OBSERVATIONS ON THE HORSES OF CANADA. 
79 
sions in speaking of their horses. One fellow said his horse was 
“ dreadful good-tempered another, in describing a span of 
horses (pair), that they were a “ terrible good match and an 
American gent, at Cobourg, on my admiring a span of horses 
which I sat behind in his carriage, said he had won as much 
money with one of them (a superb trotter) as I could “ shake a 
stick at.” A fourth, by way of expressing his approbation of a 
horse I was looking at, said, “that horse just fills my eye.” A 
good legged horse, one having the sinews large and well deve- 
loped, they call a “strong corded” horse, and, if he happened to have 
bred him, he will tell you he “ raised” him. If one or more white 
legs, he will say he is “ split” in the legs. When shewing you 
a horse which is not in saleable condition, he will remind you 
that he is not “ fitted up.” In the United States they have long 
been celebrated for their famous trotters. Lady Suffolk trotted 
a mile in 2 m. 28 s. ; Dutchman, in 2 m. 29 s. An American, 
in describing his horse, will tell you he is a 2 m. 28 s.; 2 m. 30 s. ; 
or 2 m. 35 s. horse. If he does not happen to be of trotting cele- 
brity, he will describe him by his (heft) weight, calling him a 9, 
10, or 11 hundred horse. Shortly after my arrival in this country, 
finding the great difficulty there was in meeting with horses, I 
went to Burlington, in the United States, in search of a pair. 
Whilst there, I took a fancy to a clever trotter, which I should have 
purchased, but was apprehensive I should not be able to match 
him in Canada. The owner, a Yankee, and of course a smart 
chap, in recommending him “ guessed” he was sound, and that he 
had not been “ pricked.” 
Note. — Pricked is a term made use of in place of nicked. The 
operation is commonly performed with a penknife, introduced so 
as to divide the muscle on either side of the tail, leaving the skin 
entire. 
P.S. — I have not much to communicate as regards the diseases 
in this country ; but I shall give you an account of a horse which 
had either a dislocated or broken neck ; another which recovered 
from a broken leg ; a case of fracture of the spinous processes of 
the dorsal vertebra; and a description of three hermaphrodite 
horses. 
Adieu. — God bless you all ! 
