-73 — 



from the point of the withers and sliou'uUr-blade, Avhich oug^t^ 

 to run well back to the croup. The barrel should be round, are^ 

 for a horse in which strength and quickness are looked to more 

 than great speed and stride, closely ribbed up. A horse can 

 scarce]}' be too deep from the tip of his shoulder to the intersection 

 of his fore-leg— which is called the heart-place — or too wide in 

 the chest, as room in these parts gives free play to the most im- 

 portant vitals. The form of the neck and setting on of the head 

 are essential not only to the beauty of the animal, but to the 

 facility and pleasure of riding or driving him ; hence, with an ill- 

 shaped, sliort, stubborn neck, or ill set on head, the anima? cannot 

 by any possibility be a pleasant-mouthed horse, or an easj one to 

 manage. The neck should be moderately long, convexly arched 

 above from the shoulders to the crest, thin where it joins the 

 head, and so set on that when yielding to the bit it forms a s-emi- 

 circle, like a bended bow, and brings the chin downward and 

 inward until it nearly touches the chest. Horses so made are 

 always manageable to the hand. The converse of this neck, 

 which is concave above and stuck out at the windpipe like a cock's 

 wattle, is the worst possible form ; and horses t o made almost 

 invariably throw up their heads at a pull, and the most ex- 

 ceptionable of brutes, regular star-gazers. The head should be 

 rather small, bony, not beefy, in the jowl ; broad between the 

 eyes, and rather concave, or what is called basin-faced, than 

 Eoman-nosed, between the eyes and nostrils. The ears should be 

 fine, small and pointed ; the eyes large, clear and prominent, and 

 the nostrils wide and well opened. A horse so framed cannot 

 fail, if free from physical defects, constitutional disease and vice, 

 to be a good one for any purpose — degree of strength, lightness 

 and. speed being weighed in accordance with the purpose for 

 which he is desired." 



The following form is a good one to use in purchasing a horse : 



Received (insert place and date) of Mr (insert name) 



Dollars, .for. . . .(describe horse or mare, and pedigree of same, if any) 



warranted years old f state age) sound, free from vice^ 



and quitt to ride or drive. 



