340 SKIN, COLOUR, AND HAIR. 



When a dark-coloured horse has a small patch of 

 white, more or less in the centre of his forehead, it is 

 called a " star " (Fig. 300). If the white spreads over 

 the forehead, it is termed a " blaze " (Fig. 274). If 

 it runs down the nose in the form of a line of no 

 great width, it is known as a " reach " or " stripe " 

 (Fig. 405). A white or pink patch on either lip is 

 called a " snip " (Fig. 405). White, reaching down to 

 the coronet, on the leg of a dark-coloured horse, is, as 

 we all know, termed a " white stocking " (Fig. 406), 

 an expression that might be reserved for one that comes 

 up close to the knee or hock ; while that of a " white 

 sock " (Fig. 324) might be used to signify the marking 

 when it is shorter. 



Dark and more or less oval spots on a light ground 

 are characteristic of the majority of Pinzgauer horses 

 (Fig. 407), some of which fail to inherit this peculiarity. 

 Strange to say, this kind of marking is admirably shown 

 in the half-bred Japanese gelding of Fig. 408. 



Hair. — The hair of the horse may be roughly divided 

 into the fine and comparatively short hair of the coat, 

 and into the coarser and longer hair which is known as 

 " horse-hair," and which forms the fore-lock, mane, tail, 

 tuft of hair at the back of the fetlock, and the " feather " 

 on the legs of Shires and Clydesdales. No sharp 

 line of distinction can be drawn between these two kinds 

 of hair, on account of the vast variety of intermediate 

 forms. Long, coarse bristles are found about the 

 muzzle of the horse, and a few above and below the 

 eyes. They proceed from roots which are largely sup- 

 plied with nerves, and consequently they act as delicate 

 organs of touch (tentacles). " As a horse is not provided 

 with hands or paws, he is dependent chiefly on his 

 muzzle for purposes of feeling, a fact which is proved by 

 the presence of these bristles on it, and by the great 

 mobility of his upper lip. The bristles on the muzzle no 



