52 EXAMINATION OF HORSES AS TO SOUNDNESS 



The forehead should be broad and not too promi- 

 nent, as prominence here often denotes bad 

 temper ; the nostrils should be large and well 

 developed, in order to allow of free respiration, 

 as it must be always remembered that the horse 

 breathes entirely through his nostrils, and not in 

 any degree through his mouth, which should also 

 be of small size. 



The Eyes, — The eyes should be large and 

 prominent, and the eyelids thin. Horses with 

 small eyes are often uncertain in temper, and 

 cannot therefore be depended upon. 



The ears of a well-bred horse are usually 

 small ; they should point forwards and be 

 thin. 



Nech. — The neck should be lightly and grace- 

 fully curved upon the upper portion, and the 

 muscles here are usually very firm in a horse 

 that is in hard condition. A neck should not 

 be short and thick, but of a fair length. 



Withers. — The withers should be fairly well 

 developed and tolerably high, as space is required 

 here for the attachment of the numerous muscles, 

 lio^aments, and tendons ; besides which consider- 



