BOOK IV. 



SEVERAL POINTS OF INFORMATION PROPER TO BE 

 LEARNT. 



CHAPTER I. 



Precautions necessary to be observed on buying 

 a horse. 



Much as hath been said of the make, shape, and 

 proportion of the various breeds of horses in (chap. i. 

 book i.), some few precautionary hints, still more 

 familiar, seem desirable in this place, if they be not 

 specially called for, as necessary to the right appli- 

 cation of the principles therein laid down. Of the 

 several points of inquiry to which purchasers apply 

 themselves, the age of the animal is ever considered 

 the most deserving of attention ; the state of its 

 legs, bodily health, and eye-sight, coming next in 

 order, if general appearance , built or structure, does 

 not precede every other. On each of those heads 

 we now offer a few words of advice, most of which 

 are tolerably well recognized, though seldom put 

 in print, as most of those who deal in horse-flesh 

 acquire their knowledge from experience rather than 

 books, and do business by a kind of rule of thumb. 

 Before all things, the new horse-dealer should guard 



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