CHAPTER XYII. 



TRICKS OF HORSE DEALERS. 



According to my promise in a previous page, I 

 will proceed to give a few hints about buying 

 horses, and will endeavour to expose some of the 

 tricks that are resorted to by unprincipled horse- 

 copers and dealers. Little do novices in horse- 

 flesh know or think how many tricks are resorted 

 to by dishonest dealers to conceal the defects of a 

 horse and take in the uninitiated. To exhibit 

 a few of these will be the aim of this paper, and 

 if it is not pleasant to those who make a living 

 by the practice of unfair means to deceive the 

 unwise, I offer no apology to them ; for if the cap 

 fits, they may wear it. The first thing for a man 

 about to purchase a horse is to attend to its form, 

 which differs materially in various breeds, and its 

 good points will depend upon their adaptation to 

 the particular kinds of work. The head in all the 

 breeds should be fine, broad between the eyes, 

 and tapering towards the nose. The jaws should' 

 be clean, and not possessing too much flesh, the 

 eyes full and sparkling, clear and lively, the 

 nostrils rather large and open, and of a clear red 

 colour, the space underneath the jaws should be 

 roomy and free from any glandular swelling or 

 lumps, the ears should be well set into the head 



