102 THE HEAD. 



THE HEAD. 



The proper proportion of the length of a horse's head to 

 his body has been found to be about i to 2/^ ; or approxi- 

 mately the same as the depth of the body of a well-conditioned 

 horse at the lowest point of the back. 



The bones, muscles and blood vessels should not be 

 obscured by coarse tissue, but each should stand out in a 

 clearly marked manner. 



The outline of the head may be straight, concave or con- 

 vex. Against the latter shape, when it is confined to the 

 upper part of the head, there is a prejudice born of experi- 

 ence, such conformation being the accompaniment of a bad 

 disposition. 



From the front the breadth of the head, betw^een and 

 just above the eyes, should be pronounced. Above and 

 below this point the head should taper down rather abruptly, 

 but the outside line of those parts just above the eyes should 

 extend for a short distance parallel to each other. 



The ears should be moderately far apart and compara- 

 tively small, thin and evenly shaped rather than large, thick 

 and curved, either in or out. The writer's preference is for 

 a horse that, by the constant movement of the ears in atten- 

 tion to sounds, shows much mental activity. 



The eyes sho-uld be large, bright, and with a gentle 

 expression. Horses with small eyes or with those exhibiting 

 much of the white are considered to be of sullen or ugly 

 disposition. 



The nostrils and lips should be thin ; the former, more- 

 over, should be large, wide apart and easily flexed when the 

 animal is inhaling. Small nostrils indicate a limited breath- 

 ing power. 



