POINTS OF THE ITIORSE. Y 
16. Back sinew. 29. The sheath. 
17. Fetlock or pastern-joiut. 80. The root of the dock or tail. 
ae ee THE HIND-QUARTER. 
20. Heel. 31. The hip-joint, round, or whirl-hone, 
32. The stillejoint. 
BoE aD DEEETECE: 33. 33. Lower thigh or gaskin. 
21. Withers. 34, The quarters. 
22. Back. 35. The hock. 
23. 23. Ribs (forming together the 36. The point of the hock. 
barrel or chest). 37. The curb place. 
24. 24. The circumference of the 38. The cannon-bone. 
chest at this point, called the 39. The back sinew. 
girth. 40. Pastern or fetlock-jcint. 
25. The loins. 41. Coronet. 
26. The croup. 42, Foot or hoof. 
27. The hip. 43. Heel. 
28. The flank. 44. Spavin-place. 
THE RELATIVE PROPORTIONS of, and exact shape desirable in, each of 
these points, vary considerably in the several breeds. Thus, when speed 
and activity are essential, an oblique shoulder-blade is a sine gud non ; while 
for heavy harness it can scarcely be too upright, enabling the pressure of 
the collar to be more easily borne, and allowing the animal to exert his 
strength at right angles to its long axis. Many men are good judges of 
hunters and hacks, but are almost wholly ignorant of the qualities desirable 
in a coach or cart-horse. There are some elements, however, which are 
wanted in any horse, such as big hocks and knees, flat legs with large 
sinews, open jaws and full nostrils. It will, therefore, be necessary to de- 
scribe the points of each breed; but I shall here give those which are 
always to be attended to as being of importance in any kind, whether used 
for racing or hunting, for the road or for agricultural purposes. 
TAKING FIRST THE HEAD:—lIt should be known, that the volume of brain 
contained within it determines the courage and other mental qualities of 
the individual. Now as, ceteris paribus, size is power, so without a wide 
forehead (which part marks the seat of the brain), you cannot expect a full 
development of those faculties known as courage, tractability, good temper, 
&e. The size of the muzzle is partly regarded as an element of beauty, 
and partly as a sign of high breeding. Hence, in the cart-horse, a coarse 
jaw and thick muzzle are not regarded. A large and patent nostril can 
not be dispensed with in horses intended for fast work, and should be, 
desired even in the cart-horse, for in drawing heavy loads on a hot day, 
his breathing may be rendered almost as laborious as that of the highly- 
‘asked racehorse or hunter. So also with the jaw, if there is not ample 
width between the two sides for the development and play of the larynx 
and windpipe, the wind is sure to be affected, and, in addition, the head 
cannot be nicely bent on the neck. A defect in this last point is the 
usual cause of that straight and inelegant setting on of the head which is 
so common, and which the practised horseman avoids, as alike unsightly 
and prejudicial to the wind and the mouth ; for a horse which cannot give 
way to the pressure of the bit is sure to become dull in his mouth, and 
therefore unpleasant to ride or drive. The eye is to be examined with a 
twofold purpose, firstly, as an index of the temper, the nature of which is 
marked by the expression of this organ ; and secondly, in reference to its 
present state of soundness, and the probability of its continuing healthy. 
A full and clear eye, with soft, gazelle-like expression, is scarcely ever 
associated with a bad temper, and will most frequently continue sound, if 
the management of the horse to which it belongs is proper in itself The 
