BUYING 7 



If you are not quite sure the animal suits, try some- 

 thing else ; don't be persuaded to buy the horse at once 

 out of fear of that mythical " other party," who is 

 supposed to be waiting just around the corner ready 

 to snatch him up if you reject him. Horses, unless 

 they are very exceptional ones and times are very 

 good, don't usually sell as quickly as hot cakes. 



Undoubtedly many people brought up on the prin- 

 ciple that a man will cheat his own brother in horse- 

 flesh, will think my suggestion to mix friendship and 

 horse-dealing a very foolish one, and will prophesy 

 that it is one likely to lead to trouble and a breaking 

 off of friendly relations. But a friendship so easily 

 broken off is not worth the having, for by "friend" I 

 do not mean mere acquaintance. 



If one is not fortunate enough to possess a real 

 friend who is also a horseman, then I think the next 

 best thing for the novice to do is to go to a first-class, 

 well-known and reputable dealer and frankly tell him 

 that you don't know much about a horse and are 

 relying on his judgment to find a good one, and nine 

 cases out of ten he will be more apt to get you a good 

 animal than if you go to him possessed with the illu- 

 sion that you are going to be able to hoodwink him 

 into thinking you are an expert judge. 



Owing to the natural uncertainties regarding the 

 exact quality of the article for sale, namely the horse, 

 the buying and selling is open to much cheating and 

 lying and distrust on both sides. Nevertheless there 

 are honest dealers who will treat you "white" if 

 placed upon their honor and trusted. They really try 

 to maintain a high standard of reputation, and do 

 their best to satisfy their customers, in many cases to 

 the extent of taking a horse back if he does not suit. 



