THE LADY'S HORSE. n 



than for the Park. The eye moderately prominent, soft, 

 expressive, "the eye of a listening deer." The ears and 

 the eyes are the interpreters of disposition. Forehead 

 broad and flat. A " dish face," that is, slightly concave 

 or indented, is a heir-loom from the desert^ and belongs 

 to Nejd. The jaws deep, wide apart, with plenty of space 

 for the wind-pipe when the head is reined in to the chest. 

 Nostrils long, wide, and elastic, exhibiting a healthy pink 

 membrane. We hear a good deal of large, old-fashioned 

 heads, and see a good many of the fiddle and Roman-nosed 

 type, but, in my opinion, these cumbersome heads^ unless 

 very thin and fleshless, are indicative of plebeian blood. 



The setting on of the head is a very important point. 

 The game-cock throttle is the right formation, giving 

 elasticity and the power to bend in obedience to the rider's 

 hand. What the dealers term a fine topped horse, generally 

 one with exuberance of carcase and light of limbs, is by no 

 means " the sealed pattern " for a lady ; on the contrary, 

 the neck should be light, finely arched — that peculiarly 

 gracefiil curve imported from the East, — growing into 

 shoulders not conspicious for too high withers. "Long 

 riding shoulders" is an expression in almost every horse- 

 man's mouth, but very high and large-shouldered animals 

 are apt to ride heavy in hand and to be high actioned. 

 Well-laid-back shoulders, rather low, fine at the points, not 

 set too far apart, and well-muscled will be found to give 

 pace with easy action. 



He should stand low on the legs, which means depth of 

 fore-rib, so essential in securing the lad5''s saddle, as well 

 as ensuring the power and endurance to sustain and carry 

 the rider's weight in its proper place. Fore-legs set well 

 forward, with long, muscular arms, and room to place the flat 

 of the hand between the elbows and the ribs. The chest 



