Puffing t J le Glims. 291 



has mucli the appearance of a four-year-old colt ; 

 and many persons not well up with the mouth of a 

 horse are imposed upon in this manner. This trick 

 is known in the trade as ^^yorking the horse." 

 In purchasing a horse the physical signs of age 

 must be also looked to, because a young horse 

 may have been too early put to hard work, and 

 to that extent that it is to all intents and pur- 

 poses an old horse in strength and action ; when 

 heated by being trotted or galloped, all his in- 

 firmities disappear, but these will re-appear when- 

 ever it is again cooled down. A horse with an 

 upright shoulder is more fitted for driving than 

 riding, a sloping shoulder is best adapted for 

 riding, for they have generally better action and 

 less of its own weight to sustain on its fore legs ; 

 a long-necked horse is generally admired for its 

 graceful form, but we consider this a fault, as 

 such are generally weak and are predisposed to 

 roaring. Short-necked horses are for the most part 

 clear-winded, but one of medium length should 

 be preferred. Horses whose limbs have been 

 fired should never be purchased only at a small 

 price, as it is a sure sign of disease, although 

 many horses work well after being cauterized ; 

 indeed scores of hunters and race horses have 

 been subjected to this operation. Thanks to the 

 French, the old system of firing will soon dis- 

 appear, as their patent firing apparatus can be 

 used without the aid of fire and irons, and Pro- 

 fessor Pritchard informs me that he has fired 

 upwards of 200 animals with it and has not had 

 one slough, which is a great recommendation for 



