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HOW TO TELL A GOOD PONY.
Walk round the pony; if it opens its eyes but does not erect its ears, it is a bad pony. Examine it by mounting it and giving it a cut; if it behaves badly it will behave the more so hereafter. If it is in poor condition it may not do so, but will be found later on that when it gets plump again that it will behave badly like any other.
HOW TO TEST A PONY FOR LAMENESS.
Take out the animal to a long walk till it perspires, then hold it firm on level ground for about one Danda (24 minutes), the side on which one testicle is contracted, it will limp on that side. If however it is not detected, make it move two or four steps down a slope holding a string round its neck, and move it round left-wise to the line joining the anus and the scrotum, i.e., its entire length. It limps within a month and a half, on the side on which it walks pressing the scrotum; or if it is made to walk roughly it limps on that day. If it keeps a foreleg unmoved or unlifted or stumbles, it is lame on that side, but this is due to some hurt. Examine it also by placing some pulses before it in the stable, if it plants both the forelegs forcibly in the same position, then they are all right. If a leg is moved slowly a little above the ground it is defective. Try it again when it rises from lying down; the side upon which it puts its weight is good, and the side on which it cannot do so is bad.
HOW TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF THE LOINS.
If it breathes quick and hard while walking or will not move even on being beaten, and sweat comes out im the ear after a short walk, it is void of strength. If one cannot go straight down a slope, it has also no strength. If one cannot walk at all, or its footprints of the hind feet do not reach up to those of the fore it has no strength in the loin.
