370 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



Some of the prominent external points of a fine saddle or gig 

 horse are, a moderately small head, free from fleshiness ; fine 

 muzzle and e'xpansive nostrils ; broad at the throat and wide 

 between the eyes, which denotes intelligence and courage ; 

 a dished face indicates high breeding, and sometimes, vicious- 

 ness ; a convex or Roman nose frequently betokens the 

 reverse ; the ears rather long, yet so finely formed as to 

 appear small, and playing quickly like those of a deer ; and 

 the eyes clear, f Jl, and confident, with a steady forward 

 look. Glancing them backward or askance with a sinister 

 expression, and with none or only a slight movement of the 

 head, is indicative of a mischievous temper. The neck 

 should be handsomely arched, and fine at the junction with 

 the head, while the lower extremity must be full and muscu- 

 cular, and well expanded at the breast and shoulders. The 

 Jatter ought to be high and run well back; the withers strong, 

 firmly knit and smooth ; the breast neither too prominent or 

 retreating, too wide or too narrow, and supported by a pair of 

 straight fore-legs, standing well apart. The chest should be 

 deep, and the girth large ; the body full, and not drawn up 

 too much in the flank ; the back short, and the hips gath- 

 ered well towards the withers ; the loins wide and rising 

 above the spine ; the ribs springing nearly at right angles 

 from the back, giving roundness to the body. The hips 

 ought to be long to the root of the tail, and the latter may 

 approach to near the line of the back, which is a mark of good 

 breeding. Both the thigh and hock should be large and 

 muscular ; and between the hock or knee and pastern, the 

 legs should be broa.d, flat, and short ; the hind legs properly 

 bent, and all well placed under the body ; the pasterns of 

 moderate length, and standing slightly oblique ; the hoof 

 hard, smooth, round before, and wide at the heel ; the frog 

 large and sound ; and the sole firm and concave. A white 

 hoof is generally tender, easy to fracture and to lame, and 

 difficult to hold a shoe. The draught-horse ought to differ 

 from the foregoing, in possessing a heavier and shorter neck, 

 a wider and stouter breast and low withers, so as to throw 

 the utmost weight into the collar ; a heavier body and 

 quarters, larger legs and feet, and more upright shoulders 

 and pasterns. 



Considerations which affect the value of the horse. The color 

 is not material, provided it be not pied or mealy. No better 

 color for horses can be found than the dark bay or brown, 

 with black mane, tail and legs. But most of the other colors 



