THE CHEST. 29 



proportion as he is called upon to increase his speed. 

 Contrary to the popular opinion, the chest must, to a 

 certain extent, be flattened on the sides, in order that 

 it may be capable of being changed from the elliptical 

 into the circular form. The horse for very slow work 

 may have his chest approaching the circle, because the 

 trifling elevation of rib which is requu'ed by his quiet 

 mode of breathing will only be sufficient to complete 

 the circular shape. Whilst he may do with this kind 

 of chest, it cannot, however, be considered advan- 

 tageous, as a greater power of wind might often be of 

 decided semce to him, and could never be injurious. 

 The depth of the chest, when compared mth its width, 

 must invariably increase in direct proportion to the in- 

 crease of speed and distance required of the animal. 

 In the steeple-chaser, or the flat-racer, it should be of 

 enoi-mous depth, in order that the elevation of the 

 ribs may assist in forming a capacious circle, for the 

 purpose of accommodating the rapidly and frequently 

 distended lungs dm^ing the trying period of the race. 

 In such cases a round chest would be of no use, as 

 the wind would be completely pumped out of the horse 

 before he had gone half the requisite distance. 



If we T\ash to form a correct estimate of the dimen- 

 sions of the cavity of the chest, it will be necessary 

 for us to make a minute and accm-ate examination ; a 

 partial inspection will not do. The direction of the 

 ribs, as they spring from the back-bone, must be par- 



