The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-05-14
BUYING . HORSE.
Some Valuable Rules t. Be Followed in
So Doing.


| face Ct this earth, or above or below it,
| will cause you to change your mind, be
] careful to observe certain rules and be
| guided by certain fixed principles.
1t may shock you to be told that there
are many reasons why you should try a
white horse, but wait and see. In the first
place, the boy who takes care of him has
| to put in more work for his wages and
that's rebate for you. In the next, you
can see him if out driving in dark night,
whereas you couldn't tell whether black
| horse was in front or behind you.
Thirdly, if you happen to go out to the
| barn Of a night, your white horse defines
| his position, whereas you are quite liable to
| blunder up against the heels of a black one
and get hurt. If you are driving around
| town your white horse can be seen mile
away, and the ambulance, fire engines,
brick and ice wagons can get ready to turn
into the side streets and avoid being run
down. Lastly you can wear any colored
socks or suspenders while driving white
horse and always combine harmony and
| effect Whenever you see a man with q
blue nepktie driving a sorrel PAGER, you may
be sure that he knows nothing about har-
mony of dress.
Do not advertise your want, but casually
mention to some friend that if he hears Of
something extra good and cheap he might
mention it, though you are in no hurry to
buy. 1t will surprise you to find out how
many good things your friend knows of in
the way OF horsefesh, and how anxious he
Is to do you kindness. The first horse
will be around to your house in exactly
twenty-five minutes.
Don't get the idea that everybody In
own wants to sell his nag. Not more
than one-half of the horses will be sent
around to you.
The first point to settle is the price You
are willing to pay $780, Every man with a
1orse is willing to sell for $3.50, which is, Of
course, a sacrifice of at least fifty dollars
on his part. 1t is a sad thing to see man
have to knock off fifty dollars from the
actual value of the best family horse in the
world, but you are not advised to shed any
tears over it. in the course of an hour, if
you exhibit proper firmness and indiffer-
ence, you can beat him down to your fig
ure. You feel that you are robbing him,
and that it is mean action on your part,
but feelings don't count in buying horss.
Now, first examine the animals mouth.
If there are any tenpenny nails between
his teeth, or he has piece of boot leg laid
away alongside of his cheek for guild, he's
hearty feeder and all right. The black
spots on the teeth indicate the horses age.
II there are only three, then he is 3-year-
old. II there are sixty, then he is CO.
year-old
The eyes come next, Be sure that his
sight is all right, and that he won't take a
dancing bear or minstrel parade for a
load of new hay coming in town from Tay
lor township The best way to Try
horses vision is to stand off with piece
Of board and make as if you would hit him
across the nose.
The feet have considerable to do with
horse, as he is popularity supposed to walk
around on them. Look out for quarter
cracks, half cracks and whole cracks. Don't
pay as much for quarter crack as a whole
one. The frog of the foot should be located
somewhere near the center in good horse.
Then look for ringbones and spavins.
Take the chances that the other fellow
doesn't know any more than you do about
II, and look around the legs instead Of the
head and neck 1t will be best to find some,
or something to make him believe that you
are not a greenhorn. Then ask the follow
ing questions;
HAS he ever been sick"
"No"
docs he cribP"
mo"
"Does he kicki"
"Never."
HAS he ever run away~
"You couldn't scare him into such b
thing"
"Will he standf"
Like rock"
Afraid of anythingf"
Nothing on earth"
"What's his best recordP"
1881"
"Can my wife drive himW
Right up to an elephant, II she wants
to-"
"How is he on shoes?"
"Sayl was going to speak to you about
that. He only needs shoeing twice year.
Never saw horse so easy on shoes"
Looks like heavy FEEDER"
"But he isn't Six quarts Of oats and a
pinch of hay daily will keep him rollins
fat"
"rhen you guarantee him all around"
II do. If there's one single thing wrong
with that horse don't know it,"
"Well, guess I'll take him."
And he'll turn out to be just as good
morse as if you had gone out to pasture
some night, shut your eyes and flung p
stone, and cried out that you'd take the
nag the missile fell nearest to.-Detroit
Free Press.