76 THE HORSE 



trial, payment of a definite sum for hire to be 

 made if it was not ultimately purchased. Driving 

 revealed the fact that the pony had a tendency to 

 " drop " one hind leg occasionally in the course of 

 a drive. ISTot only this, but it rested the leg much 

 in the stable, and, furthermore, evinced a tendency 

 to shivering in that thigh. Eventually it was 

 found possible to cause slight pain by pressure on 

 a certain part of the thigh, and the ultimate con- 

 clusion come to was that the pony was suffering 

 from some disorder which affected the sciatic 

 nerve. A sudden twinge of pain, which it ap- 

 parently felt occasionally, no doubt caused the 

 sudden drop of the leg, which was dangerous, as 

 it always occurred going down-hill. 



The above incident is submitted, partly to show 

 how difficult it may be to detect certain classes of 

 disease, and also to emphasize the great benefit 

 of always having a horse in one's own stable for 

 at least a day or two before buying it. If a seller 

 strongly objects to allow a trial to a responsible 

 person, his prejudices may be overcome by the 

 offer of the papnent of a reasonable sum, per 

 week, if no sale takes place. If he refuses any 

 such arrangement, the buyer has probably not lost 

 an animal which it was worth his while to buy. 



