CONFORMATION. 433 



888. The Mouth. 



The Mouth of the well-bred horse is small and the lips are small aiid 

 thin and yet firm. Fig. 1. The mouth of the underbred horse is large, 

 and the lips are large and flabby. Fig. 16. Also fig. 26. 



889. The Eye. 



The Eye should be large, prominent, and mild, with a well-developed 

 brow and fine eyelids. The weapons of defence in the horse consist of 

 his power of flight and in his heels. Nature has made the eye of the 

 well-bred horse prominent, by means of which he is enabled to command 

 a great range of vision. Fig. 1. Such horses are generally fearless and 

 bold ; whilst an animal with a sunken eye is nearly always suspicious, 

 perhaps because he cannot see so well around him, and he is often also 

 sulky. Fig. 16. Also fig. 26. 



An eye which is unduly round in the anterior portion of its globe, and 

 on this account over-prominent, is objectionable. It is believed in some 

 cases to be productive of short-sight, and, as a consequence, of shying. 

 The prominence in the formation of the eyeball itself must not be con- 

 founded with the prominent setting on of the socket mentioned above. 



There is much to be gathered of the character of the horse from the 

 expression of his eye. The rather sunken sour, or " pig " eye is allied 

 to vice, whilst a mild expression generally indicates good temper. Horses 

 which show the white of the eye, when looking askance, are said to be 

 vicious ; but the Author has not been able to verify this tradition in his 

 experience. 



890. The Ears. 



The Ears should be thin, delicate, small, and pointed, that is, directed 

 forwards. The points should be nearer to each other than the roots. 

 Horses with their ears close at their base are generally nervous. When 

 the horse is at work, the ears should be kept firm. Figs. 1 and 3. If 

 they hang loosely, it indicates want of tone and of muscular development. 

 Large flabby ears mark an underbred horse. Figs. 16 and 26. Lop ears 

 are ugly, but are found in all classes of horses. 



891. The Mane. 



In the well-bred horse the hair of the Mane is fine, silky, and generally 

 rather scanty. In the underbred animal it is coarse, curly, and gene- 

 rally thick and abundant. 



892. The Necl-. 



The neck should be light, moderately long, and taper off towards its 

 upper end in order that the head may be set on at a suitable angle. It 

 should be " long in the rein," i. e. longer at its upper than at its under 

 side. Unless it is so formed, the neck cannot be properly arched, nor 

 can the head be well set on. Fig. 3. Also fig. 1. 



The upper line of the neck from the wither* to the head should form 



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