EyAJIINATION FOR PURCHASE. 261 



evident, by the up and down motion of the head, and th« 

 different des^ree of force with which he puts his feel to the 

 gi'ound. Hor. es that are lame before, drop their heads 

 when stepnino; on the sound leg, and raise it when the 

 wei,"^ht is thrown on the lame leg ; but when they are lame 

 behind, the action (though not so perceptible) is reversed; 

 they throw up their head a little when the sound leg comes 

 to the ground, and depress it when the lame leg propels 

 the body, and the motion of the lame leg is slow, while the 

 sound one is jerked quickly forward to sustain the weight. 



When both fore feet are equally tender (which is not un- 

 common in groggy horses,) it is more difficult to judge of 

 his action — it is not uneven, and the limp is not percepti- 

 ble, but he steps short and feelingly, with a general ap 

 pearance of contraction. Dishonest dealers, at fairs and 

 auctions, resort to a scheme by which groggy lameness in 

 one leo^ is disguised by making the motion even. It is 

 known in various parts by the slang terms of diamonding, 

 beaning, balancing, or wedging. 



It is performed by removing the shoe of the sound foot, 

 and paring out the sole, until it yields to the pressure of 

 the thumb. The shoe is then replaced, aiid a wedge of 

 wood, a pebble, or bean, is driven in between the sole and 

 shoe, until sufficient pain is produced to make the horse 

 equally lame on both legs. Although the lameness is less 

 evident, yet a person accustom-^d to the action of horses, 

 will easily detected it ; and if the animal is allowed to stand 

 undisturbed, it will be evident something is wrong by his 

 repeatedly shifting his legs. 



Another trick of these ruffians, resorted to to conceal 

 lameness, or to give an appeai'ance cf energy to the sluggard 

 or worn-out horse, is the torture of the lash, termed firing. 

 The poor animal, previously to bemg shewn, is so barba- 

 rously flagellated, that under the influence of terror of tbe 

 further application of the whip, his attention is withdrawn 

 from the disease, he feels not the lesser pain, but trots off 

 heedless of his lameness, or at least showir.g it much less. 

 Whenever there is much punishment, or the threat ( f it, 

 while shewincr a horse, be sure there is something to 

 conceal. 



In his trot, if the action is good, the foot is boldly deliv- 

 ered with what may be almost termed an allegro move- 

 ment. Its course is straight forward, and downwai'd, not 



