390 SPECIAL POINTS OF VARIOUS CLASSES. 



those which toil on smooth roads^ as stated on pages 78 

 and 276 to 278. 



5. The height over the croup should be less than 

 that at the withers (p. 78). 



The Harness-horse. — For convenience sake, I use 

 the expression " harness-horse " to signify all horses 

 which go in draught, except heavy cart-horses and match 

 trotters. The ordinary trapper should be thicker in the 

 shoulders than the saddle nag ; and, if he has strong 

 hind-quarters and fair action, he may be pardoned if he 

 be long in the back, slack in the loins, and somewhat 

 flat - sided. For fashionable town work, the harness- 

 horse will, as a rule, require to be either one of the 

 smart small sort, or of the imposing brougham type. 

 The former should have all the good looks and 

 " quality " of a well-bred, middle-weight hack. The 

 latter should measure high at the withers ; should have 

 sloping shoulders, so as to have free action in front ; 

 and should carry his head high. Owing to the manner 

 in which he is bitted and " checked," his hind action is 

 not much taken into consideration. Between these two 

 kinds of horses, there is as much difference as between 

 a clever bull-terrier and an overgrown, weak-loined 

 mastiff. Fashionable trotting action is far more the 

 result of training and selection in breeding, than of con- 

 formation. For pairs and teams, horses should match 

 in height, colour, general character, action, manners, and 

 mouth. 



The Hack. — The chief points about the hack are 

 that he should be " light in front," have sloping shoulders, 

 and sound legs and feet, so that he may be sure-footed 

 and able to stand work ; and he should be rather high in 

 front (pp. 177 and 178). The conformation of his head 

 and neck should be such as to allow him to bend readily 

 to the rein. The action of the hack should be somewhat 



