26 



THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



pression in repose is one of mildness and amia- 

 bility, but, under the influence of excitement, it 

 dilates widely and sparkles. A horse which has 

 small eyes set close together, no matter what 

 excellences he may possess in other respects, is 

 sure to have some taint of inferior blood. Some 

 of the coarser breeds have the large eye of the 

 Arabian, but it will usually be found that they 

 have some thorouo:h-bred amonii; their ancestors. 

 Width between the sides or branches of the 



lower jaw is anoth- 

 er distinctive fea- 

 ture of the horse of 

 pure descent. (Fig. 

 3.) A wide furrow 

 or channel between 

 the points mentioned is necessary for speed, in 

 order to allow room for free respiration when 

 the animal is in rapid motion. The coarser 

 breeds have very small, narrow channels (Fig. 

 4), and very rapid motion soon distresses them. 

 The mouth of the well-bred horse is large, al- 

 lowing ample room 



Fig. 3. 



Width of lower jaw in the 

 thorouirh-brcd. 



Fig. 4. — Width of lower jaw in the 

 low-bred. 



for the bit, and giv- 

 ing hini a deter- 

 mined and ener- 

 getic, but at the 

 same time pleasant. 



