FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



must a horse that cost $250 stand five years' hard 

 usage and then bring $300, or the man that you 

 bought him of be held up as a rogue forever more ? 

 When you do get ready to sell him, never under- 

 take to give warranty, which perhaps you do with 

 the best intentions, and then take refuge behind 

 your ignorance, which then (and only then) you 

 are willing to frankly acknowledge. If you could 

 see the debit accounts on the books of every 

 dealer in the business chargeable to the screws he 

 has bought or "traded for" (unseen) from his 

 customers, whose representations (generally most 

 flowery) are rarely anywhere near accurate ! 



The horse to buy is the animal that fills the 

 eye ; in other words, if you like a horse and his 

 qualities seem satisfactory, buy him, and results 

 will almost certainly prove likewise. We have 

 several good show ring judges who select their 

 winners practically on these lines, and to general 

 satisfaction. Distrust the sunken eye, and the 

 head narrow and prominent between the eyes 

 that horse may not be vicious, but he is peculiar 

 and probably crochetty perhaps "a good 'un 

 w'en yer knows 'im, but yer got ter know 'im 

 fust." Lop ears are a disfigurement; jaws that 

 seem narrow, and necks that are thick are a likely 



8 



