LESSONS IN HORSE JUDGING. 23 



The muscles of the nostrils must be in good 

 tone. All muscles, when unduly rested, lose their 

 tone, but when only moderately used keep their 

 tone. Perhaps of all the muscles of the body the 

 muscles of the nostrils are the least likely to lose 

 their tone, because the horse has only to walk 

 quickly to be obliged to widen his nostrils and 

 breathe quicker. Even in illness, the fever which 

 so often accompanies his disease increases his rate 

 of breathing, and so exercises the muscles of the 

 nostrils. Sometimes, however, the muscles do 

 lose some of their tone, and then, if you take 

 and gallop the horse severely, the muscles vibrate 

 and make a fr-r-r-r-apping noise. This peculiar 

 noise disappears when the horse gets into regular 

 work, and the muscle of the nostril acquires the 

 requisite amount of *tone.' 



When the nostrils are a shade smaller than they 

 ought to be and the horse is put to violent breath- 

 ing effort, the muscles of the nostrils render the 

 wall of the nostrils so stiff and rigid that the air 

 in passing in makes a loud blowing noise, and 

 clearly indicates want of nasal capacity. Such a 

 one is called a ^high blower.' This is always a 

 fault, and sometimes renders a horse worthless 

 for violent effort, such as hunting, racing, and 

 drawing extra heavy loads. 



The nerve which supphes the muscles of the 

 nostrils with the power of movement must not 

 be overlooked. It comes from the brain and 

 leaves the interior of the skull through a canal 

 formed of bone, and close to the roots of the ears. 

 You see it in the living horse on either side as it 



