50 



THE HORSE 



the time the animal reaches 7 years, the proprietor will 

 have had 3 years' work out of it, and an animal of in- 

 creased value for sale. This is a very economical method 

 of purchasing horses for farm work, provided that the 

 farmer is a good horse master, and dehvers his instruc- 

 tions to his dependents accordingly. 



At 6 years a horse is fully matured, and its bones, 

 Ugaments, and tendons capable of standing a maximum 

 degree of strain with a minimum of liabiUty to injury. It 

 is perfectly ruinous to work a horse in town at 4 or 5 

 years, as the constant concussion on the hard roads 

 leads to the joints, tendons, etc., becoming prematurely 

 and permanently damaged. The height should range 

 from 16J to 17J hands. 



Sellers of young horses (3, 4, and 5 years) quite com- 

 monly offer these as being (4 and 5 in particular) 6 years 

 old, therefore care should be exercised (see chapter on 

 age) when buying. 



In one way it is better to buy a horse a little older, or 

 seasoned animal, than purchase one too young for 

 immediate work in town. Geldings are usually a little 

 higher in price than mares or fillies, there being more 

 demand for them, nevertheless the writer would not allow 

 sex to stand in the way, provided the animal is suitable 

 in other respects. Temperament is a most important 

 matter, and certainly should receive every consideration. 

 A vicious horse is always a source of danger, the latter 

 being proportionate to the degree and form of vice. 

 Some horses are vicious in the stable only, others both 

 in and out of the stable or in the harness. 



A common vice is kicking and biting other horses, 

 especially during feeding time. Kicking and biting are 

 most dangerous, and usually finish in some kind of 

 trouble for the owner. Muzzhng is the only preventive 

 of the latter, and this is a nuisance, and often incon- 

 venient to both horse and proprietor. 



Stamping the feet, rubbing the legs, and kicking the 



