IX COST OF BREEDING 113 
been ruined in the attempt to teach it the most 
rudimentary lessons in the hurry of the mounted 
field; that is not the place for elementary instruc- 
tion, but where the education should be completed. 
Through the market, the fair, the dealer, and the 
private buyer, there is seldom wanting an opportunity 
to sell a good horse, but the saying is true that you 
may run to buy, but you must stand to sell, and each 
man must judge for himself when it is wisdom to 
take an offer and when it is wise to wait. The men 
who do best are those who take a fair profit as soon 
as they see it; many too often forget how soon the 
expense of keeping a horse on, the loss of interest 
on the money, and the want of the money, run away 
with any extra price that is afterwards obtained. 
It is seldom worth while to lose a customer for a 
difference of 45 between the buyer and seller, 
especially if there is a probability that the horse 
may have to wait six months without any certainty 
of making its price, putting aside altogether risks of 
accidents and illness. We have all of us often seen 
an owner proud of his horse, when offered a good price 
which would leave him a large profit, stand out for 
a bit more, and, in the end, after keeping him a year 
or perhaps two years, sell him for less than he had 
had originally offered ; or, worse still, the horse has 
become damaged or gone amiss, and has to be sold 
at a heavy loss. 
It is no new criticism to pass on farmers that 
they are bad hands at combining to protect them- 
selves, and in co-operating to push their own 
interests. The butcher, the miller, the brewer, the 
dealer, and others are generally able to take advan- 
I 
