now TO BUY A HORSE. 403 



and its good points will depend upon their adaptation to 

 particular kinds of work. The head in all the breeds 

 should be fine, broad between the eyes, and tapering 

 towards the nose ; the jaws ought to be clean, and not 

 possessing too much flesh ; the eye full, sparkling, and 

 lively ; the nostrils rather large, open, and of a clear red ; 

 the space underneath between the jaws should be roomy, 

 and free from glandular swellings or lumps ; the ears should 

 be well set into the head and pointed forwards, but not 

 large ; the neck should be well curved, lightly formed 

 rather than muscular, and considerably arched beneath at 

 its union with the jaws ; the shoulder should be high and 

 sloping ; the withers should be of medium breadth, and not 

 too high, as it mil be found that high- withered horses are 

 generally narrow in the chest, which is always a bad point, 

 as not allowing sufficient scope to the lungs, and never so 

 pleasing to the eye as a broad expanded front Still, some 

 horses have proved both hardy and good in point of action 

 with narrow chests ; but these have had depth to compensate 

 for the want of breadth. However, there is a medium in the 

 width of the chest, because great width is invariably accom- 

 panied with want of action ; and such horses are better 

 adapted for cart or farm purposes. 



The back should be short and somewhat arched across 

 the loins ; the chest deep, and the ribs expanding, especially 

 between the last rib and the huckle-bone, or hip, so as not 

 to permit of a hollow betwixt them, which is always un- 

 sightly to the eye, if it is not a physical defect. "No feeding 

 will fill up a hollow in that quarter ; nor can a horse be 

 pleasing to the eye which has not well-formed hind-quarters. 

 These should be rounded and full, and the muscles of the 

 hips well developed. A low rump is a characteristic feature 

 of the Irish horse. This is termed among dealers goose- 



