HINTS ON HORSES 



21 



Mouth. — Mouths have many forms. In 

 a young horse the lips are short. A well- 

 broken horse with a light mouth retains the 

 short lips ; whereas pullers, and horses 

 gagged with bit and bearing-rein, acquire 

 long, slit-up mouths. This form of mouth is 

 generally associated with muscular develop- 

 ment of the neck (Fig. lo). 



Maiic. — Well-bred horses have fine, straight 

 manes and tails. Under-bred horses have 

 coarse, bushy, or curly manes and tails. 



Neck.—T\\Q upper outline of the neck 

 shows condition, and varies from convex to 

 concave. Stallions have convex crest lines. 

 Geldings have straight necks, unless they 

 have been stallions for a few years, in which 

 case they retain the curved crest. A mare's 

 neck is generally straight, but rounds up 

 when at grass. The above remarks refer to 

 a horse carrying its head naturally, without 

 any bridling. 



