20 THE EXTERIOR CONFORMATION 



All the lower part of the head, including the nostrils and 

 lips, is called the muzzle. The darker the colour of this 

 part, the more is the horse esteemed. Very dark brown 

 horses are, however, an exception to this, for, in them, the 

 muzzle is generally of a tan colour, which is also prized. 

 The general contour of the face in our best horses is either 

 that of a plane, or very slightly curved inward, but not 

 equal to that of the native barb : our worst breeds arch 

 outwards. The facial straight line is found on many, per- 

 haps on most, of our esteemed racers, and of our well-bred 

 hunters. 



The lips themselves should be thin and compact, or firm ; 

 when hanging loose and pendulous, they bespeak age, slug- 

 gishness, debility, or bad health ; and it is of more conse- 

 quence than is usually supposed, that the mouth should be 

 of sufficient extent. If too small, it is unfavourable to 

 beauty ; but what is worse, it is inconvenient for the well 

 placing the bridle. A wide open nostril is not only requi- 

 site to form beauty in the lower part of the head, but it is 

 certainly conducive to free respiration or good wind. 



The channel, among horsemen, is the hollow that is 

 formed between the two branches of the posterior jaw ; 

 internally it lodges the tongue, pharynx hyodeal bone, and 

 part of the larynx ; more exteriorly are placed glands, ves- 

 sels, and fat. It can hardly be too wide, as upon its 

 width depends much of the beauty of the head ; within it 

 are lodged organs of vital importance to respiration, and 

 with width of channel the head is nearly certain to be well 

 set on the neck : but, on the contrary, if it be too narrow, 

 it becomes a still greater defect, both in the riding and the 

 carriage horse ; for in this case it will prove painful for the 

 horse to bend his head inwards, or to rein in to the bridle, 

 either in riding or driving. 



The neck should form from the head to the withers an 

 elegant curve, while its under surface ought to be but 

 gracefully incurvated near to the channel, and should join 

 the chest, by an easy flow of line, rather above the point of 

 the shoulders. In point of length, it is of consequence that 

 the neck be duly proportioned : a long neck is generally a 

 sign of weakness throughout the frame. When, on the 

 contrary, the neck is too short, the head is frequently ill- 



