58 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



exceeding great value for the nobleness of their breed and 

 pedigree. The Armenian and Sophenian follow next ; 

 nor in this respect must you despise the Sicilian horses, 

 nor those of Epirus, if their manners, or good temper and 

 behaviour, and beauty do not forsake them. Those of 

 the Hunni have a great crooked head, projecting eyes, 

 small nostrils, broad jaws and cheek-bones, a strong and 

 stiff neck, manes hanging down to their knees, large ribs, 

 crooked spine, strong bushy tail, strong legs, the lower 

 part of their feet small, a.ndj}(/l, .spreading hoof^; their flanks 

 hollow, and bodies angular ; no roundness in their quar- 

 ters, or brawny development of their muscles ; their stature 

 is rather in length than height ; the bones are large, there 

 is a graceful leanness, and their very deformity constitutes 

 their beauty. Their temper and disposition is moderate 

 and prudent, and they are patient of wounds. 



' The Persian horses do not differ very much in their 

 stature and build from other kinds of horses, but they are 

 known and distinguished from them only by a certain 

 gracefulness in their gait and manner of walking. Their 

 step is short and frequent, and such as delights and ele- 

 vates the rider ; nor is it taught by art, but freely bestowed 

 upon them by Nature, — for their action is a mean between 

 ' pacers ' and those commonly called ' gallopers ; ' and 

 whereas they are like neither of them, they are thought to 

 have something common to both. These, as has been 

 proved, have more gracefulness in a short journey, but in 

 a long journey their endurance is but small. They have 

 a proud spirit, and unless it be subdued with continual 

 labour, they are stubborn and contumacious with their 

 riders. Nevertheless, they are prudent, and, what is 



