THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 27 



the time, will distinguish between playfulness and 

 vice. 



The hearing of the horse is remarkably acute. 

 A thousand vibrations of the air, too slight to make 

 any impression on the human ear, are readily per- 

 ceived by him. It is well known to every hunting 

 man, that the cry of hounds will be recognised by 

 the horse, and his ears will be erect, and he will be 

 all spirit and impatience, a considerable time before 

 the rider is conscious of the least sound. Need any 

 thing more be said to expose the absurdity of crop- 

 ping? The cruel and stupid custom of cutting off 

 the ears of the horse began (to its shame be it said !) 

 in Great Britain, and was so obstinately pursued for 

 many years, that, at length, it became hereditary in 

 some cases, and a breed of horses born without ears 

 was produced. Fortunately for this too often abused 

 animal, cropping is not now the fashion. The prac- 

 tice of lopping off two-thirds of the tail, is, more 

 excusable, on the ground of convenience to the rider. 

 In wet weather and miry roads, the switching of a 

 long drabbled swab is not desirable. The question 

 of long tails or short tails, is a question between 

 comfort and beauty of form. Now, much as we may 

 value the former, we think it ought not quite to 

 overbear all consideration for the latter ; and we -are 



