Horsefaq.org
A Handbook for Horse Owners
Horses cannot be described as 'regularly' or 'constantly' driven in harness, unless also warranted quiet in harness. Horses described as with 'good action' must not be lame. Horses described as 'good fencers or jumpers' are not warranted, unless the horses are sold as 'good hunters', and then only that they will jump with hounds. Horses are not described in the catalogue as warranted 'sound', but the warranty 'sound in wind and eyes' may be given. Horses are not described in the catalogue as 'quiet in traffic' unless also sold with the warranty 'quiet to ride' or 'drive'. Horses that have been unnerved must not be sold with any description that carries a warranty. Any horse that is 'tubed' or otherwise operated on for unsoundness in wind, and is not so described, is returnable. Horses are sold on the description given in the catalogue only, not on veterinary certificates; and no mention of certificates is made in the catalogue. Horses sold with a warranty making ten guineas or less are not returnable.
The fees and commissions payable to the auctioneers, in addition to advertising, keep, and all disbursements are as follows: One shilling in the pound for every lot sold. One shilling in the pound for every lot entered for sale and sold privately. No lot entered for sale, and received at the premises, is to be sold by the owner privately before the auction of that lot. Horses sold and returned in consequence of not answering to the description shall be charged full commission. Minimum fee for each horse sold - one pound. Keep - 5s. per night per horse. Halter charge - is. 6d. for each horse sold.
The two main considerations in purchasing a horse are strength and quality. If we buy the first without the second we buy a drudge; if we buy the second without the first we buy disaster. A weak horse is one without good measurements - for example, with a thin neck, a narrow chest or flat ribs, one which is light and long behind the saddle, with no breadth of quarter, small gaskins, or too split up. These are all signs of bodily weakness. In the legs we don't want to see long sloping pasterns, or feet that turn out, with brushing marks. The hocks should be well apart, and not inclined to rub together like those of cows. In short, we want to see all over the animal the signs of strength. When we say that a horse has a 'lot of bone' we do not mean that his bones are either thicker or more numerous than those of other horses: we mean only that he has good measurement below the knee, this being a sure guide to a horse's sinews. less than 8 inches is not very good. 8 inches is more usual, 9 inches is excellent - that is, of course, for hunters. Polo ponies often have less, so do country-breds in India. The shoulder of a horse is not of so much importance. Many people maintain that good shoulders are a luxury, because many horses whose shoulders are not their best quality, nevertheless use them so well that they can do