THE HORSE, HOW TO BUY. 189 



however, be too low and springy, for in that case the fetlocks are liable 

 to be abraded and wounded if the horse be galloped over clods or stones. 

 The bones of the shank (cannon bones) should be thick, for these are 

 the columns which support the body ; but they should not have the veins 

 and flesh thick likewise. For if they have when the horse shall be 

 galloped over difficult ground they will necessarily be filled with blood, 

 and will become varicose, so that the shanks will be thickened, and the 

 ekin be distended and relaxed from the bone ; and, when this is the case 

 it often follows that the back sinew gives way and renders the horse 

 lame. But if the horse when in action bends his knees flexibly at a walk 

 you may judge that he will have his legs flexible when in full career ; for 

 all horses as the}'^ increase in years increase in the flexibility of the kneo. 

 And flexible goers are esteemed highly, and with justice, for such horses 

 are much less liable to blunder or stumble than those which have rigid, 

 unbending joints. But if the arms, below the shoulder-blades, be thick 

 and muscular they appear stronger and handsomer, as is the case also 

 with a man. The breast also should be broad, as well for beauty as 

 strength, and because it causes a handsomer action of the fore-legs, 

 which do not then interfere but are carried well apart. 



"Again, the neck ought not to be set on like that of a boar, horizontally' 

 from the chest ; but, like that of a game cock, should be upright toward 

 the chest, and slack toward the flexure ; and the head being long should 

 have a small and narrow jaw bone, so that the neck shall be in front of 

 the rider, and that the eye shall look down at what is before the feet. A 

 horse thus made will be the least likely to run violently away, even if he 

 be very high spirited, for horses do no't attempt to run away by bringing 

 in but by throwing out their heads and necks. It is also very necessary 

 to observe whether the mouth be fine and hard on both sides, or on one 

 or the other. For horses which have not both jaws equally sensitive, are 

 likely to be too hard mouthed on one side or the other. And it is bette^ 

 that a horse should have prominent than hollow eyes, for such an one 

 will see to a greater distance. And widely opened nostrils are far better 

 for respiration than narrow, and they give the horse a fiercer aspect ; for 

 when one stallion is enraged against another, or if he become angry while 

 being ridden, he expands his nostrfls to their full width. And the loftier 

 the crest, and the smaller the ears the more horse-like and handsome is 

 the head rendered ; while lofty withers give the rider a surer seat, and 

 produce a firmer adhesion between the body and shoulders. 



'A double loin is also softer to sit upon and pleasanter to look upon 

 than if it be single ; and a deep side, rounded toward the- belly, renders 

 the horse easier to sit, and stronger and more easy to keep in condition ; 

 and the shorter and broader the loin, the more easily will the horse raLw 



