ON THE TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 



CHAPTER I. 



ON THE PURCHASE OF THE HORSE. 



BEFORE speaking about the diseases, treatment, riding 

 and driving, and care of the horse, my reader may say, 

 "Let me have one, tell me how to buy him, what are the 

 points to be regarded, and how am I to examine him all 

 over, etc.?" 



It is not to be expected that any person entirely unac- 

 quainted with horses, their conformation, constitution, 

 and qualities, can by the mere perusal of books make 

 himself a judge, or in fact know enough on his own judg- 

 ment to buy without the risk of being terribly taken in ; 

 for the reason that it takes half a lifetime of careful 

 observation and a retentive memory, with some innate 

 horse-proclivity, to get sufficient knowledge. Nor is it 

 every man who, with all that care and observation, will 

 have the knowledge to buy a horse without some risk. 

 Therefore I think it well to have a friend with you who 

 knows more than yourself. 



Some men may be with horses all their lives and yet 

 know nothing about them. It is true a man with some 

 fondness for horses may gain a little knowledge from 

 books, and, when assisted by a friend as described above, 

 may make a very good purchase. 



Very many prefer purchasing from a farmer or a breeder, 

 2 (13) 



