YEARLING SALES 29 



" Trainers." By reason of an evil practice much 

 followed by breeders for sale, the yearlings are 

 frequently so overloaded with fat that it requires a 

 particularly experienced eye to detect their real make 

 and shape, and only the expert can tell whether they 

 are likely to grow out of suggested defects, and 

 progress in the right way. A few leading points, 

 however, will be evident. One looks to see that 

 their feet are well shaped and that they stand truly, 

 not turning their toes in or out, nor showing other mal- 

 formation. Evidence of good bone is sought, and the 

 slope of the shoulders is specially noted. It is a great 

 source of probable trouble if a horse is too upright in 

 front. Many good judges are particularly careful to 

 examine the eye, which is believed to indicate much, 

 though others scornfully observe that " horses do not 

 gallop with their heads," and disregard this. The 

 way in which the head is put on, and certain formations 

 of throat and jowl are very generally supposed to 

 indicate danger of " roaring," however, and animals so 

 made are to be carefully avoided ; though their 

 breeders, who are usually at hand in person, or are 

 else well represented, are slow to admit the evidence 

 of such failings, and probably ready to name and 

 describe other animals of precisely similar structure, 

 and very likely nearly related to these young ones, 

 who are said emphatically to have upset all such 

 theories and done great things when in training. One 

 is careful to note whether the yearling is well ribbed 



