EXTERNAL FORMATION. 91 
many half-bred animals are quite equal to him—the eye of the cart-horse, 
however, showing the opposite extreme. A very prominent or unnaturally 
convex eye, called a “ buck eye,” is not to be regarded as desirable, being 
an evidence of shortness of sight, and therefore not to be confounded with 
the full and soft expression indicative of good manners, high courage 
when roused, and soundness. Next to the eyes in importance are the 
nostrils, which should be open, and when the horse has gallopped should 
stand out stiffly, showing the red lining membrane, and admitting the 
air freely. Of course, even the smallest nostrils are of larger area than 
the windpipe ; but there is generally a coincidence between their size and 
that of the internal passages higher up, and on that account a patent 
nostril is to be looked for with some anxiety. I have known some horses 
with small nostrils possess excellent wind, because in them the internal 
conformation was of full size, and if, as I before remarked, the area of the 
two nostrils together is always much greater than that of the windpipe, 
they cannot in themselves offer any impediment to breathing. Without a 
trial, however, as the internal passages cannot be measured, the size of the 
nostrils must be accepted as the best guide to that of the more essential parts, 
and practically this is sufficient for general purposes, only inferior to an 
actual trial. The ears should be moderately long, thin, and not inclined 
to “lop.” The muzzle should be fine; but in those very pointed jaws, 
which their owners regard with so much pride, as “small enough to drink 
out of a quart pot,” the nostrils are seldom large enough, and hence they 
are to be regarded with great suspicion, beautiful as they undoubtedly are. 
A slight concavity in the front line, descending from the forehead to the 
front of the muzzle, is regarded as a mark of breeding, and, if not too 
marked, deservedly so; but a very deep concavity is often attended with 
a vicious temper. Lastly, a lean and wide lower jaw should not be omitted 
as a grand desideratum ; the former point is merely a sign of breeding, 
but the latter is (as I before remarked in describing the neck) essential to 
the proper bending of the one part on the other. The experienced horseman 
always passes his fingers between the angles, and if there is not plenty of 
room, he knows that the head cannot be well carried, and he is inclined 
to suspect that the larynx will be impeded in its functions, and that, con- 
sequently, respiration will be affected either by roaring, whistling, or 
some or other of the many forms of “making a noise.” With all these 
dimensions, which may, comparatively, readily be described, there should 
be combined a cheerful and airy expression of countenance, without 
any appearance of vice. The thoroughbred horse is not often too sluggish, 
and it is not in that direction that we should look for infirmities of 
temper; nor is it easy to describe the marks or signs by which vice 
of any kind can be at once recognised from the mere expression. Still 
the horseman will do well to study the countenance of this as well as 
other breeds of horses, and he will find, in course of time, that no little 
assistance will be derived from it. 
THe SHOULDER-BLADE is, like the head, peculiarly formed in the 
Eastern horse, having greater obliquity in its position, and a superior 
length and breadth, as compared with all others. For the reasons which 
may be alleged for the desirability of these characteristics, I must refer to 
pages 8—9, where I have already given them. Suffice it to observe, that an 
obliquely-placed and broad blade, well clothed with muscles, is the desirable 
formation of this part, added to a well-developed “ point,’ as the pro- 
iinence at the joint between the blade and true arm-bone is called by the 
horseman. If this is too level and smooth, the muscles which are attached 
