CHAP. I.] RIGHT ENGLISH NOTIONS OF ONE. 545 



be strained in the pastern joint, going low; 12th, 

 Whether flat-hoofed, with low heels; 13th, Whether 

 he be not narrow at the hind quarters; 14th, Whether 

 he has not spavin, windgall, or curb, ring bone, or 

 thorough-pin, or is likely to cut. Examine his sole 

 and heel for thrush, canker, or corn, and if con- 

 traction has taken place." 



Having thus before us the Frenchman's pre- 

 cautions, we come to the Englishman's long-ac- 

 cepted description of a good horse, and nothing 

 else. His head ought to be lean, of good size, and 

 long; his jowls thin and open; his ears small and 

 pricked ; or, if they be somewhat long, provided 

 they stand -upright like those of the fox, it is usually 

 a sign of mettle and toughness. His forehead long 

 and broad : not marefaced, but rising in the middle 

 like that of a hare, the feather* being placed above 

 the top of his eye, the contrary being thought by 

 some to. betoken approaching blindness. His eye 

 full, large, and bright ; his nostrils wide, and red 

 within ; for an open nostril betokens good wind. 

 His mouth large, deep in the cleft, and hairy. His 

 windpipe big, unconfined, and straight when he is 

 reined in by the bridle, for, if it bends like a bow 

 (or cock-throttled), it very much hinders the pass- 

 age of his wind. His head must be so set upon 

 his neck, that there should be a space felt between 

 the neck and the jowl ; for, to be bull-necked is 

 uncomely to sight and prejudicial to the horse's 



* The feather is a natural frizzling or twist of the hairs. 



