Horse Buying and Horse Trying 1 07 



Any one can buy a horse, but it is a special gift 

 to be able, as a general thing, to select a good one. 

 Nor does the mere knowledge of soundness, and of 

 the appropriate relation of parts, and of harmony of 

 proportions afford anything more than a more or less 

 vague indication. Veterinarians are everywhere 

 nowadays, and the question of physical condition 

 may be left to them : it should be enough for the 

 buyer that the animal does not go lame, is sound 

 in wind and eyes, and has no vices in or out of 

 the stable; and what is. after all. more cloying than 

 perfection? or more dif^cult " to live up to "? 



These characteristics are but the framework, the 

 shell which contains the meat ; and it is for you to 

 try your luck at the guesswork of whether the 

 creature is suited to your purposes, whether his 

 individuality is such as you fancy. The domestic 

 and the stable arrangements are two details whicli 

 every man must arrange for himself. While it is 

 impossible so to particularise that you shall recognise 

 a good, lively, well-dis])osed, healthy, and honest 

 horse whenever anrl wherever vou mav encounter 



