LESSONS IN HORSE JUDGING. 25 



than he eats, from it dropping out of his mouth 

 when chewing ; he will take twice the time to 

 feed, and he can never keep his condition. Some- 

 times he swings the lips about in trying to seize a 

 morsel, showing that some power in them re- 

 mains. If this be so, present a pail of water to 

 him and watch him drink, and see if he can purse 

 his lips naturally, or if they are so powerless that 

 he has to dip his whole muzzle into the water 

 nearly up to his eyes. If he cannot keep his lips 

 pursed and so keep up a steady drinking effort, 

 don't buy him. 



15. — Next, hold his nostrils open and look in- 

 side. The pink, or it may be bluish red mem- 

 brane you see, ought to be covered with spots of 

 water like dew. There ought not to be any ulcers 

 or abrasions to be seen, or ^ raw ' spots of any 

 kind. You will always, however, find a very 

 small opening like a ^ punched out ' hole, but this 

 is natural, and no notice need be taken of it. 



16. — If there be any discharge from the nostrils, 

 save a slight watery discharge, it may be that the 

 horse is suffering from a 'cold,' or he may be 

 ' glandered. ' The color of the discharge must be 

 noticed, also its thickness. Then, again, you must 

 notice whether it comes from both nostrils or only 

 one. If it be from ' cold, ' it may be variously 

 colored, even green, as when the horse is feeding 

 on green food in summer. It also may be of any 

 thickness from wateriness to ropiness, and yet any 

 be from a harmless 'cold. ' If, however, it be thick 

 and gluey, and sink when put into cold water, or 

 be tinged with blood, it is most likely that the 



