The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-08

the proper slope. not too straight and not
too long; their circumference should gen.
| orally measure the same as the bone IN
| der the knee.
If the horse is wanted for use in heavy
| carriage the shoulder need not slope 50
| much as II he is 10 De used in light harness
| with plenty OF shoulder action or under
saddle. see that the shoulder has muscle
| out IS not loaded with tat. See that the
witners are thin rather than fiat and
! beeIy. Ii wanted for saddle purposes see
ina. there IS q nice sloping place for the
saddle TO ut, and that there IS room back
| OF the Withers along the neck for the
saddle TO rest. Have the back short. mus
c!es standing We'll up on each side OF the
backbone, rlos rounding we'll out on
each slde, giving room inside for the
lnlestlnes, heart, lungs, etc. See that there
| IS breadth and apparent strength across
| the IONS. Have the hips wide apart. Let
| the top OF hind quarter run straight back
almost TO dock or root Of tail, and see
! that the tail Is carried high, not dropped
down ike cur that has stolen a bone.
See that the middle is not too long, or
you Will have case of four sticks holding
up heavy ladder with q man in the
middle weighing it down. See that the
legs are short rather than long. Don't
take "!eggy" horse. See that the hind
legs are straight, well muscied At the
thlgn. hooks large without coarseness,
Dotn alike, and these low down; that is 10
say, have the leg below hook very short.
Let there be al inch more measurement
round the bone below the hook than there
Is around the bone below the knee on the
ioreIeg. See that the legs are not cow
hocked." that Is, hooks close together with
the ieet outspread. Ike q COW IS sometimes.
w hen the morse walks. see that hc puts
MS mind legs well under him towards the
front; that is, puts them down where he
faYss Sow. +aH.r ali
though he means TO walk, not straggIe
along dragging his hind legs after HIM AS
though IL hury him to move them from
the hlp down. In action, see tina: the
feet touch the door with regular one
tWo-three-four, and go IN front OF him 10
see II he lifts them up and puts them down
perfectly straight. not dlsning either IN
wards or outwards. See that he lifts both
front legs the same hei ght, not padding
with one and acting high with the other.
See that he comes down apparently toe
first, not down on his heels fat-footed.
Notice if he tavors either leg. See that he
increases the distance forward IN moving
the hind legs and seems to balance the
whole body on one hind leg while he picks
up those in front. Notice II he goes steady
at the trot. 1t he walks without swinging
his tail from side to side very N UGH he
will be q comfortable saddler. as rule.
See that his front feet when lifted do not
round in and appear to come down III the
same place. Up and down won't do, its
out and on, down lightly, then up TO the
point of snap with an elasticity bewitch-
ing; that Is called front action" Don't
let him pound on the stones forward and
If he does see that his hind action is extra
good or you will have TO send his front
feet into the shops tor repairs at the end of
a month. In the hind legs look particu-
larry for engagements of the hooks either
above or below, blood spayins, curbs and
ali sorts of troubles which exist in the re-
gion OF the hook and put a stop to horses
usefulness.
Grooms when trotting or walking horses
try to conceal defects by holding the
horses head close to hand. going slowly,
and prevent the horse from nodding his
head or making noise in breathing.
Drive and ride him yourself and have
some friend do so. Try his manners
under saddle with bit and bride. curb and
snatfle in single and double harness, etc.
Horses are made to look we'll; it is your
place to find out if they really feel well
and can do their work. If you see you
have got good one don't lose him for the
sake Of few extra dollars. If You are
stuck with a bad 'un. dispose. of him quiz
city and don't grumbie # some knowing
horseman buys him of you for 4 song
then fixes him up and sells him 20 your |
neighbor for three times the price.
For tricks that are dark and colossal |
lies, you can bet on the dealer to win the |
prize" But the dealer-except, of course, |
the irresponsible, low-down SORTS not |
always to blame for this state of things. |
Most of the lying takes the form or with |
holding information which might prove |
detrimental TO the sale. A dealer quickly |
finds out the troubles from which q horse |
in his stables is suffering, and # he can |
cure them he does SO as conscientiOuSly as |
private owner would. If, while the |
horse is undergoing treatment, buyer |
l.. -
turn up and down without any mention of |
his defects. The dealer, if he thinks |
little inducepent is necessary, never fails /
to give long list of the good qualities |
which the animal under inspection is sup
posed to possess. Whether he speaks truly |
or not it is tor the purchaser to find out,
and as he IS generally given q reasonable |
opportunity to do so, it is his own fault if |
he is stuck" In other words, in horse
parlance, your eyes are your chap"
Grooms and staolemen are not as Tnucn
in league with horse traders as many sup
pose. Many Of them cannot be influenced |
against their employers interest. Ii own
ers would deal directly with their coach
builders, harness makers and those from
whom they purchase animals, there would
be scarcely any chance for complaint on
this score.
In hiring groom he will often give an
exaggerated idea of his requirements.
Many men employ young fellow because |
he is good looking and q good talker. 1t
does not follow that because man has
just arrived from England that he is a
competent stud groom.
As men are hired for the lowest position
in the stable they should, as opportunity
offers, be gradually advanced. This is a
kind of civil service reform" that is
always found 10 work well
4. II. GODFREY,
Acting Secretary American Hackney
Horse Society, New York.