THE HORSE 



CHAPTER I 



The Selection of a Horse 



To most people the purchase of a horse is a 

 serious and important undertaking. Any nian 

 who is interested in horses is averse to acknowl- 

 edging that he knows nothing about them, and in 

 this respect more than any other he has a great 

 predilection for doing his own business, however 

 incompetent he may be to do it. It is extraordi- 

 nary how few people are really good judges of 

 this animal, and how little practical knowledge 

 men may possess in spite of much experience 

 among different varieties of horses. To become a 

 good judge a knovvdedge of anatomy is essential ; 

 but as a dissertation on anatomy is hardly within 

 the scope of this handbook, we must confine our- 

 selves to gi^^ng a brief description of the most de- 

 sirable points of conformation for the various 



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