ffotv to Purchase a Horse. 49 



sible to steady him at his fences, or in any way interfere 

 with his mouth, without his at once throwing up his head ; 

 consequently he cannot see where he is going, and serious 

 falls are the result. With twisted fore-legs, the horse is 

 liable to hit and cut himself under the knee and on the 

 fetlock joint, resulting in lameness and swelling, even if 

 he do not fall. 



The Carriage Horse. 



These horses are bred principally in Yorkshire and the 

 North of England ; are bought there by the principal 

 dealers and jobmasters at three and four years old, and 

 are broken * driven, and matched by them for some time 

 before they are fit for the carriages of the nobility and 

 gentry. Carriage horses are always either bay or brown ; 

 those without white are preferred. They must be fully 

 1 6 hands high, with rather long rainbow neck, strong but 

 oblique shoulders, deep round body, with long muscular 

 quarters, carrying a good tail, clean flat legs, and good 

 firm feet. Being kept more for show than work, grand 

 stylish appearance and action are indispensable ; and from 

 being generally loaded with flesh, unless the feet and legs 

 are good, they will soon wear out. A pair of well-matched 

 carriage horses, with style and grand action, will fetch a 

 long price, as much as';6oo or ^700 being sometimes 

 given. 



This is easily accounted for if we bear in mind the great 

 expense, trouble, time, and risk that are involved in pur- 

 chasing, breaking, and perfecting a pair of horses of the 

 size and style required. In fact, so great is the risk and so 

 many the disappointments, that many do not buy horses 

 for their carriage, but prefer hiring them of a respectable 

 jobmaster. But in this, as in all other sorts and descrip- 

 tions of horses, there are various classes, and the purchaser 

 can suit himself, from the pair of good useful average 

 horses, at about ^270, up to almost any price for first-rate 

 style and action. 



The great defects to which carriage horses are liable, 

 from their size and general formation, are defect of the 

 wind, either roaring or whistling, horses with long rainbow 



4 



