HOOFS. MANE AND TAIL. 85 



HOOFS. 



THE hoofs of a horse should be proportioned to his 

 size ; of a dark colour, smooth, tough, and nearly 

 round ; not too flat nor too upright, and the bottom 

 hollow. White hoofs are much more tender than any 

 other colour, nor do they retain or bear a shoe so well. 

 One that is flat, turning up at the toe or full of ridges, 

 or flat and pumiced on the under side, strongly indicates 

 founder or other injury. If the hair lie smooth at the 

 top of the hoof, it is an evidence of its being good, 

 should there be nothing unnatural in its shape ; but if 

 the hair stands up and appears rough, and the flesh 

 swelled a little beyond the circle of the hoof, it is a 

 proof the foot is in some way diseased and a ring bone 

 may be apprehended. 



MANE AND TAIL. 



THE mane and tail of a horse, when the hair is even, 

 smooth, long, and well proportioned, adds much to 

 the beauty, boldness, and majesty of his figure. Great 

 judgment and taste may be displayed in the trimming 

 and proportioning those two ornaments. A very large 

 horse, even if elegant, appears mean and trifling if you 

 attach to him a little rat tail ; one very small with a 

 monstrous long, bushy tail ; or a square, narrow 

 hipped, lathy horse, with a small bob tail, only serves 



