CHAPTER XXV. 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
1. A Nice Horse. 
A horse wide between the eyes, with a nice tapering 
muzzle and a pleasant, bright eye exhibits indications of a 
good disposition and a kind and even temperament. Large 
ears, carried well forward when traveling, is also a good 
indication. The neck should be rather long, bowed upward 
and well cut out under the jaws. The shoulders should be 
long and well slanted forward, the withers quite high run- 
ning, nicely curved, into a short, strong back terminating in 
long, round, well developed hips and rump. The chest should 
be deep and well rounded out. The belly should be fairly 
well developed but tidy, well "ribbed up," that is, not having 
too much space between the last rib and the hip bones. The 
bones of the legs should be flat and clean, terminating in 
well-shaped feet. 
2. How to Examine for Soundness. 
Give the horse a quick trot or gallop to see that he is 
not lame. As soon as he stops put your ear to his nose to 
ascertain that his wind is not affected. Then examine his 
nostrils and mouth, and at the same time examine the teeth 
to determine his age. Look closely into the eyes to see that 
there is nothing wrong with them. Pass the hand up around 
his ears and the pole of the head to see that they are all right. 
Examine one side of him first by starting at the neck, running 
the hand over it to the withers, then over the shoulder, down 
the outside and inside of the front leg, watching carefully for 
splints, sidebones, ringbones and such like. Raise the foot 
and see if it is well fc ned, with good, strong heels. Look 
back along the belly for warts and running sores caused from 
castration and pass the hand down the back of the hips to 
see that the hip bones are both of the same size. Follow the 
hind leg over the hock and hind fetlock and look for spavins, 
windgalls, curbs, splints, sidebones and ringbones. Examine 
the stiffles to see that they are all right. Examine the hind 
foot as you did the front. Go to the other side and examine 
him in the same way. Now stand back and take a good look 
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