688 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



The face, on a side-view, should be dipped in the center between the eyes and the nose. 

 This is generally the case in the Arabian and English blood-horse; and it is a much more 

 beautiful formation than either the straight or convex profile. However ornamental it may 

 be to the human face, a Roman nose certainly does not improve the appearance of the horse. 

 The line of beauty in the one case is very different from the other. A dish-faced horse is 

 admired on all hands; but a pug-nosed man, with a projecting, upturned chin, will have some 

 difficulty in carrying off the prize for beauty. The face must be very broad between the 

 eyes; but it should taper a little as it approaches the ears. If the breadth is carried all the 

 way upwards, the top of the head will be too wide, the ears ill-set, and the horse probably 

 sulky. Now, in respect to the head, it should also be examined in detail, for in it are dis 

 tinct organs having distinct uses, and each contributing its share to the proper understanding 

 of the animal to which they belong, and to which they serve. But, of all these organs, per 

 haps the eye is the most expressive and characteristic of them all. 



The portion of the head lying between the eyes and the ears is worthy of the closest 

 possible attention ; for it is the section occupied by the brain itself, the seat of all intelli 

 gence, docility, and motive-power. This section of the head can scarcely be too full. I 

 would never breed a mare to a stallion deficient at this point of his structure. I want no 

 colts from a sire with a flat forehead; for such a horse is a savage, sulky, detestable brute. 

 To start with, he will have no memory: he will forget to-morrow what you taught him 

 to-day. Even if he wished to remember it. he could not; for he is incapable. To a bad 

 memory must be added a bad disposition. He is sour, cross, and crabbed, tricky and 

 malignant. His cunning is not playful, but mean ; and his tricks are tricks of cruelty. No 

 one ever saw a horse, with such formation of front, tractable and trusty. 



But if, on the other hand, you meet a horse with a bold, prominent forehead, a noble 

 fullness at that point where the brain is lodged, you will find him to be of a docile and silky 

 disposition. You can teach him anything; and, when once taught, he will rarely if ever 

 forget. Indeed, his great intelligence suggests to his owner a caution : Never teach him to 

 do anything that you do not desire him to do always, and at all times; for whatever he has 

 once acquired you can only with great difficulty eradicate. I do not wish to be understood 

 as saying that every horse with a fine brain development is gentle ; for he may have been 

 trained under a system so essentially vicious, that no natural amiability could withstand its 

 savage friction; but this I do wish to be understood as saying, that every horse with this 

 full and fine brain development is by nature courageous, docile, and loving; and that, if they 

 become otherwise, it is owing to the vicious management of those who have them in 

 charge.&quot; 



The Neck. The neck should be suited to the animal. A neck desirable for the 

 trotter, would be entirely unsuited to the draft horse, and the reverse. The neck should vary 

 according to the service for which the animal is designed. For speed, the nearer the neck 

 approaches the greyhound type, the better, provided it admits of sufficient room for food and 

 air. If, however, the length and lightness of the neck be carried to extreme in breeding, 

 there will be danger of constitutional weakness as a result. 



For draft horses, a heavy, thick neck, where it enters the shoulder, is very essential. 

 Much of the beauty and elegance of style in a horse depends upon the form of the neck. It 

 is much more easy to the hand in driving a horse with a long neck, than a short one. Many 

 horses have their necks spoiled by the improper use of the check-rein in producing too much 

 of a curvature, or in drawing the head back too far. This practice not only detracts greatly 

 from the beauty of the animal, but is equally cruel, and causes much discomfort and suffer 

 ing by forcing the neck and head out of its natural position. Many otherwise fine animals 

 are thus spoiled through the ignorance and false notions of beauty in their owners. 



