Horse Buying and Horse Trying 121 



Go shopping for your horses then as you do for 

 your cravats. Go to any dealer, and, pocketing 

 your pride, confess your ignorance of all matters 

 equine — no secret, by the way, because he knew 

 it the moment you spoke to him. Tell him frankly 

 what you want, what you will pay, and what trial 

 you require. Place him on his honour, and be 

 sure that he will do his best to suit you if he has 

 the sort of animal you describe ; if not, that he will 

 frankly say so, and recommend you to some other 

 who has. Do not imagine that he is conducting a 

 gift enterprise, and will, because of your winning 

 manners or genial smile, allow you to carry away 

 a five-hundred-dollar horse for two hundred and fifty 

 dollars ; for he will do nothing of the sort, not 

 improbably having a family of little Dealers for 

 whom to provide board and lodging. He will give 

 you a fair horse for a fair price ; an excellent animal 

 for a big figure ; a " screw " for a little money — 

 and that is all you have any reason to expect from 

 him. Do not try to impress him with the various 

 phrases you may have laboriously committed to 



