60 



THE HORSE. 



horse, "with his short and upright pasterns, contending 

 in the race, or the race-horse, with his long and weak 

 pasterns, endeavouring to dig his toe into the ground, 

 in order to move some heavy weight. The concussion 

 which attends the common action of the cart-horse is 

 little, because his movements are slow ; and therefore 

 the upright and strong pastern is given to him, which 

 he can force into the ground, and on which he can 

 tlii'ow the whole of his immense weight. The oblique 

 pastern is given to the race-horse, because that alone 

 is compatible with extent of stride, and great speed." 



A saddle-horse, with short, upright pasterns, will in- 

 variably feel stilty and uncomfortable under his rider ; 

 whilst the constant unbroken jars to which, in such 

 circumstances, he is subjected, will be quite certain of 

 inducing disease in the feet and legs. In fact, pasterns 

 of this description are altogether unsuitable for any 

 horse intended for fast work, either in saddle or 

 harness. Length alone, however, will not do ; it is in- 

 dispensable, also, that they be oblique. Let their length 

 be what it may, when they are upright they will want 

 elasticity ; and a horse, in fast work, might just as well 

 go on a pair of stilts as on them. The hackney, the 

 hunter, the steeple-chaser, the flat -racer, and the har- 

 ness-horse, all requu-e long, well-slanted pasterns ; but 

 they must not, under any circumstances, have them 

 small, weak, and sinking. Of all these, the flat-racer 

 requii'es the longest. If the pasterns are too long and too 



