HOW TO KNOW HLM. 65 



their proper positions, that they can do and endure all 

 things. A horse with such an appearance in the hind- 

 quarters, if otherwise well formed and of right tempera- 

 ment, will never fail you, but will remain, until old age 

 diminishes the natural forces of his well-constructed 

 organism, the pride and ornament of your stable. 



I have now gone over the several parts of the horse, 

 upon the character of which his structure, and hence 

 his usefulness, depends. I have striven to avoid the 

 employment of such terms as would be difficult for 

 the average reader to understand. If I have suc- 

 ceeded to that extent to which I aspired, the reader 

 who has carefully followed me in my remarks has such 

 knowledge of the organs, bones, muscles, and general 

 shape and appearance, of the horse, as to qualify him to 

 select with wise discrimination the animal or animals 

 which he needs for either general or specific service, 

 or for the purposes of breeding. He cannot hereafter 

 be deceived by the cunning of dishonorable men, or 

 have any but himself to blame, if he invest his money 

 unwisely in his future purchases. But I ask him to ob- 

 serve, that all data for man's information are worthless, 

 unless, when attained, they are used in connection with 

 his own observation and intelligence. 



It is by the use of your own eyes and fingers, my 

 reader, in connection with the knowledge I have now 

 put in your possession, that you can become wise in 

 horse-craft. Suffer, at this point, two or three cautions. 

 The first is, Buy on your oivn judgment^ and not on that 



