6s 



CHAP. XXIII. 



ON CROPPING AKD FOXING. 



THE only reason that can be assigned for 

 cropping horses is, to improve their appearance; 

 and this operation is performed on those par- 

 ticularly that have heavy ears, or what are 

 commonly called sow ears ; but as many peo- 

 ple crop their horses from caprice only, be their 

 ears ever so handsome, it is necessary, witli 

 deference to the better judgment of others, to 

 point out what horses the process of cropping 

 would become, as v/ell as the form in which 

 the ears ought to be cropped to shew the neck 

 and head to advantage, and to improve the 

 general appearance of the horse. 



If a heavy-eared horse be badly formed 

 about the neck, cropping will not improve, but, 

 on the contrary, disfigure liim. If he has a 

 fine, regularly curved neck, rising gradually 

 from the withers to the crest, and termir-atin^ 



