LOWER JAW. 179 



to be tranquil, we may infer that the animal has something 

 wrong with his " wind." 



Lips. — The lips should be lean and comparatively thin ; 

 should possess considerable power of movement ; and, as a 

 rule, should be kept closed, for the sake of appearance. 

 We may generally consider that a pendant condition of the 

 lower lip indicates want of vigour ; for it is much more 

 frequently observed among old horses than among young 

 ones. M. Richard considers that it is often inherited. "We 

 have," says he, "ridden horses full of energy, which had a 

 pendant lower lip. Delphine, formerly a brood mare at the 

 stud at Pin, daughter of Massoud and of a Selim mare, dam 

 of Eylau, had a drooping lower lip, and all her foals took after 

 her in this respect. She, however, possessed energy and blood 

 which have left their mark." Some horses have great length 

 of upper lip, which undoubtedly looks ugly. Both this con- 

 formation and the possession of a thick tuft of hair or 

 moustache on the upper lip, are indicative of coarse blood. 



Lower Jaw. — The branches of the lower jaw should be 

 broad, as viewed from the side, and should be wide apart at 

 their angles, so as to give plenty of room for the tube (the 

 larynx) which lies between them, and which opens into the 

 wind-pipe. The space between the jaws should not alone be 

 broad, but should also be hollowed out, a condition which 

 will show that the parts are of firm texture and free from 

 excess of loose connective tissue {see p. 14). The old 

 practical rule of finding whether a horse is wide enough 

 between the jaws, is to see if the clenched fist can be placed 

 within the hollow. I venture to think that few horses could 



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