THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. . 37 



magnitude, although in the moments of reflection it 

 absolutely becomes a matter of admiration how the shock 

 is sustained, without a much greater frequency of the 

 danger that so seldom happens. 



The mare having been freed from her burthen without 

 inconyenience, and no circumstance arising to forbid it, 

 let her be immediately removed to a healthy and luxu- 

 riant pasture, calculated to furnish not only a sufficiency 

 of support for her own frame, but affording a superfluity 

 for the nutritious support of her young. 



How to buy a Horse. 



The first thing to be attended to is the form of the 

 animal ; the head should be fine, and broad between the 

 eyes, and tapering towards the nose — the jaws clean, and 

 not possessing to much flesh — the eyes full, sparkling, 

 and bright — the nostrils large, open, and of a clear red — 

 the space underneath between the jaws should be roomy, 

 and free from lumj)s or swellings — the ears small, set 

 well into the head, and pointing forward — the neck well 

 curved, lightly formed, and rather muscular, also well 

 arched beneath, i.e. at its union with the jaws — the 

 shoulder high and sloping — the withers of a medium 

 breadth, and not to high, as it will be found that high- 

 withered horses are narrow in the chest, which is a bad 

 point, inasmuch as it does not allow sufficient room for 

 the lungs to play — the back should be short, and a little 

 arched across the loins — the chest deep, and the ribs 

 expanding, especially between the last rib and the hip, 

 so as not to permit of a hollow betwixt them — the thighs 

 should be muscular to the hocks. See that the fore- 

 legs are muscular to the knee, and the feet nearly 

 circular, gradually increasing as they descend towards 

 the sole. 



The position of the legs and feet, or what may be 

 termed their setting-on, is a most important point; 

 viewing the horse in front, his legs should be as nearly 

 straight as possible, and his feet neither inclining to the 



