228 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALER. 



so ; few horses sleep without pointing one ear forward 

 and the other backward. 



The temper of a horse is more surely indicated by 

 the ear than by the eye, and an experienced observer 

 can tell by the motion of the ears most of what they 

 think and mean to do. When the horse lays his ears 

 back flat upon his neck, and keeps them so, he most as- 

 suredly means mischief, and the bystanders should be 

 aware of his heels or his teeth. In play the ears will 

 also be laid back, but not so decidedly, nor so long, and 

 a quick change in their position, together with the ex- 

 pression of the eye at the time, will distinguish the 

 difference between playfulness and vice. The hearing 

 f the horse is much more acute than that of a human 

 being. It is well known to hunting men that a cry of 

 hounds will be heard by the horse, and his ears will be 

 erect, he will champ the bit and be all spirit and im- 

 patience before the rider is conscious of the least sound. 

 The eye of the horse is also a pretty sure index of a 

 horse's temper, and if much of the white is seen, and 

 that restless and cast backwards, it may be suspected 

 that he is dangerous, and it would be advisable either 

 to go boldly up to his head and seize it, with the right 

 hand on the halter close to his muzzle, or else keep out 

 f the range of his heels, for the tyro may rest assured 

 that the horse is slyly watching for opportunities to do 

 mischief; the backward direction of the eye, when the 

 white is most perceptible, is only to give sure effect to 

 the blow which he is about to aim. 



