CARRIAGE HORSES. 21 



down the steepest hill that the road may cross, which 

 is most convenient: if they have any tricks, or are not 

 true draft horses, it can be readily discovered: next, 

 for the purpose of discovering if they have ever been 

 alarmed in harness, frequently open and shut the car- 

 riage door, also move and rattle the steps ; if they have 

 ever been frightened in harness you will very soon be 

 compelled to desist ; then by coming to their front, and 

 with attention observing their ears and eyes, you will 

 be informed to your entire satisfaction, if they are safe. 

 Horses that have been once alarmed in harness, so 

 soon as they hear any rattling noise behind them, 

 begin to grow restless, sinking or squatting behind, 

 holding the head high, snorting, fetching long breaths, 

 moving the ears with great quickness, at the same 

 time showing the whites of their eyes. Let me warn 

 the reader against the purchase of such horses ; they 

 are unfit and unsafe for the use of a family. Horses 

 for harness, that are fiery and fretful, are very objec- 

 tionable, and should always be avoided; but great care 

 should be taken to distinguish between animals of this 

 description, and those that are eager and spirited; the 

 former begin to prance and fret the moment they are 

 out of the stable, until they exhaust themselves with 

 fatigue ; but the latter endeavour only to be first in the 

 chase, or foremost in the field, and are truly valuable ; 

 possessing those qualities that resemble prudence and 

 courage; the others, intemperate heat and rashness. 

 Whenever carriage horses are driven, they should 

 be moved off fifteen or twenty steps in a slow walk, 

 without the cracking or flourishing of a whip, which 

 is so much the custom, and which is very frequently 

 the cause of high tempered horses refusing to draw ; 

 after which their speed may be quickened to whatever 

 gait you may prefer, by the use of some kind word, 

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