Hints for Horse-buyers, 153 



out either riding it himself or having a written 

 warranty. He made his choice of the two 

 plans; and if it was refused, he never would 

 buy. If the horse was at a dealer's in Lon- 

 don, he commonly rode the horse in the Park, 

 the dealer's groom accompanying him, trotted 

 or galloped, and then took it back, saying 

 that he would call the next morning. He did 

 so, taking good care to make his call an early 

 one, before there was time for any exercising ; 

 and if the appearance of the horse was then 

 satisfactory, he closed the bargain- 

 On one occasion he was forced to make a 

 trial of a horse's soundness in a more disagree- 

 able manner. Owing to accidents with his 

 horses whilst hunting the Craven, he was 

 obliged to go to London to purchase a horse; 

 and having heard of a likely one at Osborne's 

 commission stables, he went there; and as he 

 liked the appearance of the steed, and really 

 wanted it at once, he ventured to buy it on 

 a written warranty; but luckily he gave a 



