Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-05
Purchasing a Horse.

Although it may not be necessary
that person should be perfectly ac-
quaintcd with the mechanical struc-
Of the horses frame, according to
the laws of nature, to render him al
expert Judge of a good horse, yet,
fortunate for all such as have them to
sell, vast numbers of persons pur-
chase horses from Il very slight eX-
pericncc Of them, regardless of the
proverb of ole hath a good Judgment
who doth not rely on his own" -
There is also another proverb, preva-
lent, we believe, in Spain, which, it is
possible, may well apply here: ''IIe
that would buy IN; lie without a
fault, must not buy one at all;" and,
although faultless horses may be as
rare rs faultless drivers of them, we
will offer a few hints to person in
the act Of purchasing one, addressing
him in the colloquial style.
First, bear in mind the uses for
which you intend the horse. Second
ly, until you try him, it is hard to say
what a horse will do. However, the
following induces may induce you to
try him: If he appears well-bred,
with a loose, bright skin, which may
be called his complexion; observe
that his hair does not stand hollow
from his skin, particularly about the
poll of the neck. If you find him
standing over a good deal of ground,
it is sure sign that he has got length
where it ought to be; not in the back,
but from the obliquity of his should
ers, and the arm being set on at the
extreme point of his shoulder, which
so much contributes to the act of ex-
tension of the fore parts.
Next examine infinitely his thighs
and hooks, being especially careful to
observe the position Of the point Of
the hook bone. Above all things,
avoid a short or overstepping horse.
This latter, from being too heavy for
his legs, will seldom last many years.
As for the minor point, common OBJ
servation alone is wanting. Have
his head placed in such 4 situation as
will enable you to satisfy yourself
that he has perfectly organized eyes,
free from incipient cataract, some
times difficult to be detected; and as
for his age, there are but two ways of
satisfying yourself on that point
BY his teeth until about eight years
old; afterwards by the state of his
legs, which are, in fact, the best test
Of his value, the best proof of what
he has done, and the sure source OF
speculation as to what he may here
after be expected to do. Observe,
also, his joints, that no material IN
jury has been done to them by blows,
strains, etc, and that they are strong.
But the purchaser of horse must
not trust to his eye. Neither must
he be satisfied with him, howsoever
well he may go upon u good road.
1t is the peculiar excellence of going
well through dirt that renders horse
valuable for most purposes; and no
man can assure himself that Il horse
has this peculiar excellence until he
puts him to the test. The best meth
cd of doing it is this: Put him
along at good pace, with q slack
rein, upon good road, letting him
all at once upon that which is soft
and holding. If Oh quitting the
former, he cringes more than might
he expected, and shortens his stroke
much, look for better horse, as this
one will be going in distress, when
other horses are going comparatively
at their ease. Horses possess grada.
ton ct excellence in this qualification.
more than any other, but in it con
sists the summun bonesn in good