THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 25 



centre turn them laterally or across ; the whole troop 

 seeming thus to be actuated by one feeling which 

 watches the general safety. 



The ear of the horse is one of the most beautiful 

 parts about him, and by few things is the temper more 

 surely indicated than by its motion. The ear is more 

 intelligible even than the eye ; and a person accus- 

 tomed to the horse can tell, by the expressive motion 

 of that organ, almost all that he thinks or means. 

 When a horse lays his ears flat back on his neck, he 

 most assuredly is meditating mischief, and the slander 

 by should beware of his heels or his teeth. In play 

 the ears will be laid back, but not so decidedly or so 

 long. A quick change in their position, and more 

 particularly the expression of the eye at the time, will 

 distinguish between playfulness and vice. 



The hearing of the horse is remarkably acute. A 

 thousand vibrations of the air, too slight to make any 

 impression on the human ear, are readily perceived by 

 him. It is well known to every hunting man, that the 

 cry of hounds will be recognized by the horse, and his 

 ears will be erect, and he will be all spirit and impa- 

 tience, a considerable time before the rider is consci- 

 ous of the least sound. Need anything more be said 

 to expose the absurdity of cropping ? The cruel and 

 stupid custom of cutting off the ears of the horse be- 

 gan (to its shame be it said !) in Great Britain, and 

 was so obstinately pursued for many years, that, at 

 3 



