Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-12-25
AGRICULTURAL.
How 10 Choose n Horse.

A writer in the London Spectator gives
some advice about the selection OF good
family horse, which VIC copy below:
1T need scarcely be said that u carriage.
horse is not often pleasant for riding, though
conversely it may be improved it. Prac-
tical!y, therefore, horse is not likely to do
more than one thing well. This extends
even to its PAGES. The high action Of a
good trotter is of!en accompanied by slow,
rather u.incing walk but horse that gal.
lopswel! is pretty certain to cover grounl
rapidly in walking. We agree with II
knowing hand that II man who ia toer.
able horscman, had better choose high.
couraged horse. A badly.brcd horse may
oftenbe strong, hardy animal, but it will
knock up if it is pushed, while the thor
ough-bred will 60 on til! it drops A thor.
ough.bred ought not To be- chosen for pound
ing along turnpike roads, as its legs will
not stand constant hammerng. A cob had
better bo avoided, unless lis history is known
as no horse is more likely to be tricky
For several reasons it is better to buy q
horse under seven Yeas ID. With ,uch a
one reliable guaranty Of age can be pro-
cured, whereas the horses that are Just aged,
that is to say. Just eight when they come
into market, occur in numbers that might
battle Que.elct. Again, horses are 50 bad
ly used and ro overworhcl in England,
that it is quite uncertain how much strength
m eight Or nine year horse may retain. As
a rule, no animal that has been backed a,
such places as Brighton or Oxford ought TO
be bought. After year or two Of such
work the mouth is generally spoiled and
the sinews Of the lega 90. Some persons
consider color an indication Of temper, and
distrna bright chestnut. Wr!bolicyc the
rule is sound, hu. the exceptions are uu.
merous The ears and eyes Of horse, when
its mouth is handed, when a whip is
shaken near it, and when it i. backed. ayc
much better cri,cria Of anger, no less than
Of fear, and are easily recognized. Iiiah
horses, excellent as !.nccr9 are apt to
be Of difficult temper. \ horse sometimes
overhangs its fore legc, 50 to speak. Ills i,
a dangerous fault, as The centre Of gravity
being too far forward the bca,. is likely 10
stumble. a horse with its belly tucked
in, as it is called, that is to say, going rp
backwards, as in a griiiin-a fault more com.
mon in carriage horses than in hacks--feeds
AMI fattons badly, and will wear out rather
sooner than another. Ladies and cockncys
are little apt 10 admire tlin.chcstel,
spindle-shanked horses. Ofcour.e this is
mistake. A deep, broad chest is indi.-
pensahle for wind, aud thin boned leg
will be easily knocked to pieces, We have
mentioned only the points that an cvperien.
ced purchaser can remark for himself, and
that do not enter into warranty. As to
positive vices or diseases, he can only
guard against them by huying through
respectable veterinary or from an honest
horse dealer We believe the common
opinion about the especial rascal;ty of the
trade to be a mistaken one. ana We would
sooner buy ourselves from dealer than
from private owner, who isapt to form a
fancy estimate Of his property, and is often
ignorant of unsounLpcss or tricks. '-Fo,n,
and fTtstAe