26 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



length, it became hereditary in some cases, and a 

 breed of horses born without ears was produced. 

 Fortunately for this too often abused animal, cropping 

 is not now the fashion. The practice of lopping off 

 two-thirds of the tail is more excusable, on the ground 

 of convenience to the rider. In wet weather and miry 

 roads, the switching of a long drabbled swab is not 

 desirable. The question of long tails or short tails is 

 a question between comfort and beauty of form. 

 Now, much as we may value the former, we think it 

 ought not quite to overbear all consideration for the 

 latter ; and we are glad to see that in this instance, 

 too, fashion is beginning to side with reason and good 

 taste. 



The lips of the horse are his hands ; they serve 

 both as organs of touch and as instruments of prehen- 

 sion, as may be seen when the animal is feeding. He 

 gathers up his corn with them, and collects the grass 

 into a tuft before he bites it. The lips should be thin, 

 but firm and regularly closed. Flabby, pendulous lips 

 indicate weakness or old age, or dulness and sluggish- 

 ness. 



It is thought, perhaps, with some degree of truth, 

 that indications of character may be drawn from the 

 shape of the nose : but the rules in this case are the 

 reverse of those applicable in judging of human noses ; 

 for, in the horse, the prominent Roman nose bespeaks 

 an easy, good-tempered kind of beast, but rather of a 



