CHOICE OF THE HORSE. 



899 



SUMMARY. 



The purchaser should examine the horse : 



In the Stable : 



On the Show-Ground 



In Action : 



r 1st. In place i method of harnessing, general attitude, the 

 ears, grooming, ginger, turning, backing, docility. 



2d. In the door-way : eyes, nostrils, age, mouth, inter- 

 l maxillary space, pulse, poll. 



Inspect the horse: in profile, right and left ; obliquely, 

 forward and backward ; from in front and from behind. 

 His attitude and his equilibrium then should be examined : 



1st. The whole conformation : general harmony, height, 

 bulk, body and members, physiognomy, temperament, 

 race, and breeding. 



2d. Details : the animal must be viewed from all sides, 

 following the order given below. 



a. Members Examine them separately and from below 

 to above : foot, fetlock, canon, knee, and forearm ; hock, 

 leg, etc. 



View them together and horizontally : fore-foot and hind- 

 foot, knee and hock, forearm and leg, arm and thigh. 



b. Body. Upper zone: neck, withers, back, loins, croup. 

 Lower zone: breast, shoulder, chest, abdomen, flank. 



Explore the groin and the genital organs, pinch the loins, 

 raise the tail (anus and vulva), docility. 



c. Head. Expression, proportions ; examine again the 

 eye, nostrils, mouth, age, intermaxillary space; excite a 

 cough, inspect the jugular veins. 



View the horse in all possible aspects and take note of his 

 gaits, speed, nimbleness, elegance, endurance. Make him 

 stop, back, turn, etc. Respiration and flank (roaring and 

 heaves). Dressing, docility, etc. 



The trial will take place : 



1st. Led by the hand : walk and trot ; on hard road and 

 paved road. Lameness ; flank. 



2d. Mounted: saddle, bridle, girth, disposition, docility, 

 dressing, gaits, trot and gallop. Respiration, flank. 



3d. Harnessed : harness, bridle, docility, disposition, 

 dressing, force, speed, walk and trot, etc. 



Taking Notes. If only one horse is to be purchased, it is not 

 worth while, as a rule, to determine his relative value by concrete notes, 

 expressing the sum total of the aptitudes he has shown. But it is very 

 different when a considerable number of animals are to be bought or to 

 be compared. In such cases, the jotting down of notes is indispensable 

 not only to establish and facilitate their classification, but also to enable 

 the expert to furnish exact information concerning them. In this con- 

 nection every man is at liberty to take notes, that is to say, to group 

 as he chooses the different elements which he has observed, after his 



