BUYING 3 



Most of us who have been in the horse-show game 

 for any length of time have seen countless champions, 

 who, after changing hands and being poorly trained 

 and badly ridden, deteriorate so rapidly that in an 

 unbelievably short time they are no longer able to 

 win even in a local show. 



Champions that can be bought at the ringside are, 

 in most cases — unless they belong to a dealer or some 

 one who is short of this world's goods — already in their 

 zenith, and their owners, being suspicious that their 

 palmiest days are over, are clever enough, or mer- 

 cenary enough, to sell at the moment at which the 

 market is highest. In such cases the deterioration of 

 the ex-champion in the hands of the unlucky pur- 

 chaser is still more rapid. 



In any case, even when successful, there is very 

 little real pleasure, and even less sport, to be found in 

 showing horses that have been "brought out" and 

 have made their initial success under others. At best, 

 the public are looking for flaws in your way of train- 

 ing and riding, and if the horse loses it is all your fault, 

 while if he wins the credit goes to his former owner or 

 trainer. 



There is, of course, no objection to buying an occa- 

 sional blue-ribbon winner if you particularly fancy 

 him and can afford the price, but in the long run the 

 real sport and fun of the thing comes in " bringing 

 out" a young one, or a green one, and having the 

 credit for his first victories. 



Buying horses either through means of one's grooms 

 or by searching the ringside for champions are temp- 

 tations and failings that fortunately can only be in- 

 dulged in by the very wealthy. Those who have to 

 count their pennies and still find the "feed" bill very 



