—is that part of a military bridle, headstall, martingal, or hunting rein-halter, which passing below the under jaw, and round the nose above the nostrils, assists in keeping the other parts of either in their proper position.
NOSTRILS
.—The nostrils of a horse are generally a tolerable criterion of his wind, as well as his blood. A horse having a wide and well-extended nostril, may be supposed to possess a free and easy expansion of the LUNGS: this cannot be more perfectly comprehended, than by adverting occasionally to the shape of horses who RACE, and are thorough BRED; where the form and expansion of the nostrils will be found more than one third the size of such horses as are of common lineage, and inferior description.
O.
OATS
—are the well-known farinaceous grain which is the principal food and support of horses in constant work. After various experiments by NATURALISTS, and the most celebrated AGRICULTURISTS, they are found to convey a greater portion of nutriment to the frame, and invigoration to the system, at less expence, than any other kind of food whatever. The advantages of obtaining the heaviest in weight, the brightest in colour, and the sweetest in hand, are too self-evident to require a single line in elucidation. Oats newly housed, and newly threshed, should be avoided, if possible: not having acquired their proper firmness by TIME, they are more disposed to fermentation when mixed with the juices in the stomach, and then propel the contents of the intestines in a state little short of liquefaction, by their own laxative property. When, from any temporary scarcity, or local consumption, old OATS cannot be procured, and necessity compels the use of new, a few beans may be added; these, by their restringent and nutritious property, will check the effect of the new oats, and prevent the debilitating laxity just described.
OBERON
—is a horse of some recent celebrity: he was bred by Mr. Hutchinson, and foaled in 1790; he was got by Highflyer, dam (Queen Mab) by Eclipse, out of a Tartar mare. In 1793, when three years old, he won the GOLD CUP at Doncaster, value 100 guineas; beating Cayenne, Ninety-three, Skypeeper, Restless, Flora, and Chigwell. The same day he won the Doncaster Stakes of 10 guineas each, thirteen subscribers; beating Huby, Restless, and Yarico. In 1794 he won at York, a subscription of 25 guineas each, seven subscribers; beating Yarico, Huby, and Tantararara. In the same week he won the great SUBSCRIPTION PURSE of 277l. 10s. 0d. beating Patriot, Yarico, Young Diomed, Rosalie, Camphire, and Champion. At Malton he was beat in a sweepstakes of 20 guineas each, by Lord Fitzwilliam's Evelina, a three-year old by Highflyer, who carried but 5st. 10lb. to whom he ran second: the odds were very high in his favour at starting; and whether he sustained an injury is not publicly known, but he was then withdrawn from the turf.
OFF-SIDE
.—The right-side of a HORSE, if you stand parallel with him, and look the same way, is the OFF-SIDE; as the left is the NEAR-SIDE. When speaking of any part of a horse, it is not usual, in sporting terms, to use the words right or left; but to say the near-shoulder; the off-eye; the near-leg BEFORE, or the off-leg behind.