BUYING A SADDLE-HORSE. 143 



up mentally into sections, and examine these in detail 

 one after the other. Taking first the head, which should 

 be bony, not fleshy, remember that the more brain the 

 more " horse sense." Next look at the neck, which 

 should be neither too thick nor too long, but connecting 

 head and shoulders by a graceful sweep. Then the fore- 

 quarters, observing that the shoulder-blade and true arm 

 are both long, well supplied though not loaded with 

 muscle, and join each other at the point of the shoul- 

 der at a rather sharp angle. Then the " middle-piece," 

 which should be rounded in the barrel, arched slightly 

 in the loin, "short above and long below, v and well 

 ribbed up towards the hip. Next the hind-quarters, then 

 the legs, knees, hocks, and feet, observing that the knees 

 are firm, the cannon - bones and pastern are flat and 

 strong, and that the back sinew is strong and stands free 

 from the bone. 



Now have the horse set in motion, and observe him 

 first from one side, then from the other, and then from 

 behind, noting the carriage and movements of the differ- 

 ent parts in the order above given. This examination 

 is practically the more important of the two. 



Let no one suppose that mere verbal instruction, how- 

 ever judicious and elaborate, will, without practice, make 

 a good judge of horse-flesh any more than it will of Brus- 

 sels point-lace. All it is here intended to do is to aid 

 in training the eye, which must be constantly exercised 

 upon whatever specimens may come before it, compar- 



