356 
Brcedinf/ of Hunters and Roadsters. 
and studied. Mechanically considered, the head, bv its form 
and position in relation to the neck and trunk, regulates the 
action and powers of the horse. Functionally, as the seat of the 
senses, the head indicates the general character of the horse ; and 
this is the more important consideration. 
Good heads I consider may be found in two forms ; firstly, 
we have the Arab type of head, with its broad forehead, taper- 
ing muzzle, capacious nasal cavities, small ears, and large free 
space for the breathing apparatus to play between the upper 
vertebra? of the neck, and the broad expanse of the lower jaw. 
Everybody agrees in considering such a head as most beau- 
tiful when it is in keeping- with the rest of the horse. This cha- 
racter of head, transmitted down a line of our blood-horses, per- 
vades the breed, and is exhibited to a great extent in our mixed 
breeds. Nothing tends to stamp the character of cross-bred 
horses so much as this head, taken in connection with form. It 
is bv no means mv object to disparage this caste of head, which 
is characteristic of the finest Asiatic horses, but simplv to remark 
that the head which becomes one horse or class is not the best 
for all. 
The Barbs generally present a different type : in these we find 
the horse larger, his hind quarters somewhat drooping (not like 
the vulgarly-bred horse, but resembling many stout racers), the 
chest deep, with large fore-quarters and loin ; the profile is longer 
and more flattened, the ear and eye very beautiful, all giving a 
placid appearance, whilst the head is fullv as easily placed in 
relation to the neck and trunk as that of the Arab just noticed ; 
moreover, the nasal passages are fully as capacious in this class 
of oriental horse as in the other. 
The Barbs formed in all probability the parent stock of fine 
horses extending over the south of Europe, as their characteristic 
qualities have alwavs been exhibited in the Andalusian horse, 
the Calabrian, the choice old breeds of Rome, and thos^ of the 
island of Sardinia ; and their form of head is characteristic of 
some of the English lines of blood-stock to the present day. 
When the broad square bead is found in common breeds or in 
the heavier class of horse, it looks dull, as is seen in those of 
Central Europe, including those of Switzerland and France. 
Artists have fallen into the way of always giving the same 
head to all forms of horse ; and the Paris prints always show the 
uplifted head, with expanded nostril, and out-stretched tail. But 
our colossal figures of g^-eat horses with these square heads are 
quite wut of keeping. That I may not be supposed to admire 
the large bonv head of the horse of Flanders or Normandy, or 
of some of the English horses, I will point to Voltigeur as the 
representative of the fine type 1 approve of. 
