LENGTH OF THE HEAD 43 



position to another with rapid succession; while in the dull and lethargic 

 tlieir movements are slow and not easily awakened, and their general 

 carriage is heavy and drooping. 



The backward set of the ears is frequently indicative of vice, and forms 

 a feature in the kicker and the rogue, but is also seen habitually in some 

 of tlie best-tempered and most tractable of animals. 



The general activity in the movement of the ears is a striking feature 

 in the case of blind horses, whose sense of hearing would seem to become 

 more and more acute as the loss of sight becomes more complete. Every 

 sound engages the attention Avhere vision is lost, and the ears are kept 

 in a state of constant activity, moving first in one direction and then in 

 another, the head at the same time being inclined in this direction or 

 in that, to bring the ears more immediately in line with the source of the 

 sound. Moreover, in these cases the head is carried high, and the fore- 

 limbs, which are raised well from the ground, appear to dwell in their 

 forward movement, or in other words, the horse conveys the impression 

 of feeling his way, and lacks the free, bold forward action of one with 

 perfect vision. 



LENGTH OF THE HEAD 



A head otherwise proportionate to the body may exhibit excess or 

 deficiency of development in the direction of its length, i.e. it may be 

 too long or too short. All Continental ol)servers have accepted the 

 conclusion of the distinguished Frenchman Bourgelat, that two and a 

 half times the length of the head should be equal to the distance from 

 the withers to the ground and from the point of the shoulder to the 

 point of the buttock. If the head fails to equal these dimensions it 

 is said to be too short, and if it exceeds them it is too long. Captain 

 Hayes avers that a more practical rule is to compare the length of the 

 head wdth the depth of the body at the lowest point of the l>ack. " In 

 a well-shaped horse ", he observes, " which is not in gross condition these 

 two measurements are very nearly equal." 



There can be little doubt that any great excess of length in this part, 

 situated as it is at the extremity of the neck, would not only disturb the 

 harmony of conformation, but by adding to its weight expose the fore- 

 limbs to additional wear. It is also conceivable that by displacing the 

 centre of gravity forward it would in some degree restrict their liberty of 

 action and adversely influence the pace. Moreover, horses with this fault 

 are liable to carry themselves indifferently and to bear unduly on the 

 bridle. AVhile this disjiroportion is specially objectionable in the saddle- 



