HUNTERS 



facilities at one's disposal. It must be borne in 

 mind, that there is a vast difference between 

 jumping a hunter in cold bloody and a hunter 

 jumping wh^n following hounds. In all proba- 

 bility its temperament will vary under both 

 conditions, but it is hardly reasonable to assume 

 that a purchaser will have the exceptional facilities 

 for trying under both conditions, though it is by 

 no means rare for a seller to permit of this being 

 done. The next matter is to have the animal 

 placed on level ground, and take a general survey 

 of its conformation, such as, the character of the 

 head, the carriage of the neck, the position of 

 the limbs in relation to the body, the shape of 

 the shoulders, knees, pasterns, and feet: the 

 build and the size of the body, the strength of 

 the back and loins, the slope of the quarters, the 

 turn of the hocks, and disposition of the parts 

 below the last named. A good deal of infor- 

 mation can often be gained by a critical survey 

 of the animal from the front, sides, and rear. It 

 is customary for the expert to examine a horse 

 on the near side, and then proceed to the off 

 side, beginning, in each instance, at the nose. 

 First of all, inspect the incisor teeth for the age, 



38 



