| Having recently been lent an original copy of the | | | | many horses startle merely out of fear'. Although |
| 'Treatise on the Diseases of Horses' written by | | | | he does 'imagine not a few [startle] from some |
| William Gibson, Surgeon, in 1751, it has been | | | | defect in vision'. All horses may at some time see |
| interesting to compare horse lore then to now. | | | | something 'indistinctly' which causes them to |
| This article looks at one of the early chapters. | | | | spook, but a horse which spooks frequently when |
| Written in the old English manner with 'f's instead | | | | nothing is in front of him might be doing so |
| of 's', it does not make easy reading, but it is | | | | because of something wrong with his eyes! |
| fascinating, not least in the fact that little seems | | | | Judging a horse from his feet is apparently easier |
| to have changed in the last 300 years of our | | | | than judging the state of his eyes, but is |
| relationship with horses. The chapter on 'Such | | | | considered of great importance, as 'bad feet in a |
| Faults and Defect as ought chiefly to be avoided | | | | horse is like a horse that has a weak foundation'. |
| in buying of Horses' does not read very | | | | He describes the problems which make them |
| differently to the advice to be found in any horse | | | | more prone than others to lameness or 'at least |
| magazine or book today! Some pictures from the | | | | makes them unfit for the most common uses, as |
| book are reproduced at | | | | hunting and travelling'. |
| The author opens with the statement 'I believe | | | | It is not enough, according to Gibson, simply to |
| most of those who have had any great dealing in | | | | judge the condition of the horse's feet just by |
| horses will readily agree to this, that few things in | | | | seeing them walking as 'there are other things to |
| common life are more difficult than the buying of | | | | be considered, without which a good horseman |
| a horse well, and I have know many who have | | | | may be deceived'. |
| boasted of their skill and dexterity that way, and | | | | A 'thin foot', where the 'crust or horn is thin' can |
| made greater pretence than others in the | | | | be easily seen when the shoe is removed, but |
| knowledge of horses, very much deceived'. Ah, | | | | Gibson recognises 'this trial will seldom be allowed |
| well, yes - still very true today, though more | | | | in buying of a horse', but can be seen by |
| poetically put perhaps. | | | | examining where the shoe nails are clenched and |
| Gibson says that long experience and good taste | | | | riveted. Even strong feet can cause problems if |
| regulated with some judgement is necessary | | | | they have been neglected on a long journey, by |
| when buying a horse, 'otherwise a man is like to | | | | too much hard riding, 'especially on dry stony |
| make but an indifferent choice'. | | | | grounds, or when they stand long in a hot dry |
| Of course, 300 years ago buying a horse must | | | | stable' as they can go lame and tender, although |
| have been more like buying a second hand car | | | | will have no visible defect. A very hard strong |
| today. A horse was a necessity if you wanted to | | | | foot is the 'greatest inconveniency' as is subject |
| get around, plough your farm or carry your | | | | to rifts and fissures. |
| goods. It was not the luxury it is nowadays, and a | | | | Narrow heels are another defect described, |
| hobby, but the only mode of transport and a way | | | | although 'some horse's feet are tolerably good |
| of life. Today many mistakes are made when | | | | even where the heels are narrow'. Both forefeet |
| purchasing horses, but imagine how much worse it | | | | too, should be looked at to ensure that they are |
| would have been when your livelihood depended | | | | of equal size, although he says that this can occur |
| on it! | | | | from the horse 'using one leg more than the |
| Gibson says that there is so much advice that | | | | other as it happens to working men who use the |
| could be given that it would fill up a whole volume, | | | | right hand and arm more than the left'. A 'very |
| and indeed points his readers to other books that | | | | high heel is another extreme which greatly lessons |
| were available at the time - that of the Duke of | | | | the value of a horse' and is a 'cause of |
| Newcastle for example! To show nothing much | | | | unsteadiness in a horse's going' and 'exposes him |
| changes, today, this type of advice is found in | | | | often to trip and stumble'. A large foot which is |
| nearly every edition of every horse magazine | | | | disproportioned to 'his other parts' is also to be |
| sold. | | | | avoided, and may have damage 'which not only |
| Nowadays we advise new owners to try and | | | | denotes weakness, but heaviness and inaptitude |
| take a horse for a trial period - Gibson also | | | | to any brisk and vigorous action, and therefore |
| recommends this, noting that 'several defects in a | | | | unfit for the coach or saddle'. |
| horse are of such a nature, that they cannot be | | | | Gibson does not agree that white feet are |
| easily discovered till a person has had him a short | | | | generally worse that any other colour, stating 'I |
| time in his own keeping'. Visible defects, which | | | | have seen white footed horses have their feet |
| should automatically be avoided, include specks on | | | | such as the ablest judges could not find fault with'. |
| his eyes, 'if he startles or flies off at the sight of | | | | He continues; when a foot is smooth and tough, |
| common objects, if his feet are so plainly bad as | | | | of a middle size without wrinkles, neither too hard |
| to make him go crippling along, if he heaves at his | | | | and brittle nor too soft, and when the heel is firm, |
| flanks and coughs: these and many more of | | | | open and no ways spongy or rotten, and the frog |
| suchlike are defects that cannot be hid even from | | | | horny and dry, and the sole somewhat hollow like |
| those who perhaps know but little of the horse'. | | | | the inside of a dish or bowl, whatever be the |
| Unfortunately, this is the one chapter in the book | | | | colour, such a foot will for the most part turn out |
| where some pages are missing; however it is | | | | good'. Though he does note that a 'dark or black |
| interesting to see the order in which Gibson refers | | | | hoof where it resembles that of a deer is |
| to the main points which should be inspected. The | | | | generally the best', and that this is the reason |
| first few pages are devoted to examining the | | | | people will avoid buying a horse with too many |
| eyes, which we don't talk much about today. This | | | | white feet! |
| is followed by a discussion about the foot, before | | | | Moving to the shoulders, both too heavy or |
| he moves onto look more at the form, starting | | | | narrow shouldered horses should be avoided. |
| with the shoulder. Unfortunately it is at this point | | | | Heavy (by which he means flabby as opposed to |
| the pages are missing, and from this particular | | | | muscular), as they cannot move well, and narrow |
| volume we can gain no more advice from 1751. | | | | as 'such horses are generally weak'. Heavy |
| Much weight is given to the eyes, which can | | | | shouldered horses can sever for a wagon or |
| apparently fool even experienced people. Horses | | | | team, but are not fit for saddle or coach. |
| apparently should have 'transparency' of the eyes, | | | | Although the next few pages of the chapter are |
| but because of the way they are growing, up until | | | | missing, it was interesting to have been able to |
| the age of six their eyes can appear better than | | | | gain an insight into what buying a horse was like |
| they really are. It is important therefore to look | | | | 300 years ago, and to see the similarities with |
| at the 'form and manner of the eye, which | | | | today. An important purchase in those days, yet |
| includes not only the body of the eye, but the | | | | equally as difficult to judge a good horse then as |
| eyelids' and eyebrows. Apparently 'many good | | | | now. |
| ey'd horses have a heaviness in their countenance | | | | There are many tricks used today, as there |
| with a lowering brow, yet great numbers of this | | | | probably were 300 years ago, to get the |
| aspect go blind with cataracts when they are | | | | unsuspecting owner to part with their money. |
| about seven years old'. | | | | Horses can be drugged to appear more docile |
| A tip for examining horses eyes is given 'Most | | | | than they really are, might have been lunged to |
| people in examining a horse's eyes lead him under | | | | get rid of their excess energy before you ride, |
| a gateway or some shade that they may see | | | | and of course, the seller will probably talk up their |
| perfectly the colour and transparency of the | | | | good points and avoid making mention of the bad! |
| eyes, but the best way is to observe his | | | | Nowadays it is recommended that horses are |
| countenance when he comes first out of a dark | | | | always subject to a vet's inspection prior to |
| stable into a strong light; for if he has any | | | | purchase. The vet will ask what you intend to do |
| weakness in his eyes he will wrinkle his brow, and | | | | with the horse (use for pleasure, jumping, driving |
| look upwards to receive more light'. 'If the pupil | | | | etc.), and will judge the horse's fitness for that |
| lessons upon his coming out into a strong light it is | | | | purpose, and provide you with a report on his |
| almost an infallible sign that the eye is good'. | | | | health. The pitfalls that Gibson describes |
| Gibson also mentions the link between poor eyes | | | | emphasises to the modern novice horse owner |
| and spooking, or 'startling' as it was put 300 years | | | | just how important the eye of an experienced |
| ago, although he dismisses what 'some suspect | | | | person in animal husbandry really is! |
| that all horses that startle to have bad eyes... for | | | | |