8 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 



Eyes is a sure indication of their goodness ; but this is not all that 

 should be attended to: the eyelids, eyebrows, and all the other parts, 

 must also be considered ; for many horses whose eyes appear clear and 

 brilliant, go blind at seven or eight years old. Therefore be careful to 

 observe whether the parts between the eyelids and the eyebrows are 

 free from bunches, and whether the parts round the under eyelids be 

 full, or swelled ; for these are indications that the eyes will not last. 

 When the eyes are remarkably flat, or sunk within their orbits, it is a 

 bad sign ; also when they look dead and lifeless. The Iris, or circle 

 that surrounds the sight of the eye, should be distinct, and of a pale, 

 variegated, cinnamon color, for this is always a sure sign of a good 

 eye. 



When the horse is first led out of a dark stable into a strong light, 

 be sure to observe whether he wrinkles his brow, and looks upwards 

 to receive more light ; for that shows his eyes to be bad. But if you 

 observe that the dimensions of the pupil are large, and that they con- 

 tract upon his coming into a strong light, it is almost an infallible sign 

 that his eyes are good. 



Sometimes what are called Haws grow on the corner of the eye, and 

 get so large that they infect the eye, and cause the horse to go blind. 

 You may take them out. and although it will disfigure the eye, yet it 

 will be little worse. 



In the next place examine the Teeth, as you would not wish to pur- 

 chase an old horse, nor a very young one for service. A horse has 

 six teeth above, and six below, in the fore-mouth, which are called the 

 Cutting-Teeth. At two years and a half old it changes two on the top 

 and two on the bottom, which are called the Nippers ; at three years 

 and a half it changes two others, called the Separaters ; at four and a 

 half it changes the" Nook Teeth ; and at five years old has a full mouth f 

 when the Tasks, commonly called the Bridle-Fangs, rise. 



Horse-dealers have a trick of knocking out the nook teeth at three 

 years and a half, to make the horse appear five years old when only 

 four ; but they cannot raise the tusks. At six years old the Nook 

 Teeth are a little hollow, and at seven there is a black mark, like the 

 end of a ripe bean. Afterwards yeu will observe the flesh to shrink' 

 from the teeth, which grow long and yellow. 



Horse-dealers have also a method which they call Bishoping a 

 horses mouth; that is, filing the tusks shorter, rounding them at the' 

 k ends, taking a little out of the nook teeth, so as to make them rather 



» hollow, and then burning them with a hot iron. I was hired by 



Anthony Johnson, of Wincolmlee, Hull, as farrier to a number of 

 horses that were going to the city of Moscow, in Russia, for sale, and 

 we had a little grey stoned horse, called Peatum, that was seventeen 

 years old, the mouth of which I bishoped, and he passed for six years 

 old, and was the first horse sold, and for £.~>00 English money ! I 

 only mention this as a caution to horse-buyers. 



The Feet should next be regarded ; for a horse with bad feet is like 



a house with a weak foundation, and will do little service. The feet 



should be smooth and tough, of a middle size, without wrinkles, and 



* neither too hard and brittle, nor too soft ; the Heels should be firm, 



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