HOW TO BUY AND SELL. 119 



However, when they are accounted unsightly, they are 

 considered to be BLEMISHES. 



With a saddle-horse such a blemish, occurring on the 

 shoulders, is decidedly unsightly, while, in a harness- 

 horse otherwise suitable for the purpose, it would be 

 ridiculous to object to that which is covered by the col- 

 lar. The same reasoning applies to the marks beneath 

 the roller or saddle, as well as to all such as are covered 

 by the horse's trapping when at work. 



BLEMISHES. 



All scars left from wounds or sores, as well as all un- 

 sightly enlargements, whether such be the effects of 

 blows, work, or sprains, are blemishes. 



Some blemishes do and some do not impair the horse's 

 value: thus, while collar-marks are considered a disgrace 

 to a saddle-horse, and lessen his value, in a very 

 superior harness-horse they would be altogether over- 

 looked. 



Broken knees lessen the market price of all horses. So, 

 also, does the loss of one or both eyes. 



Marks on the fetlock show that the horse has, at some 

 time or other, cut, and therefore require to be noticed 

 with a view to seeing what probability there is that he 

 will do so again. But if such marks are not the result of 

 any peculiarity in his make, they may be, perchance, of 

 no consequence, as it is possible they may have been pro- 

 duced in- him when, as a colt, he was being broken, or 

 when subsequently, he was laboring under severe ill- 

 ness, fatigue, or want of condition. 



The observations here made are intended merely to as- 

 sist in deciding the relative bearing and importance of 

 blemishes in general, each particular one being treated of 

 in its proper place in this work. 



