HEIGHT AND COLODRK. 93 
which the ham-string is attached should be long. From an examination 
of many racehorses I am satisfied that for speed this may be over-done, 
for though power is gained by it, quickness is sacrificed ; and a very long 
point to the hock fs apt to give long, dull, and dweliing action, entirely 
opposite to quick pace, though perhaps telling over a long flat. All are 
agreed that the gaskin or lower thigh must be muscular, and both for 
beauty and effect this is a most important point. In other respects, the 
hind-quarter of the thoroughbred should resemble that of any other variety 
of the species. 
THE WHOLE of these points should be in proportion to one another— 
that is to say, the formation of the horse should be “true.” He should not 
have long well developed hind-quarters, with an upright, weak, or confined 
fore-quarter. Nor will the converse serve, for however well formed the 
shoulder may be, the horse will not go well unless he has a similar forma- 
tion in the propellers. It is of great importance, therefore, that the race- 
horse should have all his various points in true relative development ; and 
that there shall not be the hind-quarter of along racing-like horse with the 
thick confined shoulder which would suit a stride less reaching in its 
nature. A remarkable instance of the advantages of such a formation is 
exhibited in Saunterer, whose frame is not characterised by power or any 
other special perfection, but being perfectly true in his formation he was 
one of the best, if not the very best, horse of his year, as he proved by his 
various achievments. At page 85 will be found an engraving of him, 
copied from one of the best portraits I ever saw, by Mr. H. Barraud, 
which should be carefully examined. 
HEIGHT. 
IN HEIGHT the racehorse varies from fifteen hands to sixteen and a 
half, or even seventeen hands ; but the general height of our best horses 
is about fifteen hands three inches. Few first-class performers have 
exceeded the height of Surplice, who is sixteen hands one inch, as is also 
another Derby winner, Wild Dayrell. Sir Tatton Sykes was fifteen 
and a half hands; and between his height and that of Surplice may be 
ranged every great winner for the last ten or twelve years. This average, 
therefore, may fairly be laid down as the best height for the racehorse, 
though it cannot be denied that for some small and confined courses—as, 
for instance, that of Chester, a smaller horse of little more than fifteen 
hands height has a better chance, as being more capable of turning round 
the constantly recurring angles or bends. 
COLOUR. 
THE coLour of the thoroughbred horse is now generally bay, brown, 
or chestnut, one or other of which will occur in ninety-nine cases out of a 
hundred. Grey is not common, but sometimes appears, as in the recent 
case of Chanticleer and many of his stock. Black also occasionally makes 
its appearance, but not more frequently than grey. loans, duns, sorrels, 
&c., are now quite exploded, and the above five colours may be said to 
complete the list of those seen on the race-course. Sometimes these colours 
are mixed with a good deal of white, in the shape of blazes on the face, or 
white legs and*feet ; or even all these marks may occur, and the horse may 
have little more than his body of a brown, bay, or chestnut. Most people, 
however, prefer a self colour, with as little white as possible; and 
