THE CHEST. 31 



Where the ribs commence their descent on the side, 

 hey should either preserve a tolerably rounded shape, 

 or become moderately flattened, according to the use 

 for which the horse is intended. The circle, however, 

 must be resumed as they approach the breast-bone 

 below, for the pui-pose of giving breadth to the floor 

 of the chest. The chest of the draught-horse ought 

 to be large every way, but it, even, should be consider- 

 ably deeper than broad. 



The power of motion possessed by the parieties of 

 the chest is gi-eatest on the side, much less at the 

 breast-bone, and very limited, indeed, at the region of 

 the back. Now, as it is desu*able, during the period 

 of a fuU inspiration, to bring the entire cavity of the 

 chest as near as possible, for reasons aheady ex- 

 plained, into the foim of a cu'cle, it follows that, in a 

 quiescent state, the part next the back, which is the 

 least moveable, should be the most circular, the part 

 next the breast -bone a little less so, and the sides, the 

 most moveable of all, much less so still. Hence it is 

 evident that every horse for fast work, such as the 

 roadster, steeple-chaser, or flat-racer, must have his 

 chest wide above, tolerably wide below, and a little 

 flattened, but very deep, on the sides. If he does not 

 come pretty well up to this form, he will not be able 

 to go the pace for a long distance. He might have 

 plenty of speed for a short spm-t, but a couple of miles 

 at a rattUng pace would shut up his ^-ind. 



