PURCHASE AND PRELIMINARIES 



men," who are in a state of transition between 

 steering a baby-carriage and a horse, and who, if 

 they find actual experience satisfactory and econo- 

 mical, may develop later into leviathan purchasers, 

 and can then gratify unhindered personal whims 

 and the caprice of family or friends. 



A horse of five or six or seven years is not as 

 generally sought and as urgently demanded as 

 was the case some years ago. This is for practi- 

 cal reasons. The animal of eight to twelve is in 

 his prime ; he has passed, more or less success- 

 fully, through the trials and the accidents of youth, 

 and, as he is now, so will he probably remain, 

 for as many years as any horse ought. Practical 

 soundness in a horse of this age means a lot, and 

 it is for that reason, among others, that he is so 

 much more desirable than a younger beast to 

 whose condition it may not continue, for long, to 

 apply. Invariably, however, go to one expense 

 with such a horse, and never omit it ; get a first- 

 class horse dentist, and be sure that his teeth are, 

 or are placed, in thorough order the outlay will 

 repay you a hundredfold. 



Having looked him over, liked him, " vet " ed 

 him, etc., we will proceed to try him. Right 

 here, and generally through a most natural and 



