EXTERNAL CONFORMATION. 245 



vs-hich sIkjuM be attended to in the exterior confoiTnation 

 of the horse, and shall chose a Hackney, or horse of all 

 work, as the standard. 



CHAPTER II. 



EXTERIOR CONFORMATIOiN OF THE HORSE. 



AViio has not experienced pleasure while contemplating 

 th^ beautiful proportions and graceful symmetry of a finely 

 formed horse ] Among his admirers there are few who 

 have not formed in their fancy, an ideal model of beauty, 

 and constructed theories by which a knowledge of his 

 speed, and power, might be obtained from the relative 

 developement and proportions of his various parts. 



Nature, however, will not submit to prescribed laws ; 

 and when even the ablest men assume premises, and cal- 

 culate results, the first cause of which are ever-varying, 

 they plunge beyond their depths ; sound judging practical 

 men, on the contrary, take for their guides observation and 

 experience, not the " rules of the schools." Man has for 

 his services obtained, by blending the various breeds, an 

 infinite variety of each class, suitable to the numberless 

 modifications of work ; any theory, therefore, however 

 ingenuously supported, is calculated to mislead, rather than 

 direct the judgment aright. 



But though no one rule can bo offered to meet all emer- 

 o-encies, it has been found by experience, that there is a 

 peculiar form, position, and developement of each, that is 

 best adapted to each one of the purposes we put him to. 

 By a coiTect knowledge of the different structures ; by 

 comparing the several parts of one horse with the several 

 parts of another, we are enabled to distinguish the good 

 from the bad. _ ^ i 



From his external conformation, the practiced eye will 

 form a judgment of his power and capabilities ; from his 

 carriage, manner, eye, ear, skin, and action, we infer his 

 temper and energy, and judge of his safety in progi'ession. 



The HEAD is a very important part as indicative of cha- 

 racter ; and in few animals is an improvement in breed so 

 evident as in this. On viewing the head of the cai't and 

 23* 



