The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-11-02
HOW ru PICK OUT A GOOD Hoss.
By JOSH BILLILes.


First. Let the color be4a s0rrcl, 6
roam, red, gray, white, black, q
blue, a green, a chestnut, a brown, q
dapple, spotted, a cream, a buckskin,
or a some other good colors
Second. Examine his ears see that
he has got tew ears, and pound q tin
hiz hearing IL good. All hosses are
DUN, but a def and dunn hoss are not
desirable.
Third. Look well tew hiz eyes see
that he has got pupil in hiz eyes, and
not tew large a one neither; hosses
with too large pupils in their eyes are
near sighted, and kant see oats, and
hav tn wear green goggles, and green
goggles make q Hhoss look tn much
like trakt pedler. teaa4l 5il
Fourth. Feel ov hiz neck with the
inside ov yure right hand; see that
the spinal collum IL well fatted. and
runs the whole length ov him from
fore tn alta hoss without a good
phatt spinal collum from fore tn aft,
amt worth-(speakin sudden) -aint
worth a well defined cuss.
Five. Put yure-hand on his breast
(this il allowable in the case of quad
ruped) see If hiz harte kan beat 70;
squeeze hiz fore legs. tu see if he il
well muscled, lift up hiA before feet
and see if thare il emmy frogs in them
frogs keep a hoss's feet cool and
sweet, just as they do a well or spring
of water.
Six. Look we'll tu hiz shoes; see
what number he wears-number eight
IL about right. - - =.
Seven. Run yure hand along the
dividin ridge ov hiz body, from the
top ov hiz withers tn the commence
ment of hiz tail Cor dorsal vertebra,)
and pinch him as you 60 along, to see
if he knows how tew kick.
Eight. Look on hiz hind legs for
sum spavius, kurbs, wingalls, ring
bones, skratches, quittors, thrush,
grease-heels, thoroughpins, springhalt
quarter-kraks, see if he haz got q
whirl-bone look for sum pin-hips
hunt for strains in the back tendons,
let-downs. and capped hooks.
Nine. Investigate his teeth; see it
he haint fourteen years old last May,
with teeth filed down, and six-year-
old black mark burnt intu the top oV
them with a hot iron; 1t57
Ten. Smell ov hiz breath tn see if
he haint got sum glanders; look just
back ov hiz ears for signs of pole-evil; ;
pinch him on top of hiz withers for a
tistula, and look:.sharp At both shoul-
ders for sweeney.
Eleven. Hook him fl a wagon that
rattles, drive him up M an 1rishman
and hiz weelbarrow, meet q rag-mer-
ceant with cow-bells strung across the
top ov his cart, let an express train
pass him at forty-five miles an hour !;
when he il sweaty heave q buffalo
robe over him tn keep oph the cold,
ride him with an umbrel highsted,
and learn hiz opinyun of these things.
Twelve. Prospekt hiz wind, sarch
diligently for the heaves, ask if he liz
a roarer, and don't be afraid tn find
out if he il whistler. "5ti =
Thirteen. Be sure that he aint
krib- bitter; amt balky, ain'ta weaver,
and don't pull at the halter.
Theze are few simple things tn be
hoss; there IL a great menny other
things to be looked at Cat yure leisure)
after you have bought him.
Good hosses are skarse, and good
men, that deal in any kind ov hosses,
are SkdfSGT.
Ask man about his wife and he
may tell you examine him cluss for
Sunday-school teacher, and find him
all on the square; send him tn the
New York Legislature, and rejoice that
money won't buy him; lend him sew
en- hundred dollars in the highway
without witness or note; even swap
dorgs with him with perfect impunity,
but when you buy good family hoss
ov him, young, sound and trew, watch
the man cluss, and make up your mind
besides that you will have tu forgive
him.
"An honest man is the noblest work
ov God;;" this famous saying was
written, in great anguish ov heart, by
the late Alexander Pope just after
buying good family hoss,