16 PURCHASING FROM THE STABLES, 



as a sedative ; or the excited action of the ab- 

 sorbents during and immediately after exercise 

 operating in keeping it down a little. 



The thorough-pin, another small puffy swell- 

 ing on the outside of the hock, nearly on a 

 line with the point, and running through to the 

 inside, may not prove any hindrance even in 

 hunting ; but for a racer there should be no 

 doubt about the hinder extremities in any way, 

 either as regards build, injury, or disease ; they 

 are the grand agents in progression, and a race- 

 horse, to shine, must be nearly perfect in every 

 thing behind. You are not to infer from this, 

 that a horse can run because he has no defect 

 in his hind parts, only, that he will rarely run 

 well if he has. Formed as described under 

 these four heads of Quarters, Thighs, Stifles, 

 and Hocks, they will look handsome both to 

 the eye of the novice as well as the judge ; 

 and if, added to this, he has a decided casty 

 head, you may take it for granted he is well 

 bred ; but the handsomest and most casty head 

 that was ever on an Arab is only indicative of 

 half the breeding, the hind parts must be formed 

 as before laid down, to prove the other half. 



All the good breeding in half or three-part 

 bred horses will sometimes show itself in front, 

 sometimes behind : for instance, put a thorough- 



