162 . MODERN FARRIER. 



This general classification of the most prevalent 

 breeds in England appears to be tolerably correct, 

 though it is a subject that does not admit of much 

 precision. The following brief remarks on the most 

 distinguished breeds of English horses will be found 

 useful. 



92. The Race-Jiorse. 



The English race-horse is indisputably the strong- 

 est animal of his weight in the creation. This pe- 

 culiar excellence does not depend on his bulk, but 

 upon a certain form and disposition of his limbs, as 

 may be readily perceived in his full and close loins, 

 low hips and muscular haunches and thighs. From 

 this kind of conformation he is enabled to support a 

 wonderful continuance of violent exertion, or what 

 is called, in the language of the turf, hotfom. They 

 are also superior to the Arabian, the Barb, or the 

 Persian for swiftness. The famous horse Childers 

 could move eighty-two feet and a half in a second, 

 or nearly a mile in a minute : he has run round the 

 course at Newmarket, which is little less than four 

 miles, in six minutes and forty seconds. So im- 

 portant is this breed in England, that wagers to the 

 amount of nearly two hundred thousand pounds 

 were betted on the event of a race between Hcnnble- 

 tonian and Diamond. In another division of this 

 work we will notice several curious racing anecdotes. 



93. The Hunter. 



The hunter forms a happy combination of the 

 race-horse with others of inferior swiftness, but pos- 

 sessing strength, vigour, and activity, and is, with- 

 out doubt, a very useful breed. 



The whole shape of a horse intended for a hunter 

 should be this : The ears should be small, open, and 

 pricked ; or though they be somewhat long, yet if 

 they stand up erect and bold like those of a fox, it 



