148 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



a good one I am anxious to buy, I value the 

 ' history ' of that horse." 



The typical hunter should stand square on his 

 legs, though many a good horse has knees arched, 

 or backward, or hocks bent too much under him. 

 Such malformations may not interfere with his 

 capacity for galloping or jumping, though they 

 throw an undue strain on the limbs, and are a 

 decided eyesore. In a first-rate performer they 

 may be overlooked, provided the hocks, knees, 

 sinews, and bone, are exceptionally strong and 

 well developed. But a horse with these blemishes 

 can only be bought by reason of his performances, 

 or by a poor man at a cheap price, and is difficult 

 to sell again if the stud has to be reduced. 



Q. What points should be looked for in the 

 head and neck ? 



A. The eye should be large and generous- 

 looking, not small, " pig-eyed," restless, or sullen. 

 Much of the character of the horse may be gauged 

 by the eye. The outer portion of the eye-ball, 

 the cornea, should not be too convex, and protrude 

 beyond the eyelids, for such animals are frequently 

 short-sighted, and given to shying. This forma- 

 tion is sometimes termed " buck-eye." On looking 

 into the eye with a strong light thrown upon it, 

 and something black and of a dull nature — such 

 as a felt hat — held up in front so as to prevent 

 the light being reflected on the outer surface, 

 search should be made in the interior for cataract, 

 which if present will probably appear as a small 

 white speck, which does not move as the operator 

 continues his investigation. This spot must not 

 be confused with any speck on the cornea (the 

 outer portion of the eyeball), for such would not 



