The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1871-10-26
THE JOSH BILLINGS PAPERS.
How tn Pick Out 4 Coed HOss.

lISJ. Leu inc CClOl nc II SOIlcl, dlO0ll,
Il red, gray, white a black, II blue, IL
green, IL chestnut, btown, IL dapple, Il
spotted, Il cream, II buckskin, on Il sum
OF other good color.
Second. Examiu his ears; see that he
has got tcw ears, and pound tin pan
cluss to him to fluid out whutherhiz hear
ing IL good. Al hosscs nre dunn, but u
def and dun hoss are not desirable.
Third. Lool, well tlt hiz eyes; see that
he has got IL pupil in hiz eyes, and not
too large II one neither; husScs with too
/ large pupils in their eyes are noar-sight-
ed, and kant sec oats, aud hay tn wear
green goggles, and green goggles make
II boss look tn much like trukt pedlar.
/ Fourth. Feel oy his neck with tho in
side ov yuro right hand; see that the
spinal collum IL well latted, and runs
the whole length ov him from fore tn
aft--a hoSS without Il good phatt spinal
collum from fore to aft amt worth
| (spcGkm sudden)--aiut worth well
defined cuss. ......
Five. Put your hand on his breast
(this is allowable i'll the case OF IL quad
ruped) see if hiz harte kan beat 70;
squeeze his fore lcggs to see If he is well
muscled; lift up hiz before feet and see
il tharo IL onny frogs in them-frogs
keep II hOss's feet cool and sweet, Just az
they do well on spring ov water.
Six. Look well i'll his shoes; see what
number he wears-number eighth about
right. . .......... ...
Seven. Run yTe hand along the diyi-
dug ridge ov his boldly, from the top
ov his wlthers tn the commencement ov
hiz tail Cor dolsul ycrtibra,) and pinch
him as you so along, tn see if he knows
how tn kick. .....
Ate. Look ON his hind legs for sum
spavins, krbs, wingalls, ringbones
skIatcheS, quittors, thrush, grease-heels,
thoroughpins, splIng-halt, quarter.
kracks; see il he haz got whirl-bone;
look for sum pin-hips; hunt for strains
III the back tendons, let-downs, and
capped hooks.
Nine. Investigate hiz teeth; see if he
amt fourteen years old last May, with
teeth filed down, and Il siX-yGar-old black
mark burnt into the top oy them with
hot iron. .....
Ten. Smell ov hia breath tn see if he
haint got sum glanders; look just back
oy hiz ears for sighns OF pole-eyil; pinch
him on the top ov hiz withers for tis-
tula, and look sharp at both shoulders
for IL sWeeny.
Eleven. Hook him tn wagon that
rattlcs, drive him up to an Irishman and
hlz whecibnlrow, meet II rug-morchant
with cow-bells strung acrost the top ov
hiz cart, let IN express train pass him
nt forty-tiyc miles tn the hour; who he
IL swctty henye IL buffalo robe over him
tn keep oph the cold, ride him with an
umhrcl highsted, and learn hiz opinyun
oy these things.
Twelve. Prospekt his wind, sarch dill
igently for the heaves, ask il he IL aroar-
cr, and don't be afraid to find out if he
IL whistler.
Thirteen, BE sure that he aint krib-
biter aint balky, ANITA weaver and don't .
pull ut the halter.
Thczc are few simple things tn be
looked at in buying II good IamiIy hos&;
tEere iza crate mcnny other things tn
be looked at (at yure leizure) after you
have bought him.
Good hosses are skarsc, and good
men, that deal i'll any kind oy hosses,
are skarscr
Ask Il man all about his wife, and he
may tell you; examine him cluss for
Sundar-school teacher and find him all
cn the squa C; send him tn the New York
Legislature, and rejoice that money
won't buy him; lend him seven hundred
dollars i'll the Highway without wit
ness on note; even swop dorgs with him
with perfect ilnpunity; but when yoa
buy good .fam"y hoss ov lin, young,
,ound and trcw, watch the man cluss,
md make up your mind besides that
'ou i'll have to ask tie lord tn forgive
Lin.
"lln honest man IL he noLled wmb Of
God." this famous saying waz written,
in great anguish Of heart by the late Al
aXonder Pope after buying u good jau,-
y boss.