The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-04-19
READING HORSE CHARACTER.

eve as the feature above al olHeiS
which tells the tale, but our lhVestis"-
ton of the subject has led US 10 soile-
what different conclusions, ana eNpell-
ence with these animals has caused US
not TO place too much reliance upon lts
expression in deciding as to its vicious
traits or docilty. Notwithstanding tlAa'
the examination Of the eye is almost an
lnborn habit in Judging the character OIL
the creature, yet it seems that this par
ticular feature is often over estimated'
We have known persons to condemn
horses on account Of the appearance OF
their eyes, saying, II never feel sa1e
with a horse which is always turning
the whites of its eyes at me-" but closer
inspection would have shown the IVORY
white to be the result of absence OF the
coloring matter in a part when Is usu-
ally of a darkened hue, and was really
the natural condition of things rather
than a vicious habit. This deviation
from the ordinary course OF nature pro-
duces variety sometimes caileu
watch eye" occasionally confused,
however. with another kind called wall
eye" and here it may not be out OF
place to explain the difference between
these two peculiar conditions.
The former appears as if illuminated
nv the contrast of the ivory white sur
rounding that part Of the eye frequent
w called the sight, which In its turn
NAV be almost black. This somewhat
singular ARRANGEMENT of things gives
the organ the appearance Of being ever
on the outlook watching, as 1t were.
Some horses have both eyes constructed
on the watch-eye plan, and 1t gives the
animal a rather wild expression, When
in point of fact 1t may be very doclie
creature.
The wall eye, on the other hand, Is
condition due to the absence of coloring
matter this time in the interior OF the
organ, giving it blush or steel-gray
appearance which is striking contrast
to the soft brown eyes so often noticed
in horses
1t must not be inferred that the eye
should be entirely disregarded In FORM
ing an opinion as to the character OF
horse, but it should be remembered that
its expression 10 materially Influenced
by the attitude of the ear, an organ
which is often lost sight of as far as pc
ing an index to the animals character
Is concerned.
Our experience in judging horses mas
led us to regard the ear with much care,
as its attitude and movements Indicate
quite a variety Of conditions; horses
whose ears are ever restless without ap-
parent cause are frequently ultra-ner-
yous creatures. well worth watching.
| Again. the restless ear will sometimes
point to defective eyesight, which may
be accompanied with partial or total
| loss of vision, while animals which
throw them closely back upon the poli
are often inclined to nip or bite indeed,
| this very attitude Is frequently signal
| for combat.
On the other hand, horses whose ears
are kept nearly in the same position
most of the time are more than likely
to be dull, stupid creatures, If they are
! not totally deaf Deafness In horses is
not at all a common thing, though we
OCCASIONALLY meet with cases in which
the animals attention cannot be at
tracted by sound.
The ear of the horse Is not only par
tial index to the animals character as
far as vice and docility are concerned,
but it's movements will at times sound
the Keynote Oh udHSer VI win "o w ~
on the alert. In TINS connection soliie,
what remarkable incident was reiatee'
to the writer few years ago by one OF
the Union soldiers who escaped throusn
that famous hole or LIBBY prison. put
was afterward retaken. The officer VINO
recaptured the man subsequently III
formed him that his proximity was hIst
revealed by the ears OF MS (he ol1lcer -
charger.
The story in brief, was that the es-
gaming soldier and A. mesSmate were
concealed in a wood. One night they
were closely pursued by the southern
officer and his men, and while stealing
away from them as cautiously as they
could the cracking of the dry leaves
attracted the attention of the captain 8
horsa which somewhat suddenly and
without apparent reason pricked its
ears and seemed alarmed. The officer.
taking the hint ordered his troopers to
| surround the spot. and by the morning
he had the two fugitives closely cor
ra1ed
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