BRITISH TURF. 119 



or spread out. This we find in direct opposition 

 both to nature and reason, the swiftest animals 

 having generally small feet in proportion to their 

 size ; while reflection must convince, that the larger 

 the surface which comes in frequent contact with 

 the ground, the greater must be the resistance to 

 its removal ; to say nothing of the animal force 

 expended in the action of moving a superfluous 

 weight. The race horse should have length, the 

 length being in his shoulders and quarters, (the 

 part posterior to the hips) and not in his back, 

 w^hich should be short, sinking a little behind the 

 withers, which gives his rider a good seat, without 

 diminishing his strength. His shoulders should sink 

 imperceptibly into his neck at the points ; acute 

 angles and straight lines being destructive of ele- 

 gance of shape. He should have what is termed a 

 round barrel carcass, which is produced b)- the ribs 

 standing well out from the spine ; as well as great 

 depth of body — a formation which not only gives 

 strength, activity and beauty to the whole frame of 

 the horse, but by aifording the lungs and intestines 

 ample room to perform their functions, imparts 

 freedom of breathing, and constitutional vigor. 

 Care is, however, requisite that these points are 

 not carried too far, so as to make the horse too 

 heavy for his legs ; as it is well known that horses 

 too heavy in the body, injure their legs much in 

 their gallop ; and we find accordingly that mares and 



