Seven.—Run yure hand along the dividing ridge ov hiz boddy, from the top ov hiz withers to the commencement ov his tail (or dorsul vertibra) and pinch him az yu go along to see if he knows how tew kick.
Eight.—Look on his hind legs for sum spavins, kurbs, windgalls, ringbones, skratches, quittors, thrush, greaseheels, thorough-pins, spring-halt, quarter-kracks; see if he haz got a 406 whirl-bone; look for sum pin-hips; hunt for strains in the back tendons, let-downs and capped hocks.
Nine.—Investigate hiz teeth, see if he aint 14 years old last May, with teeth filed down, and a six year old black mark burnt into the top ov them, with a hot iron.
Ten.—Smell of hiz breath to see if he haint got sum glanders; look just back ov hiz ears for sighns of pole evil, pinch him on the top ov hiz withers for a fistula, and look sharp at both shoulders for a sweeny.
Eleven.—Hook him tew a waggon that rattles, drive him up to an Irishman and hiz wheelbarrow, meet a rag merchant with cow bells strung acrost the top ov hiz cart, let an express train pass him at 45 miles to the hour, when he iz swetty leave a buffalo robe over him to keep oph the cold, ride him with an unbrel highsted, and learn hiz opinyun ov these things.
Twelve.—Prospekt hiz wind, sarch diligently for the heaves, ask if he iz a roarer, and don’t be afraid tew find out if he iz a whistler.
Thirteen.—Be sure that he aint a krib-biter, aint balky, aint a weaver, and dont pull at the halter.
Theze are a few simple things to be looked at in buying a good family hoss, there iz a grate menny other things tew be looked at (at yure leizure) after you have bought him.
Good hosses are skarse, and good men, that deal in enny kind ov hosses, are skarser.