A month's trial. 259 



are not often combined with the quahtiesyou must have. If on 

 the other hand you want a cheap, free, fast horse, for regular 

 hard work in good hands, and one that will not fall down, you can 

 get that, but then you must not expect, in the same animal, a 

 horse that will stand like a post as long as you like after a week's 

 rest, that a child may drive alone, and that will ])car putting in 

 with half the harness hitched or with the l)linkers tumbling oft' 

 occasionally. 



Half the disappointments in life result from expecting too 

 much, from seeking incompatible combinations, and from not 

 clearly understanding that defects, either bearable or unbearable, 

 will be found in everv animal. 



C}2C). — Agree with your dealer for a week's trial, and before 

 you finally decide to keep a horse that appears to suit you take 

 liim to a skilful veterinary surgeon, and ascertain if he thinks him 

 sound. 



G27. — AVe have known gentlemen who always purchased 

 their horses from the same dealer, on a month's trial, with the 

 most satisfactory results. Under such an arrangement no dealer 

 would be likely to trouble them with horses that he suspected 

 would not suit them. But on the other hand, a cautious dealer 

 would not trust his horses, for a month, except in hands that he 

 knew would keep and use them sensibly, and would not return 

 them on any frivolous pretence. A person who has not 

 established such a reputation with a dealer, would be better to 

 propose to hire a horse for a month, and to keep him at the end 

 of that period if liked ; but even then he would hardly be trusted 

 with anything but a well worn animal. The dealer should 

 always be readily met with any reasonable precautions he may 

 desire to secure the good treatment of his horse whilst in your 

 hands. 



028. — "Where practicable it is wise to go not to a man who 

 deals only, but to a man who breaks, and still better who breeds 

 the horses he sells. But this would generally imply getting a 

 •very young horse, and there are very many purposes for which a 

 very young inexperienced horse is not desirable. Preference 

 should be given to a horse that is being sold for the first time. 



