THE EXTERIOR CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 15 



the manner in which horses are managed in Arabia, which 

 account Mly for the evil disposition of the breed. Ill 

 treatment to the horse is always remembered. Its memory 

 is excellent, and an injury is never forgotten. A single act 

 of barbarity may change the disposition of the creature, 

 and knowing this circumstance, we can easily comprehend 

 why the Arab horse is generally an enemy to peace. 



The dog, on the other hand, is a creature educated by 

 fondness. The animal of this species, a stranger to its 

 master's eye or hand, which passes away its life chained to 

 a kennel, soon becomes an untamed brute. But the dog 

 kindly treated is thereby improved ; he looks for, and he 

 answers to affection. He cannot be harmed by any amount 

 of judicious attention. He is the very opposite of the 

 horse ; the one animal is injured by the demonstration 

 which aids the development of the other. 



THE EXTERIOR CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 



The horse's body, like that of the human form, when ana- 

 tomically considered, is divided into head, neck, trunk, and 

 extremities. The parts which enter into the formations of each 

 have different scientific designations ; and though experience 

 has proved that there is a form best adapted to the gene- 

 rality of horses, yet the same unerring monitor teaches that 

 by such rules no man can pick out the best animal from a 

 given number of horses. So much depends on nervous 

 excitement, or spirit and endurance, which is not to be 

 known by any exterior conformation ; the actual trial alone 

 can decide the point, 



A good form seldom covers a bad horse, yet very good 

 animals are generally notoriously ugly creatures. Hark- 

 away was a peculiar example of this truth ; a more ungainly 

 beast never crossed a lady's path, but a better horse never 

 entered the racecourse. When, however, judging of exte- 

 rior conformation, the breed, age, and condition of the 

 animal has to be fairly considered. The horse of one year 

 old, or more correctly speaking the yearling, provided he 

 has height and bone which shall hold forth no promise to 

 the trainer's eye, may nevertheless pass all before him on 

 attaining his fourth year, or may turn out a regular clipper 

 upon gaining his sixth year. 



