TRAINING, AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 69 



the difference in climate; but I think AiistraHan 

 horses have naturally better constitutions, having had 

 the great advantage of a purely unartificial rearing — 

 not having been boxed up, standing on their own 

 manure, week after week, and month after month, as 

 I have seen many a one in Great Britain — the smell 

 from the ammonia being so strong on one occasion, 

 that I would almost defy any man to remain a 

 quarter of an hour in the stable with the door shut. 

 It was stifling to me with the door open, yet the 

 owner scarcely noticed it. How can you expect 

 healthy horses reared under such circumstances? The 

 feet and lungs must soon become affected, and 

 examination as to their soundness, by the non-existence 

 of unsoujidfiess^ becomes a very different task, even to 

 the most accomplished of vets. But I will endeavour 

 to give a few hints upon this most important subject 

 in connection with horses, so as to assist those buyers 

 who are not vets., and who have to judge for themselves. 



To be able to know an unsound horse, one must 

 perfect one's eye and knozvledge of the natural con- 

 formation of a sound one, and this can only be gained 

 by careful and practical examination of sound horses, 

 and by making oneself familiar with the sound and 

 perfect appearance of each part. 



Early morning is the best time to examine a horse, 

 you will then see him in the stable. Look in the 

 manger at once to notice signs of "quidding" — viz., 



