282 Qur Noblest Friend, The Horse 



parent shape. A Roman nose or heavy jaw will 

 necessitate extra length of nose-band and throat- 

 latch, yet the halter will often be left as originally 

 buckled, and even as the vain and giddy try to jam 

 a number eight foot into a number six shoe, so will 

 any such article of equine equipment be supposed to 

 fit, provided the sufferer can wink his eyes, wag his 

 ears, and move his jaws to masticate his food. The 

 cheek-straps not unusually draw forward against, 

 or into, the edges of the eyelid, and the tie-rope does 

 not play freely and loosely from side to side under 

 the chin as it should ; while, as often, the leather of 

 the brow-band (if one is needlessly worn) is hard 

 and sharp on its edges, and uncomfortably irritates 

 the thin skin at the base of the ears. The animal 

 will always demonstrate 'how sensitive he is just 

 here, especially when heated, by rubbing his head 

 against you, and imploring you, by every art at his 

 command, to allay the irritation of his uncomfortable 

 head accoutrements, and remove those terribly hot 

 and uncomfortable blinkers, that the air may have a 

 chance at the sensitive surfaces, and by increasing 



