tB6 



PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. 



Part III. 



5580. TTie organs of the head. The head of the horse is remarkable for its dimensions, formed by an 

 elongation of the jaws ; yet in him, as in most of the grazing tribes, its bulk is in an inverse proporti on to 



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613 



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the length of the neck, otherwise the muscles would not be able to lift it. It is an important part 

 considered as relative to beauty alone, it being in the inferior heavy breeds but little marked by grace or 

 expression ; but in the improved varieties it presents lines worthy the painter's i)encii and the poet's 

 fancy. Neither is it too much to say, that in no part of the body is this amelioration of breed so soon 

 detected as in the head. Can any thing be conceived more dissimilar than the small inexpressive features 

 of the cart horse, and the bold striking ones that grace the head of the blood horse ? The quick succession 

 of movements in his pointed ears, tlie dilatations of his expanded nostrils, or his retroverted eyes, which 

 give fire and animation to the character of his head when under the influence of any excitement. This 

 is the more worthy of remark, when it is considered that some of the principal aids to expression in the 

 human countenance are wanting in the horse. Man borrows much of his facial expression from his eye- 

 brows, and when to these the varied action of the mouth is added, it amounts to more than a half of the 

 total expression. A great accession of beauty is gained in the improved breeds by the increase to the 

 facial angle, which in them is about 25, but in the heavy breeds is usually only 23" {a a a a). 



5581. The ears {b b) in the improved breeds are small and pointed ; in the heavy they are not only large 

 and ill shaped, but they frequently separate from each other : these defects gave rise to the barbarous 

 custom of cropping, now happily in a great measure abolished. The ears are criteria of the spirit, as 

 well as of the temper; we have seldom seen a horse which carried one ear forward and the other back- 

 ward during his work, that was not hardy and lasting. Being not subjected to early fatigue, he is atten.. 

 tive to every thing around him, and directs his ears different ways to collect sound from every quarter. 

 Ihe ears are also indications of temper, and a horse is seldom either playful or vicious, but his ears are 

 laid flat on the neck. It is fortunate that we are provided with such a warning, by an animal that does 

 not want craft to surprise us, nor strength to render his resentment terrible. 



5582. The forehead next presents itself (c c), straight, and of a proper width in the improved breeds, 

 adorned by nature with an elegant portion of hair, which, detaching itself from the rest of the mane, 

 flows down the face to protect both that and the ears from the attacks of insects. 



5583. The eyes {d d) deserve particular attention, not only for their utility, but as objects of beauty and 

 expression. In the blood horse the orbitary fosse,or eye sockets, are more prominent and more inclined, 

 by which the axes of his eyes diverge more from each other than those of the heavy breed ; by which 

 not only he is enabled to see further behind him, but the prominence of his eyes gives great beauty and 

 expression to the blood head. The further consideration of the eyes and their criteria of soundness, will 

 be postponed to the anatomical detail. In old horses most of the fat of the body which is superficially 

 placed, becomes absorbed : in this way the eye, which is usually embedded in a vast quantity of this 

 matter, losing its assistance, sinks within its orbits, and thus the cavities above, called eye-pits, shew 

 themselves deeply in an aged horse. 



5584. From the ears to the angle ofthejaivs (e e) large vessels and extensive glands are situated. "Within 

 these branches of the posterior jaw is lodged the throat, and it will be observed how necessary it is that 

 these branches should expand sufliciently to admit of the motions of the head, particularly of those in- 

 fluenced by the reining-in of the bridle ; otherwise the blood vessels and other parts must be injuriously 

 pressed upon. 



5585. The hollow between the jaws is called the channel, and at the under part of it (/) a considerable 

 branch of an artery proceeds from the inner side over and around the outer, and which branch forms the 

 most convenient situation for feeling the pulse of the horse. 



5.586. The face (g) of the improved breed of horses presents either a straight line, or one slightly 

 curved inwards towards the lower part ; whereas in the heavy breeds, it is very commonly found to be 

 curved outward. This part comprises, as with man, from the forehead to the lips. When the face is 

 covered with white, it is considered a blemish ; but when a white sixjt only exists in the^forehead, it is 

 considered a beauty. 



