164 



THE HORSE. 



and tlie saddle, although we want capacity of chest, we want it not too 

 much before. A moderate breadth, with depth at the girth, and a swelling 

 out or barrelliniT behind the elbow, will be the most desirable form. Horses 

 with narrow chests may have plenty of spirit, and willingness for work ; 

 but they have not the appetite or the endurance of those whose breast is 

 moderately wide. 



The heavy cart or dray-horse, whose power of draught is equal to the 

 weif^ht which he can throw into the collar, requires the broad chest, not only 

 that his weiifht may be thrown more before, but that by the increased capa- 

 city of his chest he may obtain that bulk and size which will enable him to 

 press with the requisite force upon the collar. 



Depth of chest has another advantage : it not only gives increased capa- 

 city to the cavity within it, but increased room for the insertion of those 

 muscles on and between the ribs, by the action of which the chest is alter- 

 nately expanded and contracted in the act of breathing, and the action of 

 which is so necessary when the breathing is quickened by exercise. 



Again, depth of chest will admit of a great deal more increased expan- 

 sion than will a chest approaching to a circular form. That which is some- 

 what straight may be easily bent into a circle ; but that which is already 

 rounded, can scarcely be made more so : therefore it is that the heavy 

 horse, with all his capaciousness of chest, is easily blown, and incapable of 

 speed, because all this expanse was employed in the accumulation of flesh 

 and fat, and can be very little increased when exertion causes the flow and 

 the change of blood to be considerably more rapid. The flatter chest may 

 be readily expanded, as the circumstances of the animal may require. A 

 well-qualified judge of the horse never likes to see a chest too high from the 

 ground and legs too long. The animal may be free and speedy, but there 

 13 not suflicient capacity of chest to render him a good feeder, or to give him 

 much endurance. 



The next point of consequence, regarding the capacity of the chest, is the 

 length or shortness of the carcase, or the extent of the ribs from the elbow 

 backward. Some horses are what is called ribbed home; there is but little 

 space (see cuts, pp. 63 and 163) between the last rib and the hip-bone. In 

 others the distance is considerably greater, which is evident by the falling 

 in of the flank. The question here is, what is the service required from 

 the horse ? If he have to carry a heavy weight, and much work to do, let 

 him be ribbed home ; let the last rib and the hip-bone be almost close to 

 each other. There is more capacity of chest and of belly ; there is less 

 distance between the points of support ; and there is more strength and 

 endurance. A hackney (and we would almost say a hunter) can scarcely 

 be too well ribbed home. 



If speed, however, be required, there must be room for the full action 

 of the hinder limbs ; and this can only exist when there is sufficient space 

 between the last rib and the hip-bone. The owner of the horse must make 

 up his mind as to what he wants from him, and be satisfied if he obtains 

 that ; but let him be assured that he cannot have every thing : this would 

 require those differences of conformation that cannot possibly exist in the 

 same animal. 



The thorax, or chest, is formed by the spine, /, above ; the ribs, e, on 

 either side ; and the sternum, or breast-bone, c, beneath. 



THE SPINE AND BACK. 



The spine or back-bone consists of a chain of bones from the poll to the 

 extremity of the tail. We have described the bones of the neck, and we >viU 



