The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-07-05
FARMERS COLUMN
HorRn Talk.

hOEbB ldAks
There can be 10 doubt but that COED
'or. ofa horse is valuable acquisition 10
any man wanting one to perform well any
desiiable or necessary service flr which il
is adopted; but in buying lie may not get
such a one. We may sometimes,and under
o'uliar circumstances, show our tact and
knowledge of horses by buying one for
given purpose that our Judgement may tell
us is really Of good sort (as an animaD,
even for any purpose.
\ really good horse is moro or less fit
for all purposes; it does not follow that he
may be more than ordinarily good lor any
OF them.
We are told, and with truth, that q
thin clean, good head and cheerful eye are
indicative OF an amiabe aud generous
temperament and disposition. A head,
well put on, with a yielding aud somewhat
arched neck, suggests that the head may
be carried WE'LL aud also that such a horse
has good mouth: it has not been hardened
'r spoiled by useless endoayors lwhere such
IS not the case) to bring the head In the
'lnce desired for it, LnngoJiquo shoulders
Usually GetoEen freedom Of action, 81 far Ms
he fore parls are Concerned. as Il deep girth
md long UackrlJs do strength, and good
road luins and hips freedom Of action;
ing, tull thighs and large, clean hooks,
with hind legs well put on indicate strong
| 'rnpelling powers. With these points,
without injuring into causes aud effects, we
Sill eaya horse has got what indicates
goodness of tempef, cheer'ulhes5, and cuur-
we, carrying himself handsomeIy anu
pleasantly To the driver or rider, goodness
II action, strength, speed and safety.
Yet with these points, he may only be
nabled to perform moderately well the |
urposes to watch we may put him. We
7IIl allow thst in general way such an |
lnlmal can not be a bad horse: but if we |
want perfection, or something near it, for Il
articular purpose, we must tie ourselves to
10 rules as to formation, and show oul
'aat in buyihg what our judgment will, H.
general way, condemn, if we determine
to have something in a particular way.
For instance:
We may see a St. yllsh RIG standing at
door. As "A horseman we naturally cast a.
eye on the hotsc; and though we suppose
hat for the buggy of a gentleman lie mus,
e good looking still the c,itca eve of tn,
tdSe may cause Us lDoking at horse as al
nmal) 10 eXc.aim, "What a brutrl"
cad that would b., with the bridle az,
mixers of and the large bit GU: of h.
u'h, as big as coal scuttie, bull neri
set into the withers without your bein
Ole to decide where the withers begin 81
he necks ends; this fault She collar hide
rom ordinary view, but the judge sees II
here. Narrow, and consequently veal
! 'ins. These the breeching straps auo
crlrper hide. Miserable, thin thighs, bar
;askins, and equally bad hochs, and tho,
Iadly placed--all these, to the ordnar
't-ser-by, are hidden by the dash boar
mi shafts.
We now come the boly: Small in tn
flhj this does not strike Que in a harne,
horse IS it does under a saddle. Shor
oacS ribs and these long way from tn
nip bonci these fat and condition Ind,
that is, condition rs FAR as a fun Iced an,
nile work produced a state that, with
nooth and glossy coat is mistaken for con
ltion). Now, among other things, shor
'ock'rIbs placed tar from the hip bone, ar
roofs of weakness in a general way, and
a horse has little flesh, cause him to loni
Ike " half starved greyhound, as the horse
hove described would lo,k if worked;
'ut the purpose for which lie is used can
Mt be called work. So far we may infer
hat really bad sort can perform certain
'urposcs.
But, some may ask, why bry such
faulty animal, when a better kind is to b.
mad? No doubt better kind is to be found
easily enough; but perhaps not a better one
with the particular qualifications Of this
'ru'e. a thorough judge might say, "Wha
a brute!" and, if any unthinkIug man.
might add, Il should say the owner Of tba
horse does not know what horse is, or il
ne does, | suppose he got him for next to
nothing" adding 10y way Of parenthesis
i would rot give seventy i've dollars for
him for use in an omnibus" ."-"No man
would" replies a thinking man, "he it not
it for an omnibus, though perhaps very {
ii for the purpose for which he is now used"
In the midst o. this colloquy,out come.
he owner. lie gets in, takes the reins aud
/ goes the horses head and tail. He move,
'f gracefully as swan taking to the
y ter The biz head bad shoulders, weak
ii rs, faulty thighs, and short ribs are ], st
II the admiration, excited in the by-sland.
'rs, OF his magnificent and elegant aelioa,
"a no one will deny that the owner has
hown his tract in buying what is a poor
'orse Tor general purposes, but just the
hing for bis purpose.
In one word "a good sort bctoksns
.ood horsej but in employment where gond
Ies' is not called for, good sort may 10
spensed with, # it happens to pos sess the
.eculiar attribute we want Tor a particular
urpose, Again, where show is the desid
rlum, there are many horses striknlly
handsome at first, sight, that will not bear,
in dgurative term', "Pieking to pieces" for
, carry ON the m'tap pbor, II they undergo
uch process, we shall find we must put
hem together in far different way to form
alf Of good sort
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THE WORLD OF AGRICULTURE.