2 THE HORSE. 



up necks ; elevated, sharp, and far laid-back shoulders ; 

 full and very deep chests ; strong, sinewy, and sound 

 legs ; good feet ; short backs ; and all-powerful quar- 

 ters, which were so placed under them, that they could 

 spring with ease over any fence. Their size, strength, 

 and shape fitted them, in an eminent degTce, for the 

 field, the road, and the farm. Besides, they were never 

 trained till they were four or five years old. Their 

 constitutions had then arrived at a pitch of gi'eat per- 

 fection. The extremities of the long bones were then 

 completely solidified, and, consequently, were less liable 

 to become diseased from the effects of labom* than they 

 would have been at a previous period, when in a state 

 of cartilaginous softness. 



The severe work to which young horses are now sub- 

 jected is the chief cause of the present gTeat liabilty to 

 disease. If they were well fed, and allowed to mature 

 their constitutions before being trained, they would, in 

 all probabihty, remain sound for a considerable time. 

 This, I fear, however, is not likely to be attended to. 

 The /armer has so many demands on his pm'se that he 

 can scarcely afford to allow his horses to roam at large 

 till they reach their fourth year ; and the turfite finds it 

 more profitable to race his colts at two years' old, than 

 to keep them over, at heavy expenses, until such time 

 as humanity, and a due regard to the soundness of the 

 animals, would point out as the proper period for their 

 first appearance on the turf. The necessities of the 



