ON THE EDUCATION OF THE HORSE, 187 

 being disproportloncd to his muscular strength, 

 must render his exertions more feeble, and less 

 capable of long duration ; an irritable habit of 

 body will also prove a great impediment. Colts 

 of the blood kind acquire strength compara- 

 tively at a much earlier age, since it is cus- 

 tomary to begin to race them at two years old ; 

 but their future growth is considerably impeded 

 by the violent treatment which they undergo in 

 training. On this account they seldom arrive 

 to a large size. But this circumstance should 

 be no cause of discouraging the breed of 

 blood horses, for in their natural properties 

 they are much superior to all others. This 

 superiority is not confined to internal or 

 invisible causes only ; much of it arises from 

 the external conformation of the body. The 

 mechanical advantages which they derive from 

 this source, consist in the great length of their 

 quarters, and the depth and capacity of their 

 chests; for in their relative proportion with 



horses 



