94: CONFORMATION AND ITS DEFECTS 



Although horses are divided into a number of classes or varieties, it is only 

 in one of these that a limit is set to the height. Everything equine not 

 exceeding 14 hands, of whatever character, is termed a pony, while under- 

 sized horses of a certain type are designated "cobs"; but to this latter 

 class there is no precise limit of vertical measurement as recognized in the 

 former. It is, however, to the diminutive pony that we owe the more 

 portentous horse, for the latter is but an enlarged edition of the former, 

 evolved by a process of selection, judicious mating, high feeding, and skil- 

 ful management. Eeturned to their native element, outside the sphere of 

 civilization and land culture, and the present race of stock would soon 

 decline l)otli in stature and symmetry, and ultimately return to the minia- 

 ture condition from which tliey sprang. 



Between the smallest pony and the highest horse there is great dis- 

 parity of size, and it will be recognized that towards both extremes useful- 

 ness gradually declines, and beyond certain limits reaches an unremunera- 

 tive, if not a vanishing point. 



Within the two extremes there are to be found all intermediate sizes 

 suitaJjle to the many requirements of civilized man, but the tendency of 

 systematic breeding has been not only to fix the type of each distinct 

 variety, but at the same time to bring the height up to, and maintain it 

 within, the limits of the greatest practical usefulness; for there is un- 

 questionably a point in the upward growth of this, as of other species of 

 animals, beyond which the harmony of proportion becomes so far disturbed 

 as to curtail seriously both power and pace. 



Height, although largely identified with power, cannot be regarded as 

 a precise measure of strength and endurance. Numerous examples will 

 occur to the mind of experienced horsemen, of small horses outpacing and 

 vanquishing their much larger confreres. That unspeakably game little 

 animal. The Laml), which won the C4raiid National at Liverpool on two 

 occasions, was only 15.2 hands high, and yet he outstripped in speed and 

 endurance many brilliant chasers inches higher than himself, and when 

 nine years old carried 11 st. 5 lb. to victory. It is difficult to say 

 precisely what is the limit of stature within which the greatest usefulness 

 is to be found in our various breeds, and probably opinions would be 

 found to 1)6 very much divided on the subject. 



The writer, however, believes that in the cart-horse it will be found at 

 17 hands, in the race-horse at 16.2, and in the riding-horse and carriage- 

 horse at 15.3. 



" When the height at the withers is considered in relation to height at 

 the croup, observations show that these points are situated upon the same 

 horizontal line or upon different levels. In the latter case the horse is 



