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every ride, and the condition in which the horse 

 is brought home. Every sin that the animal can 

 commit is thrown upon the rider's back, whenever 

 a horse is returned to a dealer on his warranty. 

 Inquiry should always be made of the seller, how 

 he has been accustomed to diet and clothe his 

 horse ; whether his feet are stopped at night, and 

 how frequently ; and whatever reply he gives 

 should be carefully noted, and the same treatment 

 observed, till his soundness is ascertained beyond 

 dispute. These points seem trivial and super- 

 fluous. The moment, however, the buyer consults 

 his attorney, he will cross-examine him on every 

 item, and then their practical importance in re- 

 ference to the warranty is ascertained, though, 

 generally, too late ! It is desirable, before money 

 is paid, to put some general questions as to the 

 history of the horse — not so much to ascertain that 

 he is not stolen property, though even that suspi- 

 cion is not always to be laid aside, but to secure 

 the means of tracing any disease that may show 

 itself in the buyer's stables. It is a strange fact, 

 but not less true than strange, if dealers are to be 

 credited, that no horse is ever ill before he is 

 transferred by sale ! The, first appearance of every 

 disorder with which veterinarians are familiar, is the 

 second or third day after the animal is comfortably 



