“Try,
Before you Buy,”
as Capt. Bindon cautions you, “Don’t fall in Love with him before you Ride him.” In his Gentleman’s Pocket Farrier, printed at Edinburgh in 1731, of which most of the works with a similar title are incorrect copies, with merely another name to them.
Deal with a respectable Man, to whom you have been well recommended, and stipulate, that if after a Trial for a day or two, you do not like your purchase, that upon paying a certain Sum you may return it. This sort of Agreement will not always be acceded to, unless you are known to the Dealer, and are a constant Customer.
If you have a Pair of Horses on trial, the usual charge for them, you finding provender, is about Two Guineas per Week:—Try them by driving them two or three times seven or eight Miles into the Country, where there is a good Hill to go up, such as Highgate or Hampstead Hill, you will soon find out what kind of Temper they are of:—if they have any lameness, or defects, &c.—and if they work equally, and step well together, which is extremely important;—if they are not of equal Courage and equal Pace, your Coachman will be obliged to be continually whipping one of them, in order to keep him to his Collar; and he cannot flog the Idle horse without hurting the feelings of his Industrious companion, and also those of the Persons he is driving, who, if they have any humanity, will not bear to see the willing suffer for the sluggishness of the Lazy. Moreover, every time the Whip is used the Horses spring forward, and the Carriage goes in a Hop, Step, and a Jump kind of style, which is extremely disagreeable.
Sluggish Horses are good for Nought, but to drag a Cart. Your own Arms will be almost as soon tired in making them move their Legs, as if you had travelled as far on your own Feet.
The following paragraphs are from “The New Method of Managing Horses, by the Thrice Noble, High and Puissant William Cavendishe, Duke, Marquess, and Earl of Newcastle,” fol. 1667:—
“Be not afraid of a Horse who shews Strength, Spirit, and Stomach: a Horse having them cannot choose but be made a Ready Horse, if he be under the Discipline of an Understanding Hand and Knowing Heels.
“When a Horse doth not Rebel it shews Weakness and faintness of Spirit, and no Courage. Where Nature is much Wanting, it is hard for Art to supply it.”—P. 199.
“Trying is the only way to know Horses.”