The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-22

PURCHASING A HORSE.
An Afternoon stroll Through the Sal,
Stables ut New Orleans.

principal mart of trade in tho South
and Wcs', and was first-cass city foi
the livery business. The traffic in
horses is still fairly good here but The
livery stables are doing nothing com.
paratively in the way of hiring either
riding or buggy horses. They claim
that this is due to the lack of drives in
and about the city, owing, they say,
to years Of neglect of the publ high
ways, which become. in many in
stances, quagmires after the leas rain.
The streets are all hills and hollows,
rough thoroughfares, hard on the bug
gies and driveIs-all from need of re-
pairs.
Various classes of horses come here
from different portions of the country.
The Texas ponies are ship ed here by
carloads, received, and placed in the
pens. The majority are unbrolSen, and
sell from S25 to $50 according to size
and appearance.
The harness, drnf, saddle and road
ster horses come from Tennessee,
Kentucky, Missouri. Illinois. Wiscon-
sin and the other Western States. The
dealers here, howyver. generally buy
their supply of the different grades of
animals in St. Louis, Cincinnati. Lex
gton and Louisville, VIII re the deal
ers there collect their stocks from their
respective sections from the breed rs.
The brewers here buy the better
Il e 6, T. l.,
ones. weighing from 1900 to 1,50C
pounds.
The fire companies also desire
heavy animals, but active ones. with
quick movements, whose build does
not make them too clumsy The
Southern Express Company is another
institution that requires good grade
of business horse, running from 1. 600
to 1,200 pounds. The retail grocers
use for their delivery wagons horses
standing Is and 16 hands and weigh
ing from 900 to 1,200 pounds
The saddle-horse is generally sold
to gentlemen of means, whose exercise
is taken in the open air on the back
of spirited and fancy stced. Such a
purchaser is usually particular in max
ing his selection. and is liable to sit
down and discuss with the seller the
style, gait and merits of the prospect
i've purchase.
He is invariably given trial of the
horse, which is first ridden up and
down the street for his inspection. and
then turned over TO himself to ride
to see that il suits him. The
favorte colors are bay. chestnut,
brown and black.
The roadster or buggy-horse is
bought by the man who enjoys an
af ernoon spin along the boulevards
and public drivcways. Such horses
are valued according to their speed,
style and gentleness in harness. A
good roadster should be abe to go in
four minutes. docilc. not afraid OF
steam cars. dummies, or engines. and
should be thoroughly broken.
B fore the bargain is completed one
of the stable-boys takes the horse out.
which is well groomel, and should
hold his head well up. presenting the
required typo of roadster, and trots
him along the block so rs to show all
his points to the purchaser. WHO by
this means is able to judge of the cut
and carriage of the animal.
A great many buyers depend alto
gether upon the word of the seller as
to the age of the horse, but Others
insist on an examination of the mouth.
closely scanning tho teeth for the in
iicaton of the horses aye After
they .lavc finished their inspection
they know as little as they dill before,
because, if the dealer is a trickster, he
has already "biShopcd' the animals
mouth. That is. having an aged trot-
Ter, PAGER, or sadlle-horse for sale, he
has taken the precantipn to file his
teeth and put in the black spots by
burning them with a red-hot iron. A
a horse grows older his teeth
become long. the gums shrink away
and the black dots disappear. This
being the case. the dealer can make
his horse show up almost any age that
ne wishes. even 10 putting in the notch
IN the side jaw teeth, that indicates
the period of five years old. So the
purchaser. however fine an opinion he
has of his own smar ness and knowl-
edge, is in reality as zero in the hands
)f an experienced horseman.
In selling bu ggy or carriage horse
he vendor generally y takes the foresight
20 60 with the purchaser and hold the
'eins. for the horse may have some de-
'ect that he considers best 10 hide For
Instance, the horse may go ahead all
light, but cut up when backed. In that
case hc never attempts to back him.
II he SHES at dummies and flying pa
>er, he avoids them in his route.
Whatever trick he has he is careful to
seep out of sight. letting the purchaser
ind it out afterward The buying of
l horse. therefore. settles itself down
o trading with responsible man,
md with the dealer himself. having
iothing to do with go-be- tweens,
such as brokers and others, who
lang round stables waiting to
latch hold of a purchaser in order to
secure commission. M O. Times
Democrat
Bookkeeping a Science.