254 THE IIOKSE-KEEI'EK S GUIDE. 



The browns not being so fashionable a colour, have n'^t 

 had so much attention paid to them, and are comparatively 

 coarse ; but those that are well bred, are usually good. 

 There is not usually so much show as in the bays ; but 

 they are stronger and more useful horses. In the dark 

 brown, when the muzzle is of a tan colour, it is usually 

 considered a mark of goodness. 



The black horse presents every variety of charactei, 

 from the most furious to the most sluggish, aiKl are said to 

 be more subject to vice, disease, and blindnes? than any 

 other colour. A star in a black horse is considered a 

 beauty, and black horses with brown muzzles and flanks, 

 are usually considered good. 



CHAPTER III. 



EXAMINATION OF HORSES FOR rURCHASE. 



Having found ahorse whose exterior conformation, size, 

 and appparent strength, seem suitable to your purpose, we 

 will now proceed to give such information as will enable 

 theJbuyer, by careful examination, to recognize those de- 

 fects, blemishes, symptoms, and appeai-ances, which latent 

 disease and injuries assume, and thus prepai'e him to de- 

 tect the multitudinous impositions which have been resorted 

 to by the lower class of dealers, to disguise indications of 

 unsoundness. 



Unless proper precaution is used in the examination of 

 horses for purchase, the law will not protect a man for the 

 consequences of his own neglect ; and it has been held 

 that a warrantry against apparent defects is bad in law, 

 the purchaser being expected not only to possess ordinary 

 skill, but to exhibit ordinary caution. 



A defective horse is dear at any price, whilst the value 

 of a good one, is, as compared with a bad one, as infinity 

 to nothing. In choosing a horse, let the buyer be ever so 

 good a judge, and his inspection ever so minute, he must 

 take some things on trust. A perfect knowledge can only 

 be obtained on trial, which should always be taken, if pos- 

 sible, but which is not always to be had. For instance, 

 some horses, when turned of six or seven years oIJ, are 



