CHAP. XVIIL 



ON THE TAIL. 



AS the head at one extremity is the princi- 

 pal part of the horse from which v/e may form 

 ajudgmeut of his temper and the action of his 

 forehand, so at the other the tail exhibits, in a 

 great degree, the strength and action of his hind 

 quarters. When a horse has been docked, 

 nicked, and thrown up well, if the operations 

 are performed properly, he will carry his tail 

 very high, should he be an animal of spirit, 

 which shews that he is strong in the spine and 

 quarters; and so much depends on this, that a 

 bad horse never carries his head and tail well. 

 Horse dealers are so much aware of this, that 

 they decide on the judgment of a purchaser 

 by his examination of this point; they there- 

 fore have recourse to what is called figging, 

 (an operation too well known to need 



