148 



( 



Selection. — In selecting a horse for general family pur- 

 poses the size will depend much upon the size of the fam- 

 ily, whether he is to be used only for pleasure driving oa 

 the road, or is expected to haul heavy loads and assist in 

 the cultivation of the land. Whichever it may be, remem- 

 ber that it is much easier to do light work with a heavy 

 horse than heavy work with a light horse. 



The ordinary well built horse of fifteen hands in height^ 

 will weigh in fair condition about one thousand pounds. 

 We would select one over, rather than under this size, of 

 some good solid color, broad between the eyes, from which 

 he gives you a good honest look, and keeps his ears erect, 

 good-sized nostrils, well-developed neck and shoulders, arm 

 and hock, short back, short and flat leg bones, and last, 

 but most important of all, sound feet, entire in his anatomy 

 as the Creator formed him, without any wicked or sinful 

 abbreviations of man. However perfect the animal may be 

 in all other respects, if his feet be poor, he will only be a 

 source of anxiety and disappointment to you and of pain 

 and misery to himself. The horse which will best and 

 fullest answer these requirements will most often be found 

 In some strains of the Morgan blood, honest, gentle, tracta- 

 ble, strong and patient, with sufficient speed for practical 

 business purposes or pleasure driving. 



Gialt. — One of the most satisfactory gaits will be a 

 good brisk walk, which will roll you along some four to 

 live miles an hour. 



If he will take you seven or eight miles an hour, with a 

 three to four hundred pound carriage and two peisons of 

 ordinary size, you will have the satisfaction of throwing 

 dust in the eyes of lots of slow joggers. 



When you buy a horse for your own use and to keep 

 for years, but/ a good one. In a poor, cheap horse, there is 

 neither comfort, consolation, pride or peace for the house- 

 hold. 



We deem it no sin for any man, whatever his calling, to 

 own and drive a good, sound, spirited horse. But to force 



