100 



animal to his full pace : hence the reluctance to 

 lay aside the whip, when the dealer is showing his 

 horse. 



It so rarely occurs, that the lameness of a 

 shoulder can ever be concealed from the notice 

 even of the most superficial observer, that it is 

 unnecessary to put him on his guard against im- 

 position here. Where it does exist only in a slight 

 degree, and arises from chest-founder, it contracts 

 the motion of both legs equally, and gives the 

 horse more of a ivooden hobbling, than a limping 

 or halting action. A man may be led by this to 

 consider that which is really lameness, to be only 

 defective action : if he only views it in this light, 

 it is quite a suiEcient reason for rejecting the horse 

 altogether : at all events, he will err on the safe 

 side. I have seen a horse affected in this way at 

 starting, by rheumatism, and after a little exercise 

 the pain has subsided, and the lameness has disap- 

 peared altogether ; but though a slight rheumatic 

 affection either of the leg or shoulder is not an 

 affair of much consequence, a prudent man will 

 never buy a horse upon such an explanation of 

 lameness at starting. The disease of chest- 

 founder has been considered by some writers to be 

 nothing more than rheumatism. A very intelligent 

 friend of mine, well versed in sporting matters, has 



