The Shasta courier., 1867-02-02
How to Choose a Horse.

A writer in the London Spectator gives
some advice about the selection of family
horse, which we copy below
" 1t need scarcely be said that good car.
riage horse is not often pleasant for riding,
though conversely it may be improved by it.
Practically, therefore, a horse is not likely
to do more than one thing well. This ex-
tends even to its PAGES. The high action of
a good trotter is often accompanied bv
slow, rather mlncing walk but horse
that galops well is pretty certain to cover
ground rapidly in walking. We agree with
knowing hand that man who is toler
able horseman had better choose high.
couraged horse. A badly bred horse NAV
often be a strong, hardy animal, but it will give
up If it is pushed, while the thorough bred
will go on till it drops. A thorough bred
ought not to be chosen for pounding along
turnpike roads, as its legs will not stand
constant hammering. A cob had better be
avoided unless its history is known as no
horse is more likely to be tricky. For sew
eral reasons it is better to buy horse under
seven years old. With such a one reliable
guarantee of age can be procured, whereas
the horses that are just aged, that is to say,
just eight when they come into market
occur in numbers that would battle Quote
let. Again, horses are so badly used and so
overworked in England that it is quite un-
certain how much strength an eight or nine
year horse may retain. As a rule no ami
NAL that has been hacked at such places as
Brighton and Oxford ought to be bought
After year or two of such work the mouth
is generally spoiled and the sinews of the
leg go. Some persons consider color an in
dcation of temper, and distrust a bright
chestnut. We believe the rule is a sound
one. but the exceptions are numerous. The
ears and eyes of horse, when it is first led
out, when its mouth is handled, when a whip
is shaken near it, and when it is backed, are
much better criteria of anger no less than of
fear, and are easily recognized Irish
horses. excellent as foneers, are apt to be of
difficult temper. A horse sometimes over
hangs its fore legs, SO to speak. This is
dangerous fault, as the center of gravity
being too far forward, the beast is likely to
stumble. A horse with its belly tucked
in,' as it is called, that is to say, going up
backwards, as in grifin-a fault more COM
mon III carriage horses than in hacks-feeds
and fattens badly, and will wear out rather
sooner than another. Lauics and cockneys
are little apt to admire thin chested, spin
dle-shanked horses. Of course this a mis-
take. A deep, broad chest is indispensable
for wind. and thin-boned leg will be easily
knocked to pieces. We have mentioned
only the points that an inexperienced pur-
chaser can remark for himself and that do
not enter into warranty. As to positive
vices or diseases, he can only guard against
them by buying through respectable veter-
mary, or from an honest horse dealer. We
believe the common obinion about the es-
pecial rascality of the trade to be mistaken
ONE. and we would sooner buy ourselves
from a dealer than from private owner,
who is apt to form fancy estimate of his
property. and is often ignorant of unsound-
ness or tricks"