68 THE STUD. 



doubtless, my informants are right. It is, how- 

 ever, no detriment to the horse, or need it be con- 

 sidered as calling for any diminution as to price ; 

 and, most certainly, they are not to be set down 

 on the list with the rejected ones. 



DEFECTIVE SIGHT. 



This failing is one much more likely to be 

 attended with both loss and personal danger to 

 the purchaser than defective wind. My reason 

 for savinof this is, that defective sio^ht in the horse, 

 unless it arises from particular and recent causes, 

 generally gets worse, and eventually ends in total 

 blindness. This, of course, would produce loss ; 

 but worse than this, during its progressive state 

 defective vision causes alarm and starting, often 

 to a very dangerous degree ; in fact, supposing 

 the visionary organs to be seriously affected, the 

 animal getting perfectly blind, renders him by far 

 the safer and more desirable servant ; for seeing 

 enough not to run against a house Is a very minor 

 advantaiTe : while seeing; enonorh to be alarmed at 

 most objects that present themselves is a most 

 serious drawback. I would, therefore, recommend 

 every horse being rejected whose eyes are in a 

 fluctuating state, unless a professional man could 

 decide upon its being of a transitory nature. A 

 good blind horse is, for many purposes, a most 



