HOW TO BUY A HORSE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2114, 2 December 1880, Page 4

HOW TO BUY A HORSE.

Look at him quietly standing in his stable, to see he has no trick like that of putting one hind foot over the other. In doing this he often cuts the fore part of his hind foot with the sharp calks of bis shoes, thus making him lame perhaps for months. When brought out do not allow him to be jookied in his paces. Take your stand on the side of the road, and let him walk naturally and quietly by; then turn and walk by showing his other side. Now stand behind and hare him walk off in front of you and from you j then turn and walk towards you. Observe if he goes freely and easily and plants bis hind foot in the tracks of his fore feet. Next, have him trotted by you and back and forth, watching his action closely. - Now look at his eyes and make a motion with your hand towards him, as if you intended to strike. If he winks quickly, or draws the head back, the vision may be depended on generally as good, and no blindness in him. The eyes should be moderately prominent. Sunken eyes are apt to get blind as the horse grows old, and often characterise a vicious temper. Examine the teeth and see that they are sound, strongly set and even. Look at his fore legs, and notice if he has strong knee joints, and that they are not sprung. Examine the hind legs closely above and below the hocks for any swellings, and especially for curbs and spavins. Now look at all the pastern joints, and see if clear of ; cuts from interfering, or if there are any scars on them in consequence of this. The pasterns should be rather short for a carriage horse, and not much sloping. If the latter, and long and elastic, they are apt to give out at a hard pull. In a racehorse such pvsterns are less objectionable. In a heavy draught animal they are unpardonable.

The feet are often passed over, but a thorough examination of these is of the utmost importance. They should be reasonably large, the hoofs clear and tough, free from cracks, not shelly, and well set up at the heels, otherwise they will soon wear down on pavements or bard roads, and the horse become footsore. If always to be kept in the country to work on a farm or dirt roads low heels are Jnot so objectionable. Lastly, regard the inside of the hoofs, and sea that they are free from corns, and that there is a good-sized frog to soften the jar to the leg when the foot stamps on the ground. A pony-built horse is the best for working in harness, while a more rangy-bodied one, with longer legs, may be preferable for the saddle, but these should not be so long as to bo liable to weakness. The legs, from the hocks and knees down, in all horses should be rather short than long. If the tail lifts bard and stiff it is uaually an evidence of a strong back and quarters. Lf it lifts quite limber and easy the reverse is apt to be the case.

As to the age, this is readily told by the teeth till they are seven years old, unless they are “ bishoped.” It is usual for jockeys to call a horse eight when he is all the way from ten to twenty; but an adept can give a pretty shrewd guess as to this, for after ten years old the eyes begin to sink, gray hairs come into the head, and there is a want of youthful look and vivacity. After all there is great risk in buying a horse, even from a owner who is truthful and honestly disposed to speak of his failings ; for in many cases he is really ignorant of what these are, or of incipient diseases, which may be lurking in the system at the time of sale. As for the tricks of jockeys in hiding the age, faults, and covering up diseases, they are past finding out, and when they trade with each other, even the very smartest and most knowing one gets cheated easily by one much more skilful than himself in showing off a horse. It is only after using a horse for months that pretty ranch all that there is in him can be found out, and we have known unexpected faults and vices to turn up after possessing one for years. In the city stables so many horses are kept under the same roof, and there is such a want of proper ventilation that “ pink eye” acd the “ horse distemper” are of ten prevalent there, or if not shown at the time of purchase, these break out soon after. It is the safest to buy a horse immediately upon its arrival in town, before he has a chance to get diseased and before the sellers have time to “ slick him up.” Never mind a dirty coat and rough looks ; you can clean the former and smooth the latter without risk to the animal as soon as you get home, and after this he will probably show 25 to 50 per cent, better than when you bought him. One rather thin in flesh is safer to buy than when fat, for this covers bad points, and when worn down somewhat a rather fine appearing horse turns out to be very common looking.—“ Town and Country Journal.”