CHAPTER XXV. 

 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



1. A Nice Horse. 



A horse wide between the eyes, with a nice tapering 

 muzzle and a pleasant, bright eye exhibits indications of a 

 good disposition and a kind and even temperament. Large 

 ears, carried well forward when traveling, is also a good 

 indication. The neck should be rather long, bowed upward 

 and well cut out under the jaws. The shoulders should be 

 long and well slanted forward, the withers quite high run- 

 ning, nicely curved, into a short, strong back terminating in 

 long, round, well developed hips and rump. The chest should 

 be deep and well rounded out. The belly should be fairly 

 well developed but tidy,~well "ribbed up," that is, not having 

 too much space between the last rib and the hip bones. The 

 bones of the legs should be flat and clean, terminating in 

 well-shaped feet. 



2. How to Examine for Soundness. 



Give the horse a quick trot or gallop to see that he is 

 not lame. As soon as he stops put your ear to his nose to 

 ascertain that his wind is not affected. Then examine his 

 nostrils and mouth, and at the same time examine the teeth 

 to determine his age. Look closely into the eyes to see that 

 there is nothing wrong with them. Pass the hand up around 

 .his ears and the pole of the head to see that they are all right. 

 Examine one side of him first by starting at the neck, running 

 the hand over it to the withers, then over the shoulder, down 

 the outside and inside of the front leg, watching carefully for 

 splints, sidebones, ringbones and such like. Raise the foot 

 and see if it is well fc ->ed, with good, strong heels. Look- 

 back along the belly for warts and running sores caused from 

 castration and pass the hand down the back of the hips to 

 see that the hip bones are both of the same size. Follow the 

 hind leg over the hock and hind fetlock and look for spavins, 

 windgalls, curbs, splints, sidebones and ringbones. Examine 

 the stiffles to see that they are all right. Examine the hind 

 foot as you did the front. Go to the other side and examine 

 him in the same way. Now stand back and take a good look 



