794 



HORSE 



is adding to it. Fig. 2 is twenty-seven inches 

 further forward ; the leg which was on the ground 

 in the last became so aslant that it was obliged to 

 quit the ground, and is now thrown backward ; the 

 hind-legs are gathering up and coming forwards 

 preparatory to descending. Fig. 3 shows no 

 further propulsion, but the hind-legs are still 

 moving forwards. In fig. 4 one hind-leg has just 

 touched the ground, the other is at its greatest 

 extension ; one fore-leg has come forward about 

 half-way. In fig. 5 both fore-legs are being ex- 

 tended in advance ; one hind-leg is pushing upon 

 the ground, the other being brought down. Fig. 

 6 shows both hind-legs at work propelling the body 



forwards and upwards ; one leg has nearly done its 

 work, the other just begun ; one fore-leg is at its 

 maximum forward range, the other is being pro- 

 jected. In fig. 7 one hind-leg has left and the 

 other is just leaving the ground ; one fore-leg has 

 reached the ground and is just beginning its 

 stroke. Fig. 8 shows both hind-legs in the air, 

 and the weight of the body supported upon one 

 fore-leg. In fig. 9 one fore-leg is doing its stroke, 

 the other is nearly ready to begin ; the hind-legs 

 remain much as in the last diagram. In fig. 10 

 one fore-leg has left the ground, the other is at 

 work upon it ; and the hind-legs are being brought 

 forwards. This brings us to the end of the series, 



The Horse in motion ( after Muy bridge ). 



for fig. 11 is really intermediate between figs. 1 

 and 2. One or two facts may be seen from these 

 diagrams, which, though small, are accurate. The 

 greatest propulsive force resides in the hind-legs ; 

 as the weight of the horse descends upon any one 

 of its feet, the strain upon the limbs is so great 

 that the pastern joint lies quite horizontally ; the 

 legs are bent when taken up and straightened in 

 the descent ; the heels strike the ground before 

 the toes. The length of a stride in the different 

 paces may be approximately stated as follows : 

 walk, 6 feet; amble, 10 feet; rack, 12 feet; trot, 

 8 to 18 feet ; canter, 10 feet ; gallop, 12 to 20 feet. 

 In the matter of speed a horse may be said to walk 

 4 or 5 miles an hour, trot under saddle 6 to 12 

 miles, or in harness 10 to 12 or even 14 ; as regards 

 a gallop, the fastest records seem to be 4 miles in 

 7 min. 15f sec. ; 3 miles in 5 min. 24 sec. ; 2 miles 

 in 3 min. 27^ sec. ; 1 mile in 1 min. 35^ sec. ; \ mile 

 in 46 sec. It is stated that some of the old Cleve- 

 land horses could carry 760 Ib. for 60 miles in 

 twenty-four hours, and Lawrence give a story of a 

 Galloway which beat the coach from London to 

 Exeter ( 172 miles) by a quarter of an hour. 



A few words must be devoted to the various 

 domestic breeds of horses. 



The racer is the one for which England is pre- 

 eminently famous, and his origin from the com- 

 bination of oriental with native blood has been 

 above alluded to. The age of the racehorse when- 

 ever foaled is reckoned from the next 1st January, 

 and hence it is advantageous that they should be 

 born early in the year, so as to gain as much time 

 as possible for development. In July or August 

 of the following year the serious training for the 

 two-year and three-year-old races now in vogue 

 begins. Very few horses now race after four years 



old, but are used for stud purposes, at prices vary- 

 ing with the success they have attained on the 

 turf. 



Successful racehorses vary much in shape, some 

 being small and neat, others tall and bony. In 

 height they may be said to range from 15 to 16^ 

 hands (the hand = 4 inches), though the most 

 usual dimensions are between 15i and 16 hands; 

 the head should be light and well set on the neck, 

 the ears small arid pricked, the eye large, and the 

 nostrils Avide and expansible. The neck must be 

 moderately long, and must combine muscular 

 development with lightness ; the windpipe broad 

 and loose ; the withers may be high and narrow ; 

 but it is imperative that the shoulder be sloping and 

 muscular. The body should be moderately deep 

 and straight ; length should be given to it by the 

 shoulders and hips ; the loins must be broad and 

 firm ; the hips long and wide. The limbs ought 

 to be well proportioned and cleanly modelled ; the, 

 fetlock-joints large and the pasterns strong; the 

 feet of moderate size, with no sign of contraction 

 either in the heels or the frogs. The tail should 

 be set on high. Most important of all is it that 

 the different parts should harmonise together, and 

 that the action should be good. Colour is perhaps 

 of less consequence ; still it is Avorthy of remark 

 that for a long time the majority of Avinners have 

 been chestnuts. 



At his fastest speed a racehorse may cover a mile 

 in 1 min. 35^ sec. ; the rate of a mile a minute 

 currently attributed to Eclipse is, according to a 

 competent authority, 'wildly incredible.' 



In America the favourite form of horserace is the 

 trotting-match, which appears to have originated 

 in the prohibition of horseracing by the Puritans. 

 The gradual evolution of the fast trotter is remark- 



