STUD BOOK. 89 



tion for racing depends greatly on the hind legs, the thighs, 

 the back, and the loins; from the shoulders the motive power 

 of the fore legs proceeds. For racing purposes, the quality 

 of the fore legs is not of equal importance as in those ani- 

 mals which are destined for hunters, or riding horses. This 

 opinion is evidently maintained by many of the most experi- 

 enced breeders for the turf; because they continue to breed 

 from horses in whom this failing is hereditary. So long as 

 the shoulders are gifted with the power of free action, and 

 the fore legs are sufficient to act as props to the machinery, by 

 the aid of boots, bandages, and such like appendages, the 

 legs may be kept in tolerable order for a time, and enable a 

 horse to run for his early engagements. But yet to how 

 much anxiety, and often loss, does this imperfection subject 

 the owner. There is a constant apprehension that the legs 

 will fail Every sweat, every gallop which a horse with 

 infirm legs takes, in his preparation, excites his owner to 

 nervous trepidation, fearing that a break-down may be the 

 consequence. In racing the anxiety is still greater. No pru- 

 dent man likes to encounter the additional risk of backing 

 his horse for a race when the legs are of defective quality. 

 The effect is often extensive, and is not restricted to actual 

 lameness, or breaking down. Horses which have weak fore legs 

 will tire in those limbs before they experience distress in 

 other parts of their frames; this, of "course, affects their run- 

 ning and occasions their defeat. 



There is a certain refinement of form, a gracefulness of 

 outline, an elegance of motion and aristocratic bearing, char- 

 acteristic of a high-bred mare, which merits distinction. 

 Breeders often show a great predilection for what they term 

 fine, large, roomy mares; they are often pertinaciously un- 

 certain in their produce; one year their foal is undersized, 

 and the succeeding one it is overgrown. The Arabs are said 

 to attach more importance to the perfections of their mares 

 than to those of their horses. English breeders might take 

 a profitable example in this respect from them. They fre- 

 quently breed from inferior mares, at all events, some whose 

 merits have not been tried; but very rarely, indeed, from 

 horses which have not gained some reputation on the course, 

 let their pedigrees be ever so pure and unexceptionable. In 

 the early days of breeding it was by no means an uncommon 

 practice. The only modern instance of an untried race-horse 

 gaining repute in the stud was that of Defence. The high 

 premiums paid for the services of stallions of fame, and 

 which breeders are willing to pay, affords convincing proof 



