196 HEAD AND NECK. 



to a powerful muscle which aids in closing the jaws, 

 and which is fixed in the large depression that is 

 just above the eyes. Good width between the eyes is 

 generally regarded as a sign of intelligence and of a 

 generous disposition ; and it may indicate large capacity 

 of brain, by reason of the frontal bone forming a portion 

 of the covering of that organ. I shall refer, under the 

 next heading, to the subject of the desirability, or other- 

 wise, of a large brain in the horse. 



As seen from the front, the bones at each side of the 

 head, from the outside corner of the eyes to the hollow 

 above the eyes, should run nearly parallel to the long 

 axis of the head, and should then narrow inwards, in 

 saddle horses and light harness horses. This desirable 

 shape is well shown in Fig. 297. If the reader will 

 compare this photograph with Fig. 298 he will see 

 my meaning ; for in the latter, the lin^ from the out- 

 side corner of the eye to the base of the ear is nearly 

 straight. This peculiarity and a certain fulness of nose 

 (which is very different to the fine modelling of the nose 

 in Fig. 297) gives a coffin shape (Fig. 299) to the head 

 in Fig. 298, which is slightly fore-shortened, and con- 

 sequently does not appear as narrow as it ought to be. 

 I am of course aware that the stable term, " coffin- 

 shaped," as applied to a horse's head, has reference 

 to its appearance in profile, and not to its front view. 



Experience tells us that the forehead should be 

 prominent immediately below the brow-band, and should 

 be marked on each side by a well-developed lump of 

 muscle which is shown fairly well in Fig. 297. I 

 am inclined to think that this conformation is usually 

 accompanied by the possession of pluck and " clever- 

 ness " ; but can give no reason. Its good or poor 

 development is, I regret to say, as difficult to clearly 

 explain in words as it is to show in a photograph ; although 

 its recognition in actual practice is an easy matter. 



It is regarded as a beauty for the eyes to be " set high 



