2i6 HEAD AND NECK. 



the lower lip indicates want of vigour ; for it is much 

 more frequently observed among old horses than among 

 young ones. Richard considers that it is often inherited. 

 " We have/' says he, " ridden horses full of energy, which 

 had a pendant lower lip. Delphine, formerly a brood 

 mare at the stud at Pin, daughter of Massoud and of a 

 Selim mare, dam of Eylau, had a drooping lower lip, and 

 all her foals took after her in this respect. She, however, 

 possessed energy and blood which have left their mark." 

 Some horses have great length of upper lip, which un- 

 doubtedly looks ugly. Both this conformation and the 

 possession of a thick tuft of hair or moustache on the 

 upper lip, are indicative of coarse blood. 



Lower Jaw. — The branches of the lower jaw should be 

 broad, as viewed from the side, and should be wide apart 

 at their angles, so as to give plenty of room for the tube 

 (the larynx) which lies between them, and which opens 

 into the wind-pipe. The space between the jaws should 

 not only be broad, but should also be hollowed out, a 

 condition which will show that the parts are of firm texture 

 and free from excess of loose connective issue (p. 30). 

 The old practical rule of finding whether a horse is wide 

 enough between the jaws, is to try if the clenched fist 

 can be placed within the hollow. I venture to think that 

 few horses could successfully pass this test, if it were 

 applied with an ordinary-sized man's hand. When this 

 space is broad and well hollowed out, the horse will natur- 

 ally be able to bend his head more freely than when it is 

 narrow, and he will, consequently, be pleasanter to ride 

 and drive. 



Setting-on of the Head. — The part where the head is 

 set on to the neck should be lean and muscular, and 

 should show a slight depression behind the ears and lower 

 jaw, and also above the wind-pipe. This will indicate 

 absence of an excess of loose connective tissue, and ability 



