The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-06-07
THE HORSES CHARACTER
HIS EARS ARE A TRUE INDEX TO Hlo
DISPOSITION.

Ga to the character of horse @egard
the eve as the feature above all others
which tells the tale, but our lnvestlga-
ton of the subject, writes Z. A. A.
Grange, the professor OF veterinary
science, in the New York Times, has
led us to somewhat different conclu-
sions. aud experience with these AMI
mails has caused us not to place TOO
much reliance upon IeS~ expression IN
deciding as to it's vicious traits OF DO
cilitv. Notwithstanding that the ex-
animation of the eye is almost an IN
born habit in Judging the character
of the creature, yet 1t seems that tnlS
particular feature is often oyeresu-
mated.
We have known persons to con-
denim horses on account OF the ap-
pearance of their eyes, saying, L
never feel safe with a horse which IS
always turning the whites Of It's eyes
at me-" bat closer inspection would
have shown the ivory white to be the
result of absence Of the colorlng mat
ter in q part which is usually OF a
darkened hue, and was really the
natural condition of things rather
than vicious habit. This deviation
from the ordinary course OF nature
produces a variety sometimes called
watch eye," occasionally confused,
however, with another kind ca!lei
wall eye;" and here it may not be
ont of place to explain the difference
between these two peculiar condl-
tions.
The former appears as if ilIumin-
ated by the contrast OF the ivory white
surrounding that part Of the eye fre'
quently called the sight, which in ITS
turn may lie almost black. This
somewhat singular arrangement OF
things gives the organ the appear
ance of being ever on the outlook,
watching, as it were. Some horses
have both eyes constructed on the
watch eye plap, and it gives the ani-
NAL a rather wild expression, when
in point of fact it may be a very do
,cile creature.
The wall eye, on the other hand, IS
a condition due to the absence OF col
oring matter, this time in the interior
of the organ, giving it blush OF
steel gray appearance; which is q
striking contrast to the soft brown
eyes so often noticed in horses.
1t must not be inferred that the
. eve should be entirely disregarded III
srming an opinion as to tho cha:ac'
feE cf horse but tsian5dheT o7ds5 Tss saa
5 slgEs~c au t fss. as being an index t|
2 the animalsssaharactej;s concerned: :
+ Our experience -
., has led -
gard the ear with
care, ,es its attitude and move
ments Indicate quite variety of con-
d;tious; horses whose ears are ever
restless without apparent cause ere
freopsntly ultra-neryous ceaiures,
L-cM worth watching Again, the rest
less ear will sometimes point to de-
fective eyesight, which may be accom-
panied with partial or total loss Of
vision, while animals which throw
them closely back upon the poll are
very often inclined to nip or bite. Iu-
deed, this very attitude is fre luent'y
a signal for combat.
On the other hand, horses whose
ears are kept nearly in the same po-
sition 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 common
thing, though we occasionally meet
with cases in which the animals at
tention cannot be attracted by sound.
The ear of the horse is not only
partial index Of the animals charac-
ter as far as vice and docility are con-
corned, but its movements will at
times sound the keynote Of danger or
warn US to be on the alert. In this
connection a somewhat remarkable
incident was related to the wliter a
few years ago by one of the Union
soldiers who escaped through that
famous hole of Libby prison, but was
afterward retaken. The officer who
recaptured the man subsequently in
formed him that his proximity was
first revealed by the ears of his the
officer's) charger.
The story, in brief, was that the
escaping soldier and messmate were
concealed in a wood. One night they
were closely pursued by the Southern
officer and his man, and while steal
ing away from them as cautiously V as
they could, the cracking of the cry
leaves attracted the attention Of the
the captains horse, which somewhat
suddenly and without apparent reason
pricked its ears aud seemed alarmel.
The officer, taking the hint, ordered
his troopers to surround the spot,
and by the morning he had the two
fugitiyes closely corralled.
Another feature concerning the eGr
of horse, and sometimes taken ad-
vantage of to illustrate the intelIi-
gence of the animal, is the attitude it
assumes under certain conditions.
Thus we find trainers of trick horses
in the circus ring presenting mag
4! nifcent animal to an audience, and
he tells them it will do exactly what it
is commanded without manipulation
or sign from him. To prove his as
sertion he will stand out o. sight of
the horse and command the animal to
throw its ears forward, which is i'm
mediately done, the horse presenting
noble, picturesque appearance at
the same time. The act is accom-
| plished, however, through The assist
ance of member of the band, who
| 4, =