and beauty of the Arabian horse's neck, especially when under excitement? And 

 the whole description is of him in an excited state. A neck of a perfect arch, with 

 immense swelling muscles, a splendid large throat, and windpipe of extraordinary 

 capacity, and all set off by his beautiful flowing but light and fine mane, darting 

 out, as the writer has sometimes seen it, like flashes of electricity, and covering 

 the horse, as it were, with a glory — his eyes glowing and emitting flashes of fire 

 and light ; his nostrils curled up and almost turned inside out ; the whole head seem- 

 ingly expressed by eyes and nostrils, and that set on, or, as it were, darting forth 

 from his neck of thunder. The description conveys to my mind and senses a true 

 and vivid picture of that which my own eyes have seen. 



"The Arabian is a horse of the highest courage, in stature about fourteen hands 

 two inches; a horse of length, power and substance, combined with the elastic and 

 the sinuous-like movement of the serpent. He is a very perfect animal; he is not 

 exaggerated — in some parts large, meager and diminished in others; there is a 

 balance and harmony throughout his frame not seen in any other horse — the quin- 

 tessence of all good qualities in a compact form. 



"The beauty of head, ears, eyes, jaw, mouth and nostrils should be seen to be 

 appreciated — the ears small, but sufficiently open, pricked, and altogether well- 

 formed ; the head short from the eye to the muzzle, broad and well-developed above ; 

 the eye peculiarly soft and intelligent when quiescent, emitting light and fire when 

 roused or excited, but very different to the strained, wild look and pained, staring ex- 

 pression often seen in European horses; the nostril long and well chiseled, and crisp 

 in appearance and to the touch, and capable of great distension ; the neck is a model 

 of strength and grandeur, of which he can make a perfect arch. One feature, the 

 throat, is particularly large and well developed; it is loose and pliant when at rest, 

 and much detached from the rest of the neck. This feature is not often noticed — 

 indicative not only of good wind, but of the capability of prolonged exertion without 

 distress; great width between the jaws; shoulders of a slope rarely seen in English 

 horses, but more powerful, longer, deeper and stronger at the base by the withers; 

 lighter at the points. He is deep in the chest, the appearance of which is dimin- 

 ished by his big and deep ribs ; back short, loins of immense power, and quarters long 

 and strong, the whole beautifully turned; tail set on high and grandly carried in 

 an arch, powerful in the gaskins; hocks and knees very good and large; these points 

 much larger than seen in the European horse, not only in proportion to height, but 

 often really so. Arms long, legs short, hard and clean; large tendons and ligaments; 

 pasterns sufficiently long, large, powerful and springy ; fetlock joints well developed, 

 affording room for the advantageous attachment of ligaments ; feet tough, sound and 

 good and rather deep; an honest heart, a skin as soft as silk and a coat like satin. 



"There is no weediness in the Arab — his splendid barrel will at once convince 

 a judge of his wonderful constitution, and gives the expanse necessary for the play 

 of heart and lungs; great power and ability to carry weight. Stand in front of 

 him — you will see the swell and barrel of chest expanding far beyond his shoulders 

 and width of breast. Look at him from behind — his great ribs extend far beyond 

 his haunches on either side, whereas in the generality of English horses their flat 

 sides are contained within the width of the breast, and are hidden from view when 

 you stand directly in front, and so when you stand behind are the back ribs hidden 

 by the quarters. This was not formerly the case. In examining a sketch of Eclipse 

 drawn from measurements taken by M. St. Bel, the swell of the barrel is seen to extend 

 beyond the breast and shoulders, showing at once how correct is the opinion that the 

 modern horse has deteriorated in outward form. 



"There is nothing more beautiful to contemplate than the Arabian horse. 

 Not only does he exhibit perfect symmetry, but he is a fit emblem of nobility, gen- 

 erosity and courage. 



"The formation of the Arabian horse is so perfect there is nothing to spare, no 



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