on the border line. The chapter on " Conformation " 

 is intended to give the reader a general idea of the good 

 and bad points of a horse. Although it must be a very 

 difficult matter for an amateur to form a correct, or even 

 a fairly correct, estimate as to the usefulness of a horse in 

 the absence of considerable practical experience, it is hoped 

 that the information given on this point may be found of 

 real practical use. 



The book does not profess to deal with every disease to 

 which a horse may be subject, but with those only which 



