STUD BOOK. 69 



direction; or what is still worse, in order to accomplish the 

 object, he is compelled to exert himself injuriously in per- 

 forming that which a little consideration on the part of his 

 master would otherwise render easy to him. In the same 

 way, if -he be harnessed too far from his neck, the centre of 

 gravity will be thrown into a contrary direction to that in 

 which it could most efficiently act; and thus loss of power, 

 and consequently injury from greater exertion, must be the 

 result. In other words, if the direction of the power em- 

 ployed be different to that of the weight to be moved, the 

 power is not used to the best advantage, and the strength of 

 the animal is wasted to no purpose. It is only by an ac- 

 quaintance with, and a study of the structure of the horse, 

 that we can put him to the best uses; not necessarily a scien- 

 tific knowledge of his structure, but so far, at least, as to 

 comprehend the nature of the machine for such the horse 

 is which we are employing. 



There are some points, however, which are valuable in 

 horses of every description. The head should not be dispro- 

 portionally large, and should be well set on, i. e. the lower 

 jaw-bones should be sufficiently far apart to enable the head 

 to form that angle with the neck which gives to it free mo- 

 tion and a graceful carnage, and prevents its bearing too 

 heavy on the hand. The eye should be large and a little 

 prominent, and the eyelid fine and thin. The ear should be 

 small and erect, and quick in motion. The lop-ear indicates 

 dullness or stubbornness; and when it is habitually laid too 

 far back upon the neck, there is frequently a disposition to 

 mischief. The nostril in every breed should be somewhat 

 expanded; it can hardly be too much so in the racer, the 

 hunter, the roadster, and the coach-horse, for the horss 

 breathes only through the nostril, and would be dangerously 

 distressed when much speed is required of him if the nostril 

 could not dilate to admit and to return the air. The neck 

 should be of moderate length. It should be muscular at the 

 base, and gradually become fine as it approaches the head. 

 The withers should be somewhat high in every horse, except 

 perhaps that of heavy draught, and it does not harm him, for 

 there is a larger surface for the attachment of the muscles of 

 the back, and they act with greater mechanical advantage. 



The chest is the first point to be looked at, both in point 

 of capacity and form. Without capacity, the lungs of the an- 

 imal cannot ba properly adapted to the exertion which he 

 has to undergo; the form is essential to be adapted for the 

 purpose for^ which he is intended, whether for riding or 



