48 STORIES ABOUT HORSES.

looking red and fresh with, for an open and
fresh nostril is always considered a sign of good
wind. ‘The mouth should be large; the wind-
pipe capacious, and appear straight when the
animal bridles his head, since if it bend like a
bow it is not formed for a free passage of the
breath. The head should be set so on the
neck that a space may be felt between the latter
part and thechin. Thecrest ought to be strong,
and well-risen, the neck straight and firm, the
breast strong and broad, the ribs round like a
barrel, the legs clean, flat, and straight, and the
tail and mane should be long and thin, not
short and bushy. When a hunter has been
thus chosen, and has been taught to obey the
signal of the bridle and hand, has gained a
true temper of mouth, and has learned to stop,
make forward, and turn readily—if of a proper
age, he is fit for the field. It 1s a rule with
stanch sportsmen that no horse should be
used for hunting till he is five years old,
although some will take them to the field at