MODERN FARRIER. 125 



but likewise from the means that are used to make 

 horses stand with patience to undergo the operation, 

 that is, a twitch on the nose ; and perhaps, if he is 

 troublesome to the operator, one put on the ear. It 

 is to be observed, that horses are very much guided 

 or directed by the sense of hearing. This is obvious 

 in those that hear distinctly, from the motion of 

 their ears, and the direction they give them to 

 whatever quarter any sound comes from, the atten- 

 tion they pay to what passes around them, or to 

 what is spoke to them. Many of them, particularly 

 the finest kind, as they only are liable to this kind 

 of treatment, have the sense of hearing considerably 

 blunted, if not rendered quite deaf from the above 

 -operation. 



As this operation is generally first performed on 

 3"0ung horses at the time they are breaking, it is the 

 more hurtful ; as uncommon sounds, such as the rat- 

 tling of carriages, drums, &c. which are entirely new 

 to them, and to which they are then more exposed 

 on the roads or in streets, must make the greater 

 impression on the sense of hearing : and perhaps it 

 may be owing to the above cause only that many 

 horses are timorous to pass carriages, and remain so 

 ever afterwards. 



Another disadvantage which attends this opera- 

 tion upon the ears of horses, is, that they will not 

 go on cheerfully when travelling in opposition to 

 the wind, more especially if it rains ; for as the wind 

 and rain get free access into the ears, they are conti- 

 nually shaking their heads and endeavouring to turn 

 ■irom it; and those who are of a more impatient 

 temper will wheel suddenly round, in order to avoid 

 what gives them so much uneasiness. They are 

 then said to be restive ; the whip and spurs are ap- 

 plied by way of chastisement for a supposed fault 

 only. 



From what has been said, it will be obvious, from 

 the practice of taking away the natural covering 



