EXTERIOR. 45 



The forehead should be wide. In this instance, the 

 superior region, as in the nape of the neck, is decided 

 by the separation of the eyes and ears. In fact, these 

 two organs allow deductions to be drawn as to the 

 expression of the head ; their concurrence enables one to 

 judge of the emotions felt by a horse, especially fear and 

 the need of self-defence. 



The ears are two acoustic trumpets situated between 

 the forelock, the nape of the neck and the temples. 

 There is usually a tendency to diminish their size and 

 to place them too near. The old masters, wishing to 

 give a full face front representation of a noble animal, 

 brought the points so near together that they appeared 

 to touch one another. In a beast of burden, they 

 indicated a falling ear. 



The ear is an organ, the reproduction of the gesture 

 of which — if I be permitted so to express myself— is of 

 the utmost importance to artists. They should make quite 

 a specialized study of its form and direction ; for the ear 

 betrays every sensation of the animal. 



The attentive ear, at first darted to the fore, 

 (fig. 26), B, then agitated, indicates uneasiness ; when 

 the animal persists in letting it droop to the rear 

 (fig. 26), C, it is ready to attack, to escape to the right 

 or left, to bite or to kick, particularly if the head be 

 lowered. 



An upright and quiet ear betokens confidence (fig. 

 26), A, and should be delicate and clean cut, neither too 

 thick nor too pointed. With mares it is often longer 

 and more mobile ; the animal should be watchful for its 

 foals, its security lies in flight. 



A large ear is heavy and its weight gives it inclination. 

 When its carriage is transversely horizontal, the horse is 

 termed lop-eared. It is szvine-eared when the ear falls 

 flat to the side. This denotes common horses, with feeble 

 constitutions ; at each step, the ears move, like those of 

 a pig. 



4 The ears of a deaf horse have little mobility. Those 

 of a blind horse, on the contrary, move in perpetual 

 indecision, a mobility which is also characteristic, though 

 in a more convulsive manner, of the skittish horse. 



The ear that is anxious and termed that of a hare, is 



