THE HORSE. 135 



joined with an imaginary interest in this custom, 

 that it is no uncommon spectacle to see even sound 

 horses, full of high keep, and already in the highest 

 degree animated, exposed to this favourite discipline, 

 as though it were desirable and advantageous to 

 exhibit the animals stark, staring mad. No intelli- 

 gent reader will mistake me. I am not declaiming 

 against real use but its needless abuse. I have 

 bought and sold too many horses not to be well con- 

 vinced that they must necessarily be exhibited on 

 sale to the best advantage, and that this must be 

 effected by the aid of the whip, the flourish and very 

 moderate use of which will not only suffice, but even 

 in a superior degree to the usual tortures inflicted, 

 which at last deceive no one but those who inflict 

 them. This being no practicable object for legisla- 

 tive interference, is the proper theme of the moralist, 

 and is submitted to the j ustice and compassion of all 

 true lovers of the horse. 



To return, the nag being led out will, first of all, 

 most probably be placed upon a rising ground, for 

 the purpose of showing his fore quarters to advan- 

 tage, which also affords the buyer an opportunity of 

 another examination in a good light. This also is 

 the place, particularly if the sun shine, for judging of 

 the eyes, the orbits of which should be of good size, 

 the balls full, and the coats transparent, free from all 

 specks or opaque clouds, which are generally the 

 forerunners of blindness. The horse is next trotted 

 in hand, or ridden, during which, the first look out 

 should be, whether he bend his knees sufficiently, 

 and goes clear of both hinder and fore legs ; whe- 



