^^Q HORSE DEALERS. 



The honest dealer purchases the young animal when fresh from the 

 breaker's hands, before a day's work has been j^erformed, and has the 

 quadruped led or conveyed to London. If the journey is accomplished 

 by the road — the stages, of necessity, being shoi't — the expense and 

 hazard are, of course, equal to the time occupied on the way. The 

 railroad is a cheaper mode of transport ; but it is attended with a cer- 

 tain risk, which is peculiarly its own. Some young horses will perish 

 from the fright engendered by the journey; others are made seriously 

 ill by the novelty of the situation ; while many knock themselves about, 

 and arrive at the journey's termination seriously blemished. 



Several respectable dealers would prefer to have their stock rather 

 killed outright, than behold it seriously blemished. In one case, the loss 

 is by no means certain; in the other instance, the pecuniary sacrifice is 

 small, when compared with the annoyance and the trouble consequent 

 on the treatment of acute suffering. Besides, all dealers dislike to have 

 an ailing quadruped on their premises, which they are desirous should 

 be known only as the abode of happiness and of health. For such 

 reasons, not a few of the fraternity, when any animal may be diseased 

 or blemished, invariably dispose of it for whatever it will fetch, rather 

 than incur the chances of recovery, or open their gates for the admit- 

 tance of damaged stock. 



A business so conducted — requiring a considerable outlay, necessita- 

 ting heavy risks and attended with frequent losses — must be recommended 

 by certain profits. The costs of every dealer's establishment are very 

 serious. Animals — especially very young animals — make no immediate 

 return. The charge has not terminated when the colts are stabled in 

 the place of trade. The creatures are then raw and wild. They have 

 to be gradually brought into selling condition, and have to be fattened 

 till unfit for work. They also have to be groomed until their coats 

 shine "like satin." Such are the olDligations of the London market; 

 and though all animals in this state are dangerously near to disease, yet 

 whoever, inhabiting the metropolis, should attempt to dispose of horse 

 property in a more sound condition, will, in the certainty of loss, be 

 heavily rebuked for his temerity. 



Moreover, when fresh from the country, young stock have to be 

 accustomed to the bustle and noise inseparable from the streets of Lon- 

 don. They have to become familiar with the difference of handling, 

 voice, and manner, which distinguishes Yorkshire from Middlesex. The 

 dealer, therefore, has some further employment, after his purchases are 

 all safe in his stables. He has to rise early, before respectability is 

 awake to watch his doings, in order to break in his fresh acquisitions. 

 None but perfectly-trained horses are suffered to go out into the thronged 



