110 THE HORSE. 



the length and position of the bones, or levers, as well 

 as on the length and position of the muscles which 

 move them. When they are all short, the stride will 

 be short ; but when they are all long, the stride will be 

 long also. This observation is particularly applicable 

 to the condition of the hind-quarter. Its mechanism 

 is most beautiful and important. All horses must have 

 plenty of substance here ; but all do not requke the 

 same length, just because all do not requii'e great 

 speed, although they aU need plenty of strength. Those 

 which are intended for slow work would not be injm-ed 

 by length, but still they can do well enough without 

 it. The chief thing for them is, to have abundance of 

 strength, which is connected with substance ; conse- 

 quently, it will answer our purpose to have them short 

 and thick. Not so, however, with racers, hunters, and 

 saddle-horses. As they requke weight-canying pow- 

 ers, combined with durabiUty and speed, they must, of 

 necessity, have both substance and length. The dif- 

 ference, in comfort and speed, between a short- actioned 

 horse and one with an immense sweeping stride, is far 

 gi-eater than any inexperienced person would ever 

 imagine. 



The longer a horse is from the kidneys to the hip- 

 joint, from the hip-joint to the stifle, and from the 

 stifle to the hock, the greater wiU be the extent of 

 ground he can cover at a stroke. Just throw him into 

 action, and watch him carefully as he di'aws the stifle 



