CONDITION. 199 



the same time, persuaded to give more than they 

 are worth. A clever one with a fault, or faults, 

 like a clever servant, will always find a master ; 

 an unmeaning looking horse is only marketable 

 among those who give very unmeaning prices. 



Most unreservedly, therefore, I recommend a 

 purchaser not to be taken by the general appear- 

 ance of a mere pretty horse ; for many are such, 

 and, at the same time, calculated for no one useful 

 purpose. He may be certain such are by no 

 means a safe investment of money ; but a good 

 sort bought at a proper price are a valuable 

 acquisition to the owner while in his possession, 

 and also a valuable and marketable commodity if 

 offered for sale. 



CONDITION. 



In selecting a horse, his being in condition or 

 not at the time involves several serious consider- 

 ations; for, setting aside fluctuations as to a 

 horse being lame or ill, or sound and well, no 

 circumstance in ordinary occurrence raises or 

 lowers the temporary value of a horse so mucli 

 as condition : the want of it reduces beauty to 

 plainness ; while high condition, or, in this in- 

 stance, I should rather say flesh, hides numberless 

 faults of form, and gives freshness of appearance 



o 4 



