18 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



and silky disposition. You can teach him any thing; 

 and, when once taught, he will rarely if ever forget. 

 Indeed, his great intelligence suggests to his owner a 

 caution : Never teach him to do any thing that you do 

 not desire him to do always and at all times; for what- 

 ever he has once acquired you can only with great 

 difficulty eradicate. I do not wish to be understood as 

 saying that every horse with a fine brain development 

 is gentle ; for he may have been trained under a system 

 so essentially vicious, that no natural amiability could 

 withstand its savage friction : but this I do wish to be 

 understood as saying, — that every horse with this full 

 and fine brain development is by nature courageous, 

 docile, and loving ; and that, if they ever become other- 

 wise, it is owing to the vicious management of those 

 who have them in charge. 



THE NECK 



is the next portion of the horse to be considered. Nor 

 do I think that sufficient attention is paid by would-be 

 horsemen to it. It is evident that much of the beauty 

 of the horse is associated with the neck. If it is too 

 thick, or too straight, or too much arched and drawn 

 back, the entire appearance of the animal is changed 

 and marred. It is also to the shape of the neck that 

 we look for traces and proof of the animal's breeding. 

 According to its length, moreover, is he easy to the 

 hand in driving, and safe in saddle-work. In the first 

 place, the head and neck must have a certain adjust- 



