Record the color, condition, weight, and height of the horse at the
shoulder. (Height is given in "hands," a hand being the breadth of
the palm, or 4 inches.) Note the slope of the shoulder, of the back
and the hips, the general form of the head and neck, and the facial
expression. Find the chestnuts, warty growths on the inside of each
leg. Examine the foot, finding the V-shaped frog in the center,
surrounded by the horny hoof.
Find the pulse by passing the fingers downward from the upper curve
of the neck, along the inside of the jaw; count the pulse. Notice the
position and motion of the ears with their lining of hair, and the
position of the eyes, the form of the pupil, and the probable range
of vision. Watch the horse use its lips, and examine the mouth and
teeth, finding the grinding teeth far back in the mouth, the incisors
in front, and the space where the canines are missing.
The male may have canines in the upper jaw.
On the surfaces of the incisors are the depressions, or "cups," by
means of which age is determined.
At six years the cups leave the lower center teeth; at seven the
adjoining teeth; and at eight, the outer lower teeth. At nine
years they leave the upper center incisors; at ten, the adjoining
teeth; and at eleven, the outer teeth above. At the age of ten
years a spot appears in the outer upper incisors, at fifteen
years the groove has worn to the center of the tooth, and at
twenty-one years the groove is worn to the bottom of the tooth.
_Questions._
1. Describe the horse you studied as to its name or number, its
color, markings, weight, and size. Of what type and breed is it a
specimen?
2. Upon how much of the foot does the horse walk? How does this
affect ease or speed of action? How does an athlete imitate this in
sprinting?
3. How many toes has each foot? What advantage or disadvantage can
you see in this unusual structure?
4. How is the hoof constructed to distribute the weight over a
surface broader than the leg? How general is this among terrestrial
animals?
5. What is the difference in the position of the chestnuts of the
fore and hind legs?
6. Where in the foreleg is a springiness permitted by curvature?
Where does the back leg accomplish the same thing?
7. How do you account for the elongating of the face?
8. Explain the uses of the lips, telling how they are fitted for
their work.
9. Tell where the bit lies in the horse's mouth, and how the
structure permits this.
10. Where are the ears situated? How does this peculiar position
affect the range of hearing and general alertness? Of how much
movement are they capable? Describe the lining of the ear, and state
its use.
11. What is the rate of the pulse?
12. Measure the height at shoulder and at croup, length of body from
withers to rump, of head, of neck; thickness of body from the
shoulder to the chest and of distance of chest from ground. Point out
any equalities or ratios you find.
_Topics for investigation._
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