12 THE HORSE. 
Such are the recognised points to be desired in the horse ; but in spite 
of the general opinion of good judges being in favour of them, as I have 
described, no one can predicate with certainty that a horse possessing 
them all in perfection will have a corresponding degree of action out ot 
doors. No one who has bought many horses will be content with an 
inspection in the stable, even if the light is as good as that of the open 
air, for he well knows that there is often a vast difference between the 
estimate of the value of a horse which he forms indoors and out. Much 
of this depends upon the temper of the individual, for if he is dull and 
heavy he will not “make a good show,” though still he may be capable 
of being sufficiently excited by hounds, and many such horses are invalu- 
able hunters. Independently, however, of this element, it will be some- 
times found that the frame which looks nearly perfectly symmetrical while at 
rest, becomes awkward and comparatively unsightly while in motion ; and 
the horse which is expected to move well will often be sent back to his 
stall with “That will do, thank you,” after a single run. 
PROPORTIONS OF THE VARIOUS POINTS. 
THE PROPORTIONS of the component parts of the horse, as I have already 
remarked, vary a good deal in the different breeds. The following, 
however, may be taken as the most perfect ; but they refer especially to 
the racer, hunter, and hack, as well as to the lighter and more blood-like 
harness horses, and must not be strictly applied to the draught-horse in 
any of his varieties :— 
V7 
: ye iow 
66 inches / MS 
= eee Z C 
a ee 
#i ‘ \ | / 
De if 
i 
I 
ON / |< 
; Ree, ( | x 
| ‘ \ 1 ' 
\ ‘. ‘ i | O 7 
Boras Rees. | LTICRCS 
20 iao\ 40 50 GOL 7oX \| 30. 90400 
BON ee 2 ENN EE 
This scale is drawn in inches, and, in the outline, the horse is supposed 
to be fifteen hands three inches, or sixty-three inches high. The measure- 
ments are the average of those carefully taken from six horses considered 
