Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-01-17
Points of a Horse.


II can't explain what real good
horse is" said one of the best-natured
dealers in the street. They are as diff
ferent as men. "Iu buying horse, you
must look first to his head and eyes for
signs of Intelligence, temper, courage
and honesty. Unless horse has brains,
you cant teach him anything. any moro
than you can half-witted child. See
that tall bay there. fine-looking animal,
Is hands high. You can't teach that
horse anything. Why? Well, I'll show
you difference in heads but have
care of his heels Look at that brute's
head that rounding nose, that tapering
forehead, that broad full place below
the eyes. You can't trust him. Kick?
we'll, | guess so Put him in a ten
acre lot, where he's got plenty Of swing,
and he'll kick the horn of the moon. ~
The worlds treatment of man and
beast has tho tendency to enlarge and
intensity bad qualities, if they prcdomi-
nate. This good-natured phrenologist
could not refrain from slapping in the
face the horse whose character had been
so cruelty dclineated, while he had moth
ing but the gentlcss caresses for a tall,
docile, sleek-limbed sorrel, that pricked
her ears forware and looked intelligent
enoughsto understand all that was being
said.
That's an awful good mare he ad-
ded. "She's as true as the sun. You
can see breadth and fulness between tho
ears and eyes. You couldn't hire that
mare to act mean or hurt anybody. The
eye should be full, and hazel in q good
color. / like q small, thin ear, and want
horse to throw his ears well forward.
Look out for the brute that wants to lis
ten to all the conversation that's going
on behind him. The horse that turns
back his ears till they almost meet at
the points, take my word for it, is sure to
do something wrong Sec that straight,
elegant face. A horse with q dishing
face is ~ .srdly, and a cowardly brute
is usus"g sicious Then like square
muzzle with large nostrils. to let in
plenty of air to the lungs For the under
side of the head, good horse should be
well cut under the jowl, with jow-bones
broad, and wide apart under the throt-
tie"
$50 much for the head" he con-
tinued. "The next thing to consider is
the build of the animal. Never buy o
long legged, stilty horse. Let him have
short, straight back and straight rump,
and you've got gcntleman's horse
The withers should be high and the
shoulders well set back and broad; but
don't get them TOO deep in the chest. The
fore-lcg should be short. Give mo q
pretty straight hind-leg with the hook
low down, short pastern joints, and q
round, mulish foot. There are all kinds
of horses, but the animal that has these
points is almost sure to be slightly. grace
full, good-natured and serviceable. AS
to the color, tastes differ. Bays, brown
and chestnuts are the best. Roans are
very fashionable at present A great
many grays and sorrels are bought here
for shipment to Mexico and Cuba. They
do well in hot climate, under tropi-
cal sun, for the same reason that you
find light-colorel clothing most servicca-
Bile in summer That circus horse be-
bind you is what many people call q
calico hors now, call him genuine
piebald. It's freak Of nature, and
may happen anywhere. "-ScriJner's for
january