(4) 'Bishoping' is another trick of'copers'.

The teeth are filed short and level and a false mark is gouged out of the centre of the tooth and blackened with caustic. To detect this trick:

(a) Close the mouth, when the teeth will not meet naturally;
(b) Observe the absence of the enamel rim to the false mark, and errors of its shape;
(c) look for traces of the rasp.

HEIGHT

Horses are measured by 'hands'. A 'hand' is 4 inches, so that 15 hands = 5 ft. The height is taken from the highest point on the withers. A pony usually signifies a horse under 14 hands (except for polo ponies). Cobs and Galloways are under 15 hands.

MARKINGS

As a horse's markings are nearly always white, it is unnecessary to use the word 'white' in describing them: 'stocking off hind' or 'sock near fore' is sufficient. Most horses have some white on their faces the 'star' being the most common. It is useful to know that whenever a horse gets a sore, the hair on that spot often turns white. Many descriptions therefore represent past rubs - such phrases as, for example, 'trace marks', 'collar marks', 'saddle marks', 'girth marks' often form part of the description of a horse.

Star: A white mark like a star on the forehead, 'large' or 'small'.
Stripe: A narrow mark down the face, 'short', 'irregular' or 'broad'.
Blaze: A white marking over the whole of the face, covering the full width of the nazal bones.
Snip: A white mark between the nostrils.
'Upper lip', 'under lip': White marks on the edges of the lips.
White Muzzle: Embracing the whole of the lips and nostrils.
Wall-eye: a discoloured eye.
List or Ray: The dark line along the back of some horses, all donkeys, and many mules.
Zebra marks: Striping along the back, quarters or withers. ' White hairs in coat' is the official phrase for describing markings of this kind.
Flesh marks are patches of skin with no colouring matter.
White 'feet', 'coronet', 'heel', 'pastern', 'fetlock', and 'leg' represent the markings on the feet and legs, which can be further emphasized by 'socks' or 'stockings'. 'Partly' can be used when necessary. If a horse has been pied or docked he must also be so described.

THE CONFORMATION OF A HORSE

The head should not be large in proportion to the horse's size. There should be a general appearance of leanness, and of width between the eyes, depth through the jaw, and fineness about the muzzle. The lips should close firmly over the teeth. The nostrils should be fine and well open. The eyes should be well set, large and soft, the eye-wall neither prominent nor deeply set. The two depressions which a horse sometimes has over the eyes are inherent, and have nothing to do with age. The neck should be long and lightly shaped but muscular. Seen from above it should be thick and firm to the touch. The lower part, where the wind pipe is, should be loose and flexible. The mane and tail should be composed of perfectly straight hair.

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