34 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



horses, comparatively speaking, are either " whistlers " or 

 " roarers." 



Occasionally a " rig " has been found in a fair ; he is 

 generally full of flesh, with a thick neck; notice particularly if 

 he is quiet when passing other horses. Should there be any 

 doubt, have each hind leg pulled forward, which will expose 

 the scrotum to view on each side ; if there is only one scar there, 

 it will show that the horse has not been properly castrated ; if 

 there are two, and the horse appears quiet, it may be due to his 

 being recently castrated. However, a thick gross neck is often 

 seen in foreign horses, but in this case the neck is generally 

 short, the shoulder upright, and the head badly put on. 

 Foreign horses are more plentiful at fairs than formerly. 



The fairs named for buying hunters are also good fairs for 

 hacks and harness horses. In addition there are the following : 



Banbury, Oxfordshire, on the three days preceding the first 

 Thursday after the 18th January; on the first day there is a 

 horse show held and prizes given in different classes; a few 

 hunters are shown here, but they are not of a very good class. 



Beverley, Yorks, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, before 

 the 23rd of February. 



Kendal, Westmoreland, 22nd February. 



Downham, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd March. 



Durham, last Friday in March and two preceding days. 



Apperley, Westmoreland, 2nd Wednesday in June and two 

 preceding days. 



Topcliffe, Yorks, July 17th and 18th. 



Ripley, Yorks, 26th August. 



Barnet, Middlesex, 4th, 5th, and 6th September. 



Peterboro', 6th October. 



WeyhiU, Hampshire, 10th October. 



Newcastle-on-Tyne, last Wednesday in October. 



Van, bus, and cart horses are bought in the same way as 

 the former class, but the trade is more developed. There are 



