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in fact, few Horses go too wide behind. The feet and pastern joints of 

 equal size, should stand even both behind and before, neither toe 

 turning out or in. The legs should be flat, not round and fleshy, a de- 

 fect chiefly belonging to the cart-horse. The feet round, and neither 

 flat and spreading, nor deep and high, the heels wide and open. The 

 frog tough, firm and dry, and also the substance of the hoof, cutting 

 tough and leathery, not brittle; the colour dark and shining. 



In few words. Horses are characterized, as adapted to the saddle or 

 draught, by the form of their shoulders and buttocks, and by their size 

 —to the Course, by their genuine Southern blood. 



The varieties of stallions adapted to each purpose of saddle, coach 

 or cart, have been indicated in the notice of our breeding counties; 

 those intended to get speedy trotters, should have extensive and declin* 

 ing shoulders, and well spread quarters, with large, solid shank bones 

 and strong feet. Such generally are the reputed trotting stallions. 



The colours of Horses, notwithstanding the metaphysical notions of 

 former days, are of very little consequence in relation to their good- 

 ness. Certain mixtures of white, however, upon the legs of Horses, 

 are both unsightly and unfavourable, and the light-coloured hoofs are 

 often bad. In breeding for sale, colour doubtless may be an essential 

 object, particularly with regard to coach-horses. 



A few general observations, before we proceed to the mere practical 

 rules. We have no longer occasion in this country, unless we make 

 an exception as to the high managed Horse, for any foreign breeding 

 stock, as in former days. Our own is incomparably superior to all 

 other, European or Southern. Yet with the best materials in the 

 world to work on ; and indeed with occasional products, bordering on 

 perfection, the number of midling, or worthless and almost useless 

 Horses, annually bred in England, is inconceivably great. A great 

 dealer lately assured me, that in the shew of thousands of saddle-horses, 

 he should scarcely expect to fmd a thorough-shaped one. Probably that 

 imion of substance and action, which was to be met with in former days, 

 but never in abundance, has been of late still more scarce. The reason 

 is obvious. To speak chiefly of saddle-horses, the breeders sacrifice too 

 little to science and skill, too much to custom and convenience. Size 



and 



