PURCHASING A RIDING HORSE

Be careful to stand on a level with the horse, otherwise you may be misled as to his height. He must have a fair amount of breeding. Dislike a horse with a

1. a coarse big head;
2. a small sunken eye;
3. a washy colour;
4. a long slack back;
5. a hollow back;
6. flat sides (a bad stayer);
7. a slack loin (probably a bad feeder);
8. a light loin (won't carry weight);
9. a bad girth (won't stay);
10. a thick short neck;
11. very low withers (the saddle will work forward);
12. a narrow chest, or forelegs close together (no room for lungs);
13. forelegs not straight - stand behind and watch the horse as he walks away;
14. legs that are 'light of bone', especially if immediately below the knee;
15. very long or very short pasterns;
16. toes turned out;
17. hind legs too far behind;
18. a tendency to trot either very wide or very close;
19. very straight or very bent hocks;
20. a tendency to be 'split up' between the thighs (under the tail);
21. flat feet or very small feet;
22. one foot smaller than another.

His action should be light, free, and straight. Crossing is a bad fault. And a good walk is essential. Stand behind him as he trots away - you cannot tell from the side whether the action is true. The shoulder should be long and sloping, but this is not an essential. Remember that the strength of a chain is at its weakest link, and if a horse has one radical defect you lust reject him.

Shakespeare knew what a horse should be:

Round-hoof'd, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long, Broad breast, full eye, small head and nostril wide, High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong; Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide.

THE RULES OF WARRANTY

A good hunter must be sound in wind and eyes, quiet to ride, have been hunted, and be capable of being hunted. Good hacks must be sound in wind and eyes, quiet to ride, and not lame. Good chargers or good school horses must be quiet to ride, quiet with troops, sound in wind and eyes and not be lame. Good harness horses must be sound in wind and eyes, quiet in the harness specified, and not lame. Good polo ponies must be sound in wind and eyes, quiet to ride, go to a ball, and be capable of being played in a game. Horses with a warranty that they are quiet to ride or drive must also be workably sound, and not have any infirmity or disease that renders them incapable of reasonable work.

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