CHOOSING A HORSE 7 



with the saddler the various saddle gaits. These trials should 

 take place on pavement or hard surface, as solid footing affords 

 the best conditions to detect the existence of lameness. These 

 gaits should be noted from the front, from behind, and from either 

 side. Second, note the action when hitched to the kind of 

 vehicle for which the horse is intended. Observe the horse first 

 at the walk, then the trot from in front, behind, and either side. 

 Notice manner of starting, turning, stopping, backing, and the 

 like. The prospective purchaser should now mount the vehicle 

 and drive the horse, observing his action, general behavior, 

 manner of taking the bit, ease. with which he is driven and 

 guided this way and that. When satisfied in all respects, stop 

 the horse and observe him standing after the exercise, especially 

 with respect to the regularity of breathing and his manner of 

 standing. Third, if the horse is intended for saddle purposes, 

 in part, he should be tried out under the saddle, observing his 

 behavior when mounting, the ease of movement and the like, 

 with even more caution than when being led or hitched to a 

 vehicle. 



HOW TO ESTIMATE THE AGE OF A HORSE 



The age of a horse is an important factor in determining his 

 present and prospective value. Familiarity with the characters 

 that indicate age are, therefore, often extremely useful. A 

 knowledge of these characters is not difficult to secure, but skill 

 in their application depends much on continued practice. 



General considerations. — In estimating the age of a horse, 

 the teeth furnish the best index, yet there are other general con- 

 siderations that play an important part, especially in the case 

 of young and very old animals. In estimating the age of young 

 animals, size is the principal factor to be considered. In very 

 old horses, white hairs make their appearance around the temple, 

 the eyes, the nostrils, and elsewhere ; the poll or top of the head 

 becomes more pointed; the sides of the face more depressed; 



