14 THE HORSE. 



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 upwai'ds, 

 the top of the head will be too wide, the ears ill set, 

 and the horse probably sulky. 



As in the human being, so in the horse, a great deal 

 of the expression of the countenance depends on the 

 eye. It is a most marvellous index to the w^orkiug of 

 the mind within. A glance at it will often reveal the 

 benevolent feeling, the sulky disposition, or the vicious 

 propensity that is about to manifest itself. The reason 

 of all this must be obvious, when we remember that it 

 is in direct communication with the brain — the material 

 instrument through which the mind operates. The eye 

 of the horse should be kindly, strong, bold, and fiery, 

 yet gentle looking. It should not show much white, 

 as that often indicates a vicious disposition. A horse 

 that is looking back so far as to expose the white of 

 his eye, is generally on the alert for mischief, and is 

 not to be trusted with his heels. The absolute size of 

 the eye is said to be nearly the same in all full-sized 

 horses ; but its apparent size differs gi-eatly in different 

 cases. This difference is owing chiefly to its forward 

 or backward position in the socket, together with the 

 thinness and openness of the eyelids. The eye should 

 be well set out in a prominent socket, yet not so far 

 as to be exposed to external injury. It gives a strong 

 indication both of the temper and temperament of the 



