THE GREEK HORSE. 15 



follows that the back sinew gives way and renders the horse lame. 

 But if the horse, when in action, bend his knees flexibly at a walk, 

 you may judge that he will have his legs flexible when in full 

 canter ; for all horses as they increase in years increase in the flex- 

 ibility of the knee. And flexible goers are esteemed highly > and 

 with justice, for such horses are much less liable to blunder or to 

 stumble than those which have rigid, unbending joints. But if 

 the arms below the shoulder-blades be thick and muscular, they 

 appear stronger and handsomer, as is the case also with a man. 

 The breast also should be broad, as well for beauty as for strength, 

 and because it causes a handsomer action of the fore-legs, which 

 do not then interfere, but are carried wide apart. And again, the 

 neck ought not to be set on like that of a boar, horizontally from the 

 chest, but like that of a game-cock, should be upright towards the 

 crest, and slack towards the flexure ; and the head, being long, 

 should have a small and narrow jaw-bone, so that the neck shall be 

 in front of the rider, and that the eye shall look down on what is 

 before the feet. A horse thus made will be the least likely to run 

 violently away, even if he be very high-spirited, for horses do not 

 attempt to run away by bringing in, but by thrusting out, their 

 heads and necks. It is also very necessary to observe whether the 

 mouth be fine or hard on both sides, or on one or the other. For 

 horses which have not both jaws equally sensitive, are likely to be 

 hard-mouthed on one side or the other. And it is better that a 

 horse should have prominent than hollow eyes, for such a one will 

 see to a greater distance. And widely-opened nostrils are far 

 better for respiration than narrow, and they give the horse a fiercer 

 aspect , for when one stallion is enraged against another, or if he 

 become angry while being ridden, he expands his nostrils to their 

 full width. And the loftier the crest, and smaller the ears, the 

 more horse-like and handsome is the head rendered ; while lofty 

 withers give the rider a surer seat and produce a firmer adhesion 

 between the body and shoulder. A double loin is also softer to sit 

 upon, and pleasanter to look at, than if it be single ; and a deep 

 side, rounded toward the belly, renders the horse easier to sit, and 

 stronger, and more easy to keep in condition. The shorter and 

 broader the loin, the more easily will the horse raise his fore- 

 quarters and collect his hind-quarters under him in going. These 

 points, moreover, cause the belly to appear the smaller; which, if 

 it be large, at once injures the appearance of the animal, and ren- 

 ders him weaker and less manageable. The quarters should be 

 broad and fleshy, in order to correspond with the sides and chest; 

 and, should they be entirely firm and solid, they would be the 

 lighter in the gallop, and the horse would be the speedier. But 

 if he should have his buttocks separated under the tail by a broad 

 line, he will bring his hind legs under him with a wider space be- 



