CHAPTER I. 



SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE BEST WAY OF BUYING A HORSE. 



ADVICE OF A JUDICIOUS FRIEND INDISPENSABLE. NEVER 



BUY FOR YOURSELF. HOW TO CHOOSE AN ADVISER. — 



WHAT KIND OF HORSE TO CHOOSE. DIFFERENT SORTS 



OF DEALERS, BREEDERS, ETC. 



Looking at horses in a general way, so far as 

 they are kept by gentlemen, we must chiefly 

 regard them as objects of show and amusement ; 

 for though utility may also be added, this is but 

 a secondary consideration with such persons in 

 their inducements to keep them. Whether, how- 

 ever, we consider them as objects of luxury or 

 utility, or as both, the keeping them in the 

 best health and condition becomes an object of 

 material moment — as regarding kindness to the 

 animal, vanity as to his general appearance as 

 belonging to ourselves, and also as a matter of 

 pecuniary consideration; for I do not know any 

 saleable article whose price is more enhanced 

 or deteriorated by its appearance than the horse ! 

 and that appearance, barring accident or illness, 

 depends wholly on the mode in which he is 

 treated; and, in fact, both accident and illness 

 greatly depend on his treatment also. If it was 



