^o Tie Compkat BcrfimAn, CHAP. III. 



Now as touching the perfedt and true Ih?pe of a Horfe, 

 wherein we have more contrariety of opinions, than are either 

 in the Colour or Marks, whereof 1 have given you a tafle al- 

 Tlie per- ready : Neverthelefs, I wilidemonflrate how far commonly all 

 fed ib.ipe do meet in the Ihape of a well timbred Horfe. Firlt therefore it 

 ofaHorc.|^ required that the hoof be black, fmooth, dry, large, round 

 and hollow : The Palterns ftraight and upright, Fetlocks Ihort, 

 the Legs ftraight and flat, called alfo lath-legged, the Knees 

 bony, lean and round, the Neck long, high-rcar'd, and great 

 towards the Brealt,the Breaft large and round, the Earsfmall, 

 fliarp, long and upright, the Forehead lean and large, the Eyes 

 great, full and black, the Brows well filled, and Ihooting out- 

 wards, the Jaws wide, (lender and lean, the Noftrils wide and 

 open, the Mouth great, the Head long and lean like to a Iheep, 

 the Mane thin and large, the Withers fharp and pointed, the 

 Backlhort, even, plain and double chined, the Sides and Ribs 

 deep, large, and bearing out like the cover of a Trunk, and 

 dole fhut at the huckle-bone, thcBelly long and great, but hid 

 under the ribs, the Flanks full, yet gaunt, the Rump round, 

 plain, and broad, with a large fpace betwixt the Buttocks, the 

 Thighs long and large, with well fafhioned bones, and thole 

 ilefhy, the Hams dry and ftraight, the Trunchionfmall, long, 

 well fet on, and well couched, the Train long, not too thick, 

 and falling to the ground, the Yard and Stones finall \ and 

 laftly, the Horfe to be well rifen before. And to conclude, 

 the perfect fhape of a Horfe, according as a famous Horfe man 

 1 ath defcribed, is in a few words, thus. Viz.. A broad Fore- 

 head, a great Eye, a lean Head, thin, flender, lean, wide Jaws, 

 a long high reared Neck, high reared Withers, a broad deep 

 Ch'cft and Body, upright Pafterns, and narrow Hoof.- And 

 ' this is the common allowed, and approved fliape of a perfed 

 Horfe J Co as if any of thefe things be deficient in him, he can- 

 not be faid to be a Horfe of a perfedl fhape. Wherefore I 

 conclude that if a Horfe be of a good Colour, well marked, 

 and rightly fliaped, and right alfo by Sire and Mare ^ it will 

 be feldcm ken that he ihould prove ill, unlefs his Nature be 

 alienated, and marred, cither in the Backing and Riding, or 

 elfethathe be othcrwife wronged, andmoftlhamefully abulld 

 by the means of a hair^brain, negligent^or inconflderate Rider 



or 



