29 



GHAP. IX. 



ON THE MOUTHc 



EVERY part of the horse demonstrates 

 some peculiar qualitiesj and none more than 

 the mouth. A horse is reckoned hard mouthed 

 when he bears much on the bit without obey- 

 ing it, and is heavy in hand. This is ex- 

 tremely unpleasant, as well as painful and 

 laborious to the rider, and such horses are gene- 

 rally sluggish, stubborn, and ill-tempered, 

 thick necked, stiff, and aukward in their mo- 

 tions, easily frightened, very indiiFerent in their 

 paces, and are perpetually gaping, and swal- 

 lowing the bit. They are for the most part 

 thick winded, or narrow in the windpipe, and 

 they open their mouths to assist respiration. 

 On the contrary, a horse with a fine mouth 

 champs and plays with the bit briskly, vibrates 

 his nose with quickness, and goes forward 

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