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opinions of mere practical farriers. Men of this 

 class never regard a string-halt as unsoundness, 

 for not one in a hundred has the least conception 

 of the seat of the disorder: a purchaser must 

 consequently, be upon his guard before he buys, 

 and not rely upon his warranty at all to protect 

 him in this case. The only hint that I can give 

 him is to watch the action of the horse as soon as 

 ever he is shown ; for the defect is most visible at 

 the moment his action begins, and not unfrequently 

 disappears after he has been exercised five or ten 

 minutes on the ride. 



I will take this opportunity of making a remark 

 applicable to most cases of shght lameness. The 

 frequent exhibition of a horse during the day, when 

 the spring is just beginning, will make him more 

 supple and pliant in his action than when he is 

 first led out of the stable in the morning. A pur- 

 chaser who wishes to see a horse to disadvantage, 

 ought therefore to visit the stables at an early 

 hour, at least not later than nine o'clock : he will 

 detect stiffness of the joints with much more 

 facility at this time of the morning than when the 

 day is more advanced. There are other advan- 

 tages which an observant buyer may derive from 

 such early visits : sometimes the removal of night 

 bandages may be noticed ; sometimes; as in a case 



