THE TYPES AND CLASSES OF HORSES 73 



horse is comparatively small, yet the shape and size of the 

 forehead is universally regarded as an important indicator 

 of intelligence and disposition. Hayes states 2 that "Col. 

 John Anderson, late Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon, Bom- 

 bay Army (than whom no better judge of a horse exists), 

 remarked to me many years ago, that a prominent forehead, 

 or rise between the eyes, is an indicator of a bad, or at least 

 of a wayward temper in a horse, which is a theory I have 

 seen verified in many instances/' In further discussing 

 the forehead, Hayes emphasizes a good width of forehead 

 between the eyes because it ' ' indicates, as a rule, free breath- 

 ing power and strong muscles of mastication ; for the bones 

 of that part (frontal bones) form a portion of the roof of 

 the chambers through which air passes on its way to the 

 lungs, and gives attachment to a powerful muscle which 

 aids in closing the jaws, and which is fixed in the large 

 depression that is just above the eyes." If a tendency to 

 fullness or prominence of forehead exists, it should be high 

 up, and just below the forehead band of the bridle. Nar- 

 rowness implies lack of intelligence, while a dished condi- 

 tion between the eyes suggests a similar mental quality. 



The ears of the horse should be placed reasonably high 

 up yet with the attachments a trifle below the poll. The 

 ears should be pointed, of medium size, with much less 

 distance between their roots than between the outer edges 

 of the eye sockets. The ear is an important evidence of 

 quality. It should have a neat attachment to the head, 

 be thin of texture, and have a covering of fine hair on the 

 general surface, with long, silky hairs on the edge of the 

 outer orifice. There seems to be considerable difference 

 of opinion among prominent authorities on what is desir- 

 able in size, form and position of the ear. Goubaux and 

 Barriere state, 3 that horses having short ears are usually 

 energetic and courageous, and that "small ears diminish 

 the apparent size of the head, render the physiognomy 



2 The Points of the Horse. M. H. Hayes, London, 3d ed., 1904, p. 194. 



3 The Exterior of the Horse, 2d ed., 1904. 



