The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-03
A Good Horse.

1T can't explain what a real good
horse u.s." said one OF the best-natured
dealers In the street. "They are as diff
ferent as men. In buying horse, you
must look first to his head and eyes for
signs of intelligence, temper, courage
and honesty. Unless horse has brains
you can't teach him anything, any
more than you can half-witted
child. See that tall bay there, fine
looking animal, fifteen hands high. You
can't teach that horse anything. Why?
Well, I'll show You difference In
heads; but have care of his heels.
Look at the brute's head-that round
ing nose, that tapering forehead, that
broad, full place below the eyes. You
can't trust him. Kick? Well, 1 guess
sol Put him in ten-acre lot, where
he's got plenty of swing, and he'll kick
the horn off the moon"
The worlds treatment of man and
beast has the tendency to enlarge and
intensity bad qualities, if they pre-
dominate. This good-natured phrenol-
ogist could not refrain from slapping in
the face the horse whose character had
been so cruelty delineated, while he
had nothing but the gentlest caresses
for tall, docile, sleek-limbed sorrel,
that pricked her ears forward and looked
intelligent enough to understand all
that was being said.
THAT'S an awful good mare" he add
ed. "She's as true as the sun. You
can see breadth and fullness between
the ears and eyes. You couldn't hire
that mare to act mean or hurt anybody.
The eye should be full, and hazel is a
good color. 1 like a small, thin ear,
and want horse to throw his ears well
forward. Look out for the brute that
wants to listen to all the conversation GO
ing on behind him. The horse that
turns back his ears till they almost meet
at the points, take my word for it, is
sure to do something wrong. A horse
with dishing face is cowardly, and
cowardly brute is usually vicious. Then
/ like square muzzle with large nos
trils, to let in plenty of air to the lungs.
For the under side of the head, a good
horse should be well cut under the jowl,
with jaw-bones broad, and wide apart
under the throttle.
so much for the head" he contin-
ued. "The next thing to consider is the
build of the animal. Never buy long
legged, stilty horse. Let him have a
short, straight back and straight rump,
and you've got a gentleman's horse.
The withers should be high, and the
shoulders well set back and broad; but
don't get them too deep in the chest
The fore-leg should be short. Give me
a pretty straight hind-leg with the hook
low down, short pastern joints, and a
round, mulish foot. There are all kinds
of horses, but the animal that has these
points is almost sure to be slightly, grace
full, good-natured and serviceable. AS
to color, taste differs. Bays, browns and
chestnuts are the best. Roans are very
fashionable at present. A great many
grays and sorrels are bought here for
shipment to Mexico and Cuba. They
do well in hot climate, under tropi-
cal sun, for the same reason that You
find light-colored clothing most service
able in summer. That circus horse be-
hind you is what many people call a
calico horse; now, call him genuine
piebald. It's freak of nature, and may
happen anywhere. "-Scribner for Jan
1LQf'u,