REVIEW.—ON THE CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 45 
means biting or kicking. When horses move their ears in dif¬ 
ferent directions, and we remark in their countenances an air of 
inquietude and distraction, they are very likely to turn out skit¬ 
tish and shy, and therefore in riding such, attention should be paid 
to this to be prepared against anything that may happen. The 
fearless confiding animal frankly points his ears forward, looking 
at you with an expression of fidelity, resignation, and good nature, 
easy of recognition when sought bv observation. 
“The ears of the blind horse have a movement peculiar to 
themselves. They give him an air of stupidity or indecision, in 
fact, characterize him in a manner unmistakeable, and yet un- 
describable. They altogether change his physiognomy, so much 
so indeed that one has but to behold him to detect his blindness, 
without examining his eyes. The animal appears desirous of 
supplying the defect of his lost sense by that of hearing, which he 
still retains: he endeavours by every means left him to compensate 
for his deficiency, which he now seems to feel in all its importance 
to have been one of the most essential conditions of his existence. 
This accounts for blind horses being so attentive and obedient to 
the voice of their masters, as well as to that of their attendants. 
This marked attention gives an attitude to the position of the head 
as well as to that of the ears, indicative of good nature, and such 
quite alters their physiognomy. We may justly say, that as the 
loss of vision changes the expression of features in man through 
the defect of the influence the eyes exert, so the ears of the blind 
horse no less forcibly strike upon our observation So likewise 
does the horse whose eyes are imperfect give indications thereof 
by the motions of his ears. 
“ Deafness is rare in horses, and it becomes less liable to de¬ 
tection on purchase from the circumstance of its seldom being 
thought of. We do not discover it until we come to make use of 
the horse, and then even not perhaps until he has been some time 
in our possession. In itself, this defect is attended with no other 
inconvenience than that of preventing the horse hearing the voice 
of his master, and consequently obeying him. The ears of deaf 
horses move but little; generally they remain immovably fixed 
forward, in the direction in which the horse is looking, as if listen¬ 
ing to something. 
“ When horses are cast out of the (French) regiments of cavalry, 
they slit the extremities of their left ears. This is done to prevent 
the possibility of their being re-purchased. For if there be per¬ 
ceptible in any horse’s ear a cicatrix looking like that of a suture, 
which sometimes is the case, his left haunch is examined for traces 
of the brand of the regiment from which he has been cast.” 
(To be continued.) 
