Mr. Mennill, of Leicestershire’s, famous hunter, “Whitestockings,” had four White Legs; and a better hunter never leaped a Gate. Childers had White Legs.
A Horse of symmetry and good action should not be undervalued from any peculiarity of Colour. Good Judges of Horses are very indifferent to the irregularity of Marks, &c. Thus much, however, is certain, that some colours denote Strength and Hardiness more than others, and are also more Beautiful; as the Dappled Grey,—Bays, particularly the Dappled, Golden, and Blood Bays, with the Legs, muzzle, tails, and list down the back black, Nutmeg Greys, Dark Duns, with mane, muzzle, tail, and legs, Black.
A mealy Bay and light Chesnut, or what is commonly called Sorrel, are for the most part delicate in Constitution. The latter is also often of a hot and choleric disposition.
As the Proverb says,
“A Good Horse cannot be of a Bad Colour.”
Few things are more difficult to find than Horses that are exactly what you wish.
“It is a cruel thing to say, but a very true one, that amongst the present breed of Horses in this nation, a man of any tolerable judgment can hardly find One in Fifty for his purpose, whether designed to Draw or Ride.”—Wm. Osmer on Horses, 8vo. p. 59.
Many of the Defects of Horses cannot be discovered till they have been in your possession some days. As that experienced Equestrian, Mr. Geoffrey Gambado, said, some Horsedealers, like some other Merchants, are “not a bit honester than they ought to be.”
Mr. Hanway observes, that “If the Gentleman[24] seldom treats his Friend, (and hardly ever an indifferent person,) with strict honour in selling a Horse!—what are we to expect of those who have been bred among Horses?”—Hanway’s Travels, 8vo. 1757, vol. i. p. 206.
The only safe, and indeed the only satisfactory plan, both to the Seller and to the Buyer of a Horse, is to