THE HORSE, HOW TO BUY. 169 



X. To Avoid Vices and Defects— How to Detect. 



They are legion, and he who at present buys any horse, whether for 

 •peed or work, must be on his guard against them. Among the prin-^ 

 cipal disabilities to be guarded against are : 



I.--B0NE SPAVIN, CURB, RING-BONE AND SPLINTS. — To detect the«e 

 look at the horse from before and behind, for spavin and curb at the 

 hocks ; for ring-bone, at the fetlocks ; and for splints, below the knee. 

 Feel the bones at all these parts for tenderness or enlargement. If they 

 appear, reject the horse instantly. He will be worthless as a sire, or for 

 riding or driving. 



2. — Stumbling. — Examine the knees to find if they are scarred, or 

 show the marks of previous injuries, or that have been operated upon for 

 callosities. Then walk him over somewhat rough ground, and at a slow 

 pace, with an entirely loose rein, to see if he trips or goes weaker on one 

 leg than on the other. If he is a stumbler, he is the most dangerous 

 animal a man can own, unless it be a kicker ; in fact, more so than 

 the latter, since kicking may be guarded against, when knomng the vice. 



3. — Kicking. — If this is suspected, the animal will lay back hia ears 

 if approached in an apparently careless manner, though horses do this 

 sometimes from mere playfulness. If they are vicious, they will lay 

 their ears more completely back, and the eyes will also denote theii- in- 

 tention. Examine the stall where it is known they have stood for 

 marks of their hoofs, and above all, give the animal a chance to show his 

 propensity when the groom is not near. 



4. — Pulling at the halter or bridle when tied. — Tie him up in a 

 close yard, with a halter he can easily break, leaving him quite alone for 

 about half an hour, to exhibit his propensity if he will. 



5. — Crib-biting. — If the horse is a confirmed crib-biter, his teeth— 

 the central incisors — will show wear where he has grasped objects to en^ 

 able him to get leverage to perform the operation. Tie him out to a 

 stump, or at a post about three feet high, and watch him, no person 

 beino^ in his sisrht. 



6. — Balking and backing.- Horses seldom balk under the saddle < 

 when they do, they are dangerous in the extreme, often stopping sud- 

 denly when under motion, or backing into dangerous places. It is dif- 

 ficult to detect, for they will sometimes go days, weeks and eren 

 months all right, and then suddenly show the vice. As a rule, it ia 

 exhibited by bad tempered, badly trained horses. A warrant from a 

 respectable owner is the best guarantee. It may sometimes be detected* 

 if a person strange to the horse mounts and attempts to start him sud» 



