To the inexperienced the purchase of a horse is a matter of some little difficulty and risk, and the object of this treatise is to throw out some few hints to enable the intending purchaser to ascertain first what sort of horse he requires (not always an easy task), then the best and safest way to buy him, and the best and most economical way to preserve him in health and condition to perform the duties required of him.

And first I must caution all purchasers against a very common fault -that of wanting, and expecting to find perfection in any horse; there is no such thing either in man or horse; all that can be done is to select one as nearly as possible approaching the standard required. As in everything, "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing;" it is particularly so in all relating to the purchase and management of the horse. The inexperienced purchaser should therefore place himself either in the hands of an experienced friend, or respectable dealer, and unless he knows something of an animal previously, be very cautious in purchasing at the sales by auction, or from advertisements, however flatteringly described, and seemingly fair in allowing trials etc. The great demand for horses, both at home and abroad, during the last few years has raised the price at least fifty per cent., and in some classes to even more than that.

There are several highly respectable dealers in London, and generally one at least in most large towns in the country, to whom an intending purchaser may apply, and who, on his stating the sort of horse he requires, and the purpose for which he requires him, will show him some from which he may make a selection, - the dealer guaranteeing the horses to be sound and quiet to ride or drive, etc. As so much difference of opinion exists as to what constitutes soundness or unsoundness in horses, most dealers of the present day decline to warrant any horse sound, but allow the purchaser to have him examined by any veterinary surgeon he may select, whose certificate that he is sound at the time of purchase exonerates the dealer from all responsibility in that respect. Most horses purchased out of a dealer's stable are fat and short of work, and at first care is requisite that they be used carefully and steadily, and brought to work by degrees, or illness may probably result to the horse and disappointment to the owner; the dealer not unfrequently getting the blame for what arises, not from any fault of his, but from a want of knowledge or care on the part of the owner in too soon putting him to work for which he was not yet fit, and the ill effects of which a little care, a few days' patience, and a mild dose of physic would have prevented.

In his choice of a horse the purchaser will of course be guided by whether he wants one for riding or driving purposes; if for the former he will be particular that the shoulder lies well back, and if strong, not loaded at the top or points - that he has a good back, deep body, clean, flat, wiry-looking legs, and free from large splints, curbs, spavins, etc.; that his feet are firm and of moderate size - neither large and flat, and therefore necessarily weak, nor strong and narrow like those of a mule. When a horse has natural feet of the latter description they are generally remarkably sound, and will stand a great deal of work; but, as a rule, that shape is produced by internal disease, rendering the horse unsound when put to work.

If for driving purposes, he need not be so particular about the shoulders; for harness they may be stronger, heavier, and more upright, as many make capital harness horses that are, from their formation, very uncomfortable to ride.

Having met with one suitable for his purpose, the purchaser must not let a few pounds prevent him buying him, if rather more than the price to which he had proposed to go. For instance, an intending purchaser limits himself to price, say 70l.; he sees one the very thing he wants for a lew pounds more, but declines to go beyond his fixed price. He eventually buys one he thinks may suit at about his price; after a time, finding he will not do, he changes him away for another as unlikely to suit him, paying 10l. or 15l. more, simply to get rid of the first. This again is changed away in his turn, and so on, till at last he finds himself still unsuited, with one, that altogether, after the different changes and payments, costs him nearly double the price of that he declined at first as being beyond his figure.

Horses are for the most part unfit for the London market, and for general use, till they are at least five years old; but a dealer will occasionally buy a good one at four years old, if at a corresponding price. Some men, and often young men, fond of riding, cannot afford to give a high price for a horse for their own use. He has either to put up with an unsound or a blemished one. But if his work is not hard, and he is a pretty fair horseman, he would find it advantageous to buy a good four-years old and use him gently for a year, when, if all went well, he would have a good horse at a cheaper rate. A man must understand something about horses and their management to do this to advantage.

Horses For Light Harness

In this class may be included horses suitable for gigs, T-carts, light broughams, dogcarts, etc. They should be well-bred, neck rather long and arched, with good back and quarters, strong oblique shoulders, carry a good head and tail, and be of a generally showy and stylish appearance, with high grand action. Horses of this description are more fitted for the park and for show than for real work, and command high prices.

For general use horses of a more common description will be preferred - less showy, and with less action; the better to stand the wear and tear of the hard roads, and must be selected according to the work required of them. Many of them are very fast, and can trot up to fifteen or sixteen miles an hour. All must have a certain amount of style and action to render them safe and pleasant to drive; but as a rule, the higher and grander the action, the less useful is the horse for real work, the wear and tear of horses of this class being so great as almost to preclude them from all that can be called work, and they are suitable only for the park and show.

The most fashionable colours are bay, brown, chestnut, and black. The height will vary from I5hds. to I5hds. 3m., according to the size and description of carriage he has to draw, and the price will vary from 50/. to 150/., according to style and action.

The Horse For Heavy Harness

Horses for this description of work are those that have grown too large and coarse for carriage horses, and are used principally to run in spring vans by railway carriers and others requiring great strength, combined with a certain amount of pace, and for which the cart-horse is not adapted from being too slow, and from his weight and heavy action liable very soon to shake himself on the road when put beyond a walking pace. Another sort is the common, coarse, half-bred horse, too light for a cart-horse, and too plain and heavy for private carriages. These are generally used in omnibuses, for which they are admirably adapted, as from their size and power, as well as being for the most part active, and on short legs, they can draw these heavy machines, often loaded inside and out, at the rate of six miles an hour - which is as fast as the frequent stoppages, the bad foothold on the stones, and the crowded state of our streets will admit.

The height of the former will be from 16hds. to I7hds.; that of the latter from I5hds. 2in. to 16hds. Good useful animals of either class will cost from 40/. to 50/.