QUALITIES OF THE HORSE. 61 



hours. Horses, when worked, should be fed three 

 or four times a day with a mixture of hay, straw and 

 grain, as above described. Give them their food in 

 the manger, and be careful that it is sweet and 

 clean. By following these rules, your horses will 

 always be in good condition — will not have that 

 swelled belly so peculiar to animals who are allowed 

 to fill their stomachs with hay — and will usually 

 enjoy good health. ^ 



RULES FOR PURCHASING A HORSE. 



When you are looking to purchase a horse, first 

 examine the eyes well. The best judges are some- 

 times deceived in the eyes, therefore you cannot be 

 too careful. Clearness of the Eyes is a sure indica- 

 tion of their goodness ; but this is not all that should 

 be attended to : the eyelids, eyebrows, and all the 

 other parts, must also be considered ; for many 

 horses whose eyes appear clear and brilliant, go 

 blind at seven or eight years old. Therefore be 

 careful to observe whether the parts between the 

 eyelids and the eyebrows are free from bunches, 

 and whether the parts round the under eyelids be 

 full, or swelled ; for these ai-e indications that the 

 eyes will not last. When the eyes are remarkably 

 flat, or sunk within their orbits, it is a bad sign ; also 

 when they look dead and lifeless. The iris, or 

 circle that suiTounds the sight of the eye, should be 

 distinct, and of a pale, variegated, cinnamon color, 

 for this is always a sure sign of a good eye, and it 

 adds beauty to the appearance of the animal. 



