286 BUYING AND SELLING HORSES. 



that was visible from the outside, he has not yet seen all those 

 hidden internal mysteries which will sometimes raise havoc with 

 the animal he purchases. 



I once knew a man who had three sons, of whom he said : "I 

 intend James for a lawyer and William for a manufacturer ; 

 but as to John, I don't believe he will ever amount to more 

 than a first-class horse jockey." He evidently failed to see that 

 a first-class horse jockey needed to possess more brains than 

 either the lawyer or manufacturer, or both combined. 



Look for brains and a level heajl as well as feet,' limbs, and 

 body when buying a horse. An animal may be " as sound as 

 a Spanish milled dollar " and as " handsome as a picture," but 

 if he lacks a level head he is never a safe horse to use at 

 anything, and seldom of value for any purpose. Nearly as 

 much variety as regards common-sense exists among horses 

 as in the human family. 



SHOWING SALE HORSES. 



In successful horse-dealing very much depends upon the 

 manner in which the goods are shown to the prospective cus- 

 tomer. As there is so much difference in horses and the require- 

 ments of them so varied, there can be no definite rules laid 

 down in this matter. I can, however, give a short code of gen- 

 eral rules that may be safely adhered to. 



In showing small and medium-sized horses in harness, the 

 seller should be provided with a good new, or nearly new, well- 

 fitting harness. If the animal be of a light color, such as gray, 

 white, or cream, the harness should be trimmed with black. 

 For a black or dark-colored horse the harness may have nickel 

 or white metal trimmings. For heavy horses intended for ex- 

 press business or teaming, when shown singly, have the harness 

 to compare with the horse in size, well fitting, and usually 

 trimmed with brass, well polished. As to a vehicle in which to 

 •show driving horses, have a light, well-made road wagon, suit- 

 able for two persons to ride in, hung quite low with medium 

 low wheels, painted black, kept well varnished, and as clean as 



