214 TUB horse-keeper's guide. 



of any anii/ial decrease with the increased length of tlie 

 leg3, compared with the depth of the body. In temper, 

 he should rather require the whip than show too much lire. 

 But the most perfect mechanical forms are not always 

 the most speedy or powerful ; good conformation merely 

 gives the })owcj to p<3rf()rm exti'aordinary exertion ; the 

 faculty of motion depends not on form, but on the will to 

 exert that power. This energy, or willingness to work, 

 exists in proportion to the excitability of that part of the 

 brain and nervous system which influences the muscles of 

 motion. 



Most persons prefer a plain horse who is willing to la- 

 bour, to a beautifully formed one who is not. How are 

 we to learn whether this grand qualification is in possession 

 of the animal we wish to purchase % though it can only be 

 scarcely knoAvn by trial, a great deal may be inferred by 

 close observation of the habits, countenance, and behavioui 

 of the animal. 



The energetic horse has generally a large eye, is atten- 

 tive to what is going on about him, fine muzzle, large nos- 

 trils, small ears, thin skin, and clean limbs ; he rarely car- 

 ries much flesh ; and lastly, it has been frequently observed 

 that many energetic horses have thin manes and rat-tails. 

 The sluggard has usually a small sunken eye, in a large 

 heavy head; the ears are large or sloping, and seldom 

 move ; the nostrils are almost always small, muzzle fleshy, 

 ribs flat, belly pendant, and the tail drooping. 



A small horse is capable of greater exertion than a 

 large one ; the vital principle seems to act with increased 

 activity in small animals ; in one, it is diffused, and in the 

 other, concentrated : again, like us, some have better con 

 stitutions than others ; in one, the texture of the organs 

 may be compact, and in another weak and relaxed. Hear- 

 ses with thick skins are more predisposed to attacks oi 

 grease and canker. In proportion as the legs ai-e haiiy. 

 tlie skin is thick and spcmgy, feeble in vital energy, antf 

 incapable of bearing changes of temperature. 



The coat of a black horse is coarser and thicker thai 

 that of a horse of the same breed of any other color — it 'u 

 rather uncommon to see a black thorough bred ; whereas 

 that colour is predominant among our large and heavy cart 

 horses. 



We will now proceed in detail to examire those points. 



