CONDITION. 63 



work. A horse that is unfit for work has no staying 

 power in it, and the dealer's horse may go all right 

 for the first few miles, but it soon begins to be 

 breathless ; sweats easily ; and by the time that the 

 journey is over, it is completely knocked out of 

 time. Of course, one cannot blame the dealers 

 for endeavouring to present these animals before 

 the eyes of their customers to the best possible 

 advantage. If he be successful in selling it, there 

 is no warranty regarding its condition, but simply 

 that relating to its soundness, freedom from 

 vice, and suitability for the work of the pur- 

 chaser. If a horse is in good working condition, 

 its flesh feels firm when handled ; and if given 

 a smart burst of work, it should show little 

 evidence of sweating, and the breathing but 

 trifling signs of having been disturbed. Free 

 sweating, soft muscles, and distressed breathing are 

 indications that the animal is not in working con- 

 dition. Some horse dealers do not keep their 

 purchases sufiiciently long to enable them to 

 indulge in a forced system of condition ; but the 

 stables of dealers are notorious for the feeding-up 

 of their purchases. When a man buys a horse from 

 a dealer and finds it melting away, although he has 

 given it fair treatment, naturally he feels very sore 



