The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-27

high destiny. but it cannot even yet be said
that we have reached the end OF his capacity
for development.
But while consciously or unconSclously
every American loves a horse, il is more
often than not the case the most devoted
rance regarding him. Men who riQe and
drive horses all their ives admit they have
never, in years of ownership, learned enough
about them TO be able to buy good one.
Such a man desiring To purchase a horse
seeks out the most trustworthy dealer he
can learn of and commissions him to make
the purchase, relying on the mans 1udg-
ment and putting lis money into the animal
lie selects. Even after doing this the pur-
chaser has always lingering doubt as to
whether he may not have been cheated-a
point upon which he might safely set his
mind at rest as he probably has been, IN
less lie has been careful indeed in his choice
. Of a dealer. The common Ignorance of
horse buYers has from time out OF mind
Deen an invitation ana a sanction to IN
scrupul0us horse-dealers Tor every sort aud
kind Il sharp practice in working off un-
desirable stock. And yet there is very little
excuse for this state Of affairs. Any man
or woman who rides or drives horse, even
oCcasi naliy, can, by little use Of tie or
binary faculties Of observation, become
sufficiently familiar with the various points
G1 good animal to make q very fair seiec-
ton among number Yet a physician
who. III the course Of long and successful
practice. had been the owner of a number
Of horses. and who is an excellent reins-
man and graceful rider (Wheu his steed is
brldled and saddled foI h.nfj once asked the
writer enc Of the most glaring defects a
hardly used horse can exhibit, what do
you mean when you say q horse Is knee
sprung?"
Not much worse than this, c lnsIderng the
relative opportunities OF the speakers, was
the innocent question of lady who, OBJ
serving an animal passing badly afflicted
with siringhalt in both hind legs and dis
tressinely rheumatic foTw;r', asked. inno-
Gently, Isn't there someti in the matter
with that horse?" Being ssu ed that there
was. size complacently decl re !, Il thought
so. from the way he walks
What goes to the makeup of a good
horse? Putting aside the veil Of mystery
that has so long enshrOuded the subject, the
general principles TO be borne in mind are
few end simple. and the matter of cultivat-
lug the eye in scanning an animal ought not
TO tax tie average intelligence very verely.
According to pr0verb Of those famous
horse-loyers, the Arabs, horse should have
-four points long, four short and four
broad" The points that should be long
are the neck, the forearms, the thigh and the
belly. The back, pasterD, tail and ear
should be short, the forehead. chest, Group
and limbs broad. There are the same rea-
sons for these requirements as exist
for similar ones in the human
frame. Your short neeked, thick
throated man is neither graceful nor conf
Portable. I our athlete wants broad shout
ders; they are in the horse, as in him, an
indication Of strength. He needs a deep
chest TO give room for heart and muscles.
The chest should be broad, bu. not too
broad, as in that case speed is impaired. A
long back is apt to be weak; a short fore
arm lacks in reach and leverage. The hoof
and pastern Ghe short bone between the
fetlock and the hoof) correspond with the
human fingers. and any undue length Of the
pastern is an indication of weakness and a
tendency 10 break down.