CHOOSING A HORSE 6 



In choosing a horse, efficiency depends much on practice 

 and experience. The type to fill a certain demand, and the 

 value of the animal for such purpose, are recognized much more 

 quickly and accurately by one who is buying many horses 

 daily than by those who buy one only occasionally. 



There are a few considerations that apply with equal force to 

 all classes of animals, such as the examination in general, esti- 

 mating age, detecting unsoundness, and the like. These will be 

 discussed first; then we will pass to the choice of the individual. 



GENERAL EXAMINATION OF THE HORSE ,; 



In examining a horse, some system should be followed in 

 order that no point go unnoticed. To facilitate this and to 

 aid in establishing uniform values for the various points of the 

 animal, the score-card was devised. Official score-cards have 

 been adapted for many of the breeds, and while of little prac- 

 tical value in choosing or judging a horse, they do aid in estab- 

 lishing a uniform standard for the breeder. The examination 

 of the horse cannot always be made at leisure, but enough 

 time should be taken, if possible, to make the task complete. 



Examination in the stable. — When possible, the horse should 

 first be examined in the stable. Note the way in which the 

 animal is tied to the manger; whether he has been chewing 

 the tie-strap or the fixtures; how he stands in the stall; and 

 his general behavior, when you step to his side. Note the 

 horse's conduct while grooming, particularly along the belly, 

 the backs of the forelegs, and the fronts of the hind legs and 

 about the flank. Harness the animal. Note the manner of 

 taking the bit ; the behavior when placing the headstall over 

 the ears; the harness over the back; the crupper under the 

 tail; and when buckUng the girth. 



The horse may now be taken from the stall. Note the action 

 as he is being turned around. In many sale stables there is a 

 contemptible practice of introducing ginger into the rectum as 



