THE HORSE, HOW TO BUY. 197 



dhould be strong and well presented to view. The hocks large, firmj 

 strong and well knit, but smooth and free from blemish, as should be th« 

 fetlock joints. If the horse is flat-footed he has a weak hoof, which 

 should never go with a strong muscular horse. 



When the animal moves forward, observe that the feet are lifted 

 squarely, carried straight forward, without turning or straddling. If so, 

 and the conformation is as presented in the rear view of the horse on page 

 195, then if you have attended minutely to the other directions, and the 

 movement is satisfactory, you need not fear to buy the horse. He will 

 not fail you in time of need. 



As show^ing defects, in various gradations and malformation in the 

 hind-quarters, we refer the reader to the figures on page 196, a study of 

 which will enable the observer to steer clear of splay-footed, pigeon-toed . 

 bow-legged or cow-hocked brutes. 



XIV. What Not to Buy. 



Never buy a horse unbroken or half broken, unless you are thoroughly 

 competent to train him, or else have some one to do so on whom you 

 can depend. Never buy a horse overloaded with fat, expecting him to 

 remain so under work. The first thing to be done with such a horse is 

 to get him rid of the superfluous fat and water. This takes time and 

 takes money. Besides you never can know the real defects of a horse 

 *'very fat." An ox or a hog perfectly fattened, is pleasing to the eye. 

 They are intended for succulent joints and steaks, or for hams, bacon, 

 or pickled pork. A fat horse, except before the close coach of some 

 wealthy and aged spinster or widow, is woefully out of place. 



Never buy a horse because he is big, unless you want him for slow and 

 heavy draft. Light horses are for light driving. A horse weighing 

 eleven hundred is heavy enough for ordinary driving, and generally bet- 

 ter than a heavier one. A pair of horses weighing twenty-four hundred 

 pounds is good enough for any ordinary work that comes, at*d heaw 

 enough for any city teaming, excejjt when wanted as show horses before 

 some brewer's wagon, or as horses of slow draft on heavy trucks. 



Don't buy a cheap horse, expecting perfection. The two never yet 

 went together. Perfect horses are not so plenty. Indeed they are so 

 scarce as to be entirely beyond the means of any except the very wealthy. 

 They are seldom seen even among this class. In fact perfection lies only 

 in degree. A horse may be measurably perfect for our purpose, and yet 

 quite defective for others. Therefore buy a horse for Avhat you want, 

 and expect to pay the honest price for what you get. Again, unless you 



