2IO HEAD AND NECK. 



Fig. 303. To show what diverse opinions exist as to the 

 ears of the horse, I give from different works on conforma- 

 tion the two following extracts, which are far from being 

 in accord with each other. "There can be no greater orna- 

 ment than long, fine, active-looking, upright, tolerably 

 close-set ears, with the points a little inclined towards each 

 other. I never saw a soft constitutioned horse with ears 

 of this description" (Carson). Goubaux and Barrier state : 

 " It is a fact worthy of notice that horses which have short 

 ears are always energetic and plucky. There seems to be 

 a certain relation between their length and the timidity 

 of their bearers. At least, this is the conclusion we may 

 draw from a comparison made among different kinds of 

 animals, of which the most timid and inoffensive have 

 them greatly developed. Carnivorous animals, on the 

 contrary, have them small. Short ears render the head 

 lighter, and the expression of the face brighter, more 

 expressive and more pleasing to the eye. In this respect 

 the Arab horse greatly excels English and Continental 

 animals. It is considered a beauty for a horse to have his 

 ears well directed to the front, at an angle of about 

 45° with the axis of the head. Quick and energetic 

 animals carry their ears in this manner. To sum up, the 

 ear is beautiful when it is short, directed to the front, 

 well placed, lean, fine, and covered with thin skin, which 

 should be adherent, and comparatively free from hair in 

 the interior of the ear." With respect to the ears being 

 " well directed to the front at an angle of about 45° with 

 the axis of the head," it is evident that such a carriage 

 of the ears, being produced by voluntary muscular effort, 

 can be sustained for only a comparatively brief space of 

 time. Almost all horses have the ability to direct their 

 ears forward in the manner mentioned, unless they are 

 prevented by disease, malformation, or injury ; but they 

 do so only when their attention is attracted to some- 

 thing in front of them. The same may be said of 

 donkeys, mules and zebras (Fig. 310). It is true that 



