224 ON THE HACKNEY AND HUNTER. 



hones. Too extenfive quarters prefs too much 

 upon the fore-parts, and occasion the horfe to 

 over-reach. I know not whether it has been 

 hitherto remarked, that a horfe going wide 

 behind, appears to an unfkilled obferver, to be 

 lame of that hind-leg, upon which his eye is 

 fixed, notwithflanding it be perfectly found ; 

 but fo it certainly is. 



The health and condition of animals, is af- 

 certained by the glofs, fleeknefs, and evennefs 

 of the coat. If the horfes hair (tares, or flicks 

 out, and look dead, he is difeafed, or ill -fed. 

 If nits appear upon the extremity of the hairs, 

 he has been lately at grafs. 



The fiens of vice and ill-nature in Horfes, 

 mutt be fought in the eyes and countenance. 

 A vicious horfe, when he lays his ears and 

 looks back, expofes the whites of his eyes, and 

 his malicious intentions are very vifibly painted 

 in his countenance. He ftands commonly 

 with his neck fixed, as if prepared for offence. 

 Care fhould be taken to difcriminate. The 

 beft-natured horfes will, on the approach of 

 man, lay their cars, fmile (for they are mod 

 truly rifible animals) and move their necks to 

 and fro, in a wanton and playful manner. 

 There is an exprdlion of noblenefs and gene- 

 rality beaming from the eye of a good, and 

 well-tempered horfe; and it is grievous, often 



to 



