THE BUILD. 9 



with a fine thin skin, and finishing with small, 

 but well open, short, tough feet, and I'll take the 

 caste for granted. If added to this, he is a long 

 horse; five years old; perfectly fresh; short be- 

 tween the knee and fetlock ; fourteen hands two 

 inches high ; higher at the croup than at the 

 withers; fine action, and a good constitution, I'll 

 take the speed besides for granted ; for when 

 these latter qualities of fine action, and a good 

 constitution, are united to all the above form, the 

 only remaining desideratum, the nervous excita- 

 bility,* will then always be found, more or less, 

 associated with it. 



THE BUILD, COMMENCING WITH THE QUARTERS, 

 TAIL, THIGHS, STIFLE, ETC. 



Four of the most desirable points for the 

 racer are, powerful well-shaped quarters, thighs, 

 and stifles ; and large, lean, bony hocks. The 

 straighter and longer the spine is from the croup 



* Nervous excitability is used in contradistinction to dull 

 temperament, yet there is a peculiar kind of docile laziness of 

 temper characteristic of many high caste Arabs, but which, by 

 dint of good training, put forth their energy, and shine on the 

 turf as well as others of more choleric blood: — 



J. Stewart, p. 55. '* It is to be remembered, that good con- 



