152 CONFESSIONS OF A HOUSE DEALER. 



is refused, and again thrown on the dealer's hands, who 

 may, if he thinks proper, send him back to the breeder. 



Horses are, more than human beings, continually sub- 

 jected to accidents and disease, chiefly owing to the ig- 

 norance or carelessness of man, and more especially on 

 changing owners and stables ; and therefore I think it 

 preposterous to hold the dealer responsible (for months, 

 in some cases) for all the little ills which may arise 

 solely in consequence of the change in the horse's treat- 

 ment ; for, with all deference to horse purchasers who 

 stipulate for a warranty, I think if they are so lament- 

 ably ignorant of a horse's soundness or unsoundness, they 

 are probably deficient in their knowledge of his stable 

 treatment, which of iiself will speedily create a cause 

 for a veterinary surgeon to say that it amounts to a breach 

 of warranty. There are numerous other causes for 

 horses being returned to dealers, which I have previously 

 explained ; but I may s&y that the "Law of Warranty" 

 is the principal stumbling block to the breeding of 

 good horses. 



I know many English farmers and breeders who 

 formerly entered largely into the breeding of hunters 

 and the better kind of saddle-horses, now prefer pro- 

 ducing light cart-horses, for which the introduction of 

 spring waggons in London and elsewhere is creating an 

 extraordinary demand. These, at three and four years 

 old, readily sell for 40 to 60, and the purchasers are 

 not half so difficult to please as the buyers of hunters 

 and saddle-horses. Considering the present insufficient 

 supply of horses fit to carry our soldiers and even the 



