THE HORSE. 157 



been rotten at the time of sale, proved after death by- 

 dissection, or have been incurably lame, and turned 

 off to grass, thence acquiring an apparent soundness, 

 which, nevertheless, will not endure any considerable 

 labour, or even, at any rare, continue beyond two or 

 three weeks. Such a fact proved in court, would 

 undoubtedly secure the plaintiff. As a defence 

 against possible foul play, horses may be sold on a 

 three days' warranty only. It is common enough for 

 an auctioneer to preface a sale in this way — " I am in- 

 structed by the proprietor, to say this horse is sound, 

 but to avoid trouble, he does not choose to warrant 

 him." The sellers of horses being notorious, as the 

 most honest and simple minded people in the world, 

 who could make any scruple on such a warranty ? I 

 have known the following manoeuvre pass success- 

 fully : A seller has said, " At twenty pounds, I will 

 warrant this horse sound ; but if you will take him 

 without warrant, you shall have him at fifteen." 



Blemishes may or may not occasion unsoundness. 

 I would not accept a horse with a false quarter in his 

 hoof, as a sound one. Broken knees, and loss of hair 

 in the cutting places, do not impede a sound warrant ; 

 nor do windgalls, or bog spavins, the horse retaining 

 sound action; these, however, may have been re- 

 pressed by bandages and astringents immediately 

 previous to the sale, and a temporary apparent sound- 

 ness procured ; but they may reappear in a few miles' 

 riding, and if of long standing, will soon produce un- 

 soundness. Bone spavins always occasion lameness, 

 temporary or permanent; but a horse may have a 

 splent or exostosis, an excrescence on the leg bone r 



