— 72 — 



when urged and in regular 1-2-3-4 time, nodding his head har- 

 moniously in cadence. If a purchaser gets such a horse, or 

 one that will do four miles under the saddle without stumbling, 

 shuffiing, drop2:)ing the step or breaking, be sure you have a gcod 

 one at speed, if he has speed, for mau}^ great walkers are so 

 broad chested that they cannot trot fast, and in galloping they 

 will roll. Yet occasionally a horse will be found good at all 

 gaits. AVhen so, it is the result of exceptionably good form and 

 cartful training. He who can so train a horse, may get a long 

 price for his trouble and skill. 



XVI. What a Horse Should Be. 



I have been very minute in stating the points of perfection in 

 a horse, and have been particular in urging that the lungs, limbs 

 and feet should be super-excellent. From one of the best authori- 

 ties, I quote the following upon the physical structure of the 

 horse, as describing ph\'sical perfection and perfect conformation. 



"The points of the physical structure of a horse on which the 

 jnost. indeed the whole of his utility depends, are his legs. With- 

 out his locomotors all the rest, however beautiful it maj be, is 

 worth nothing. Therefore, to these we look first. The fore- 

 shoulder should be long, obliquely set, with a considerable slope, 

 high in the withers and thin above. The upper arm should be 

 very long and muscular, the knee broad, flat and bony, the shank, 

 or cannon bone, as short as inay be, flat, not round, with clean, 

 firm sinews ; the pastern joints moderately long and oblique, but 

 not too much so, as the excess produces springiness and weakness; 

 the hoofs firm, erect or deep, as opposed to flat, and the feet gen- 

 erally large and round. In the hind-legs the quarters should be 

 large, powerful, broad when looked at in profile, and square and 

 solid from behind. The hams should be sickle-shaped, n )t straight , 

 and well let down, so as to bring the hocks well toward the gi-ound. 

 The hocks should be large and bony, straight, not angular and 

 convexly curved in their posterior outlines ; the shanks, cor- 

 responding to the cannon bones, short and flat, and the hind feet 

 similar in form to the front. The back should be short above, 



