p A r^T I. 



HINTS ON BUYING AND SELLING HORSES. 



Note, — If the reader does not understand common terms, such 

 as hock, fetlock, dec, he will find them explained in the Glossary of 

 Technicat Terms, page 11. 



GENERAL RULE. Everyone, specially officers, on buying 

 a horse shonld write down a proper description of it, and put 

 some indelible mark on the back under the saddle, or on the hoof^ 

 for identification in case of loss or theft. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. In reading description, reflect care- 

 fully on what is 7iot mentioned, — e.g., if it be not at least stated 

 that the horse is believed to be sound, you maj" be pretty sure it 

 is known to be unsound, as seller says the best he can. The word 

 "handsome" has no meaning, being merely a matter of personal 

 opinion. Ascertain who the seller is, and ask (1) why he is part- 

 ing with the horse ; (2) whether it is in steady work ; (3) when it 

 was last ill or off work ; (4) has it any trick (such as sticking his 

 head straight out, &c.) or vice or defect .' If replies be not satis- 

 factory, drop the correspondence. 



AUCTIONS. Read the rules carefully. At some auctions 

 you might, on a Saturday, at 4 p.m., buy a horse warranted per- 

 fectly quiet, and on the following Monday you might be able to 

 prove it was notoriously vicious ; still the auctioneers would 

 refuse redress, because your objection should, by their printed 

 rules, have been made within twenty-four hours of purchase. 



VETERINARY OPINION is always desirable when procur- 

 able, and the fee is money well laid out, whether it induces you 

 to refuse to buy, or otherwise. Fee varies from Rs. 5 to Rs. 16 in 

 India. First write down what you require in a horse, and then 

 let the Surgeon decide if the horse in question answers those 

 requirements. Some purchasers hardly seem to know what they 

 do want, and thereby give unnecessary trouble ; for instance, a 

 thoroughly good driving horse might be useless for saddle, and 

 vice versa. a 



