Of course every man wishes for a sound horse, without defect in wind, limb, or sight. The various imperfections which occur in each I shall endeavour to point out, and I begin with the eye.

The Horses Eyes

When the animal about to be purchased is at the stable door, before he is brought out, examine his eyes; the light coming upon them in that situation will enable you to discover any defect that may exist. Remember both eyes must be in an equal degree of light; and regarding this, observe that there be no difference in the eyes, for if they be not alike, one must be diseased. If both eyes be clear, and hazel round the pupil, and the pupil itself be blue, and free from any white specks termed cataracts; if it contract in the light, and dilate when in the shade, you may conclude that the eyes are good. If the eye be blue round the pupil, or the pupil itself be in the least degree affected with cataracts, if it do not diminish, or enlarge, as the light is more or less upon it, in all these cases it is a defective eye. All weeping, cloudy, dull-looking eyes, are unsound; and if there be the least appearance, in any way, of disease in this very important organ, reject the animal.

The Jugular Vein

Mark that both jugular veins are perfect, and that a free circulation through them exists; as there are horses, which from having been unskilfully blooded, and from subsequent inflammation, have lost the vein, a defect of some consequence.

The Position

When a horse is brought out, allow him to be placed with his forelegs up hill; because if his joints be at all bent over, or his legs shaken, you will best discover it by such position. Whenever the animal is placed with his forelegs in a gutter, or down hill; or whenever the per son shewing him is continually pulling at the bit to make him shift his legs, that he may stand advantageously, be assured that his joints are impaired, and that he cannot stand firmly.

Knees

As the horse stands, examine his knees, and ascertain that no marks exist in front of them. These marks are generally the symptoms of his having been down, and even were they occasioned by other means than falling, the blemish is the same, and equally detracts from his value. Next look inside the leg just under the knee, and if any scars be visible, or the hair stick up, you may conclude that he cuts in his speed, or fast paces. Mark well that a similar scar do not exist at the ancles, or the hair appear brushed; for such marks are solely produced by the act of cutting, which, I before observed, is generally a natural, and therefore incurable defect in action.

The Hips

Look that both hips be of the same height, as horses are met with having the defect termed down of a hip.

Shewing

Having thus examined the horse as he stands, let him be run down slowly, on a rough, or stony declivity, at the end of a halter, without any support to his head, or any whip near him. If he go boldly, with his knees bent, and his foot flat, and firm to the ground, without dropping his head, you may conclude that he is sound before; and if, on running him up hill, he go with his hocks regularly together, and not dragging the toe, nor dropping from the hip, you may buy him as free from lameness. If he go pottering on the toe, and feelings I should not recommend him to be bought for a sound one.

Lameness - How Discovered

Take notice, that in examining a horse for lameness, you have only to look at his ears; for all horses that are lame before, drop their heads when they throw their weight on to the sound leg; and those that are lame behind throw their heads up when the sound leg comes to the ground.

Fencing

Whenever a horse stands in the stable fencing, that is, with a foot out under the manger, it is a certain sign that something exists uneasy to him, and may give you just reason to suspect unsoundness.

String Halt

String halt, or a singularly high motion, or twitching up of the hind legs, is too glaring to escape observation; it does not constitute unsoundness, though it lessens a horse's value. Bone spavins not unfrequently occasion a similar method of going.