The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-20

A writer in the London Spectator gives
some advice about the selection Of family
horse, which We copy below.
at need scarcely be said that carriage horse
isnot often pleasant for riding, though converse
ly it maybe improved byit. Practically there
fore. a horse is not likely to do more than
one thing we'll This extends even to his
PAGES. Tie high acnon OF good trotter
Is often accompanied by slow, rather min
cingawak; but horse that gailops well is
pretty certain to cover ground rapidly in
walking. We agree with knowing hand,
that man who is tolerable borseman had
better choose high couraged horse. A badly
bred horse may often lie O strong, hardy
sniual, but it will knock up if ii is pushed,
while the thorough bred will 60 on till it
drops A thorough bred ought not to be
chosen for pounding along the turnpike
roads, as its will not bear constant hammer
ing. A cob had better be avoided, unless its
history is known, as no horse is more likely
to be tricky For several reasons it is bet~
ter to buy a horse under seven years
old. With such one reliable
guarantee Of age can be procured, whereas
The hersas Il at ere just age,i, that IS 10 say,
Just eight when they come into the market,
occur in numbers that might battle aQueteet.
Again, lOTeeS hft So bdIif usCd hia az ptCi
worked in England, that it is quite uncertain
how much strength an eight or nine year old
horse may retain. As rule, no animal that
has been hacked at such places as Brighton or
Oxford ought to be bought. After year or
two OF such work the mouth is generally
spsiled ana the s,hews OF the leg go. Sdnie
persons consider color an indication of TEN.
per and distrust bright chestnut. We be-
lieye the rule is sound but the exceptions are
numerous. The ears and eyesof ahorse, when
it is first led out, when its mouth is handled,
when a whip Is shaken near 1t, and when 1t IL
backed, are much better critera of anger no
less than of fear, and are easily recognized.
irish horses, excellent as tenceiss are apt 10
be Of difficult temper. A horse sometimes
everhangs It's fore legs, so to speak. This is
a dangerous fault, SIS 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 back
ward, as IN a grifhn-a fault more common in
carriage. horses than in haeks-feeds and fat
ten badly, and will wear out rather sooner
than another Ladies End eockners are el 1T.
lie apt to ADMIRE eth,n-chested, spindle shank
ed horses. OF course this is mistake. 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 experienced purchaser can remark
for himself, and that do not enter into war
ranty. AS to positive vices or diseases, he
can only guard against them by buying through
respectable veterinary or from an honest
horse, deaie.. We Leiieve she common opin-
ion about the especial rascAity of the trade
to be mistaken one, and we wouldSoonel
buy ourselves from desler than q private
owner, who is apt to form fancy estimate O
his property, and is often ignorant Of un
soundness or tricks