90 THE HORSE. 



THE BACK. 



Public opinion lias long since decided that the weight- 

 carrTing properties of the horse depend, in no small 

 degi-ee, upon the length and shape of his back. The 

 carter, the hackney, and the hunter, must not be very 

 long in the back ; and, in my opmion, extreme length 

 in this part is not desirable even in the racer. It is a 

 maxim in the sporting world, with which I fully agree, 

 that the race-horse must have length somewhere, or 

 else he would be deficient in stride, which would be a 

 matter of serious consideration in a race of two or three 

 miles. The diflference of a few inches at each stroke 

 would make a decided difference at the end of the race, 

 unless the horse with the short stride could strike 

 oftener than his opponent. There can be no doubt 

 that a long stretch is of gi'eat importance. The ques- 

 tion, then, naturally arises, how is a moderate length 

 of back to be rendered compatible with gi-eat length of 

 stride ? Simply in this way — a deep, well-slanted 

 shoulder, and veiy long quarters, will place the legs in 

 such a position that there will be ample space below, 

 whilst the back may be of a moderate length and very 

 strong. This conformation is always connected with a 

 fair amount of stride, and great weight-caiTying abili- 

 ties. A horse of this description may not always 

 answer the purpose on a Leger-day ; but if he is fortu- 

 nate enough to have speed for this event, he is sure to 



