POINTS. ■ias 



possessed by those writers who speak of James the First as having 

 greatly improved the native breed of horses, and quote the benefit* 

 conferred upon the national race by the more temperate but equally 

 determined enthusiasm of Cromwell, operating in the same direction. 



At this place, the reader must have patience while the method of 

 judging the limbs is pointed out. When the dealer exhibits an animal, 

 the customer's eye always should endeavor to ascertain the bulk or sub- 

 stance of the creature which he is expected to purchase. To do this, 

 let the eye be directed toward the chest, to ascertain if the forelegs are 

 separated by any breadth of thorax, or whether they spring from the 

 body almost from the same point. This decided, a glance may be given 

 to the line of the forelegs; these parts also can be viewed as the 

 gentleman passes backward. Having reached the last situation, he ob- 

 serves if the thighs are large and fleshy, keeping the legs well asunder; 

 also, whether the hocks are rightly placed, are huge, and are cleanly 

 shaped. 



Such remarks are important, since the disposition to cut is generally 

 decided by the width of the horse's trunk. Any deficiency in this re- 

 spect indicates weakness, as well as declares a general unfitness for 

 severe labor. This circumstance being observed, it is usual for the horse 

 to be run up and down the ride. While the limbs are in motion, the 

 spectator should notice the peculiarities of their carriage. A flexion of 

 the front shin to the* outer side warrants a belief in the existence of a 

 splint. When the hind limb is not properly flexed, but the toe is allowed 

 to graze the ground, it is a positive proof that the hock is disabled by 

 the presence of a spavin. 



A worse evil, however, is, when the forelegs, during progression, 

 crossing each other, the trot becomes a sort of "hand-over-hand" pace. 

 This kind of action is accompanied by "speedy cut," or by a wound 

 made upon one leg, immediately below the knee, with the shoe on the 

 opposite foot. That defect justifies an instant rejection; for such a 

 liability is incompatible with safety, as the blow too often brings the 

 animal and its rider to the earth. The legs being close is the cause of 

 "brushing" or of "cutting," — a most troublesome defect, which inflicts 

 a wound considerably nearer to the ground than speedy cut. 



Before purchase, the hair on the inner side of the legs should be 

 carefully examined. If a cicatrix or a bare spot is discovered near to 

 the seat of cutting; if any paint or coloring matter can be detected upon 

 the part ; or if the hair does not lie perfectly smooth upon the place of 

 injury, — have nothing to do with the animal. It is quite true that most 

 fresh and nearly all young horses will cut — others strike only toward the 

 end of a long journey ; but it is also true that particular horses, how- 



