INTRODUCTION. 3 



The Setting-on of the Head. — There are few things 

 more connected with the comfortable use of the horse 

 than this. A great deal of the pleasure of riding and 

 of driving depends on the manner in which a horse 

 carries his head. It must form a certain curve with 

 the neck, so as to play easily, or the mouth cannot 

 be light and pleasant. A horse boring with his nose 

 before him will tire any man's arms, and will always 

 be unsafe. 



The Lips. — If we take the parts of the face indivi- 

 dually, the lips are of more importance than is gene- 

 rally imagined. A firm and compressed lip is a pretty 

 sure pledge that the muscles every where have consi- 

 derable power. A horse with his lips flabby and 

 hanging down is sure to be diseased or sluggish, or 

 old. The sense of touch resides in the horse's lips, 

 and, if they are pendulous, the energy is weakened ; 

 and this loss of energy will interfere with that delicacy 

 on which the easy management of the animal so much 

 depends. 



The Nostrils. — So far as speed and spirit are con- 

 cerned, the form of the nostrils is of considerable 

 moment. The horse breathes through the nostrils ; 

 and therefore, as all the air which inflates the lungs 

 must enter at the nose, a large nostril is indispen- 

 sable. The capacities of an animal should control 

 the purposes to which mankind compel him ; and if 

 a horse has much speed and endurance, a large nostril 

 generally gives notice of his innate properties. The 

 dimensions of this part constitute a main difference 

 between the blood and the country horse. A brisk 

 trot of a few minutes' duration will leave no doubt 

 b 2 



