34 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



observing indications of wind-suckino^, crib-biting, chronic 

 cough, the state of the respiration, and for discovering vice. 



For this purpose, always have a horse shown quietly. 

 When there is much noise and bustle, there is generally 

 something wrong ; and when the animal is agitated, slight 

 lameness will escape the eye. In going to look out for a 

 horse in a dealer's stables, you will no doubt soon attract 

 the notice of an attendant, who will endeavour to put 

 the horses into a fidgety state by his presence, in all 

 probability with a whip in his hand. Object, in limine, to 

 this ; your object is to see the animal in a state of repose, 

 and as far from any exciting cause as possible. It may be 

 difficult to take a quiet survey, for the attendant is not 

 always obedient to you, but often will persevere in exciting 

 what you want to see in a quiescent state, and you are 

 driven to leave the stable in disgust. Old John Law^rence 

 has some sound cautions and remarks on this point, which 

 we cite. 



He says : " Suffer no person belonging to the seller to be 

 with you in the stall (unless you know and are well 

 satisfied with the dealer's character) during your inspection, 

 that the horse may not be rendered unquiet, either de- 

 signedly or at the mere presence of an habitual tormentor 

 A short time since I had occasion to examine a horse, for 

 a friend, at the stable of a considerable dealer ; it was a 

 very beautiful and well-shaped nag, but, as is commonly 

 the hard fate of such, he appeared to have done too much 

 work. The attendant, from a superabundant share of 

 regard to my safety, must needs hold the horse's head 

 whilst I examined his legs, still assuring me he was perfectly 

 quiet ; nevertheless, every time I attempted to feel below 

 his knees the horse started, and flew about the stall in a 

 strange manner, to the no small risk of my toes and shins. 

 Whilst I stood musing and wondering what beside the devil 

 could possibly ail the animal, I discovered a short whip 

 under the arm of the jockey, with which he had, no doubt, 

 tickled the neck and chest of the horse whenever I stooped 

 down with the intent of handlinor his lepfs. I wished this 

 adept good morning. 



A good quiet stable survey is a material prelude, the 

 horse being under none of that excitement which will 

 probably have place in him when abroad upon the show. 

 Unless, indeed, he should have been previously subject to 



