SADDLE HOBSE. 77 



unparalleled ; next to this matchless paragon, a beautiful 

 horse displays nature in her highest polish and greatest 

 perfection; his gay and cheerful appearance, proudly 

 prancing and bounding, his elegance of shape, smoothness 

 of limbs, polish of skin, due proportion of form, and grace- 

 fulness of action, united to a mild, soft, faithful and patient 

 disposition, raise him far above the rest of the brute cre- 

 ation. 



I shall now proceed to lay down some rules, and to give 

 some hints for the guidance of persons requiring a saddle 

 horse. 



In order that he may have just claim to beauty and ele 

 gance, his head must be small, thin, bony and tapering ; 

 his countenance lively and cheerful ; his ears quick in ac- 

 tion, high, erect, narrow, thin, and pointing together; his 

 eyes large, round, full and black, sparkling with cheerful- 

 ness, yet hushing his agitating passions into order and 

 obedience ; his nostrils large and expanded, and, when in 

 motion, disclosing a deep red color ; his brows and fore- 

 head smooth, and not too flat ; his nose somewhat rising, 

 of good turn, and a little inclined to the Roman shape ; his 

 neck long, thin, delicate and arched, forming a beautiful 

 gradation from the breast and shoulders ; his mane half 

 the width of his neck, thin and smooth ; his shoulders 

 high, tapering, and thrown well back ; his breast plump, 

 full, and of moderate width • his fore-legs straight, flat, 

 sinewy and thin ; his arms large and muscular ; his back 

 not too short, and not too much swayed for strength and 

 durability, but pretty even and straight; his body rather 

 round and swelling than flat, and of proportionable size ; 

 his flanks plump and full, and the last rib approaching 

 near the hip bones; his hips and buttocks full, round and 

 well covered with muscles ; his chine broad ; his tail well 



