i6o SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



in such a way as to cause discomfort to the animal 

 when the breaking" tackle is put on, the result will 

 be unsatisfactory. A bad mouth and general un- 

 handiness are serious defects when it comes to 



racmg. 



Symmetry — i.e. a due proportion of the several 

 parts of the body to each other — or the want of it, 

 will be apparent to the eye almost at the first glance. 

 Without symmetry, of course, a horse can be of 

 no value for racing. It requires no artist to dis- 

 criminate between a well-made and well-balanced 

 animal and one that is not. Then, again, it is 

 interesting to observe what are the well-marked 

 points that enable one horse to go faster than 

 another. 



An oblique shoulder, going well into the back, 

 with foreleo^s set well forward and straifjht, describes 

 what is known as a good forehand. This con- 

 formation is absolutely necessary to enable a horse 

 to stay — that is, he will when tired still be able to 

 gallop almost automatically without shortening his 

 stride. 



The term "staying" is almost paradoxical. For 

 instance, a horse that tires before he has accom- 

 plished five furlongs at racing speed may, if set to 

 go a mile, beat the horse that has conquered him at 

 five furlongs. If the skeletons of these two horses 

 were measured it would be found that the winner 



