430 CHAPTER 60. 



tionable may to a certain degree remedy other faults. For instance, a 

 horse deficient in bone below the knee will be less likely to fail at that 

 point, if also somewhat light in his carcass. 



880. Mechanical reasons for good and lad shapes. 



Good points in a horse are not mere matters of ideal beauty; but 

 shapes, which on principles of mechanics, are likely to answer the re- 

 quired ends. For every so-called good shape a sensible reason can be 

 given ; and so likewise a mechanical objection can be shown to every 

 bad shape. 



881. Defects, dependent on the use required. 



But shapes, which may be decidedly objectionable for one class of 

 work, are not necessarily equally objectionable for another description of 

 work. Thus a hollow back, which would be very objectionable in a troop 

 horse, an animal especially required to carry a heavy weight on its back, 

 is not equally objectionable in a draught horse. Again good feet, which 

 are essential in hackneys, are not equally essential in harness horses. 

 Good feet, however, are valuable in any horse, and any defect in this 

 organ always leads to trouble, though perhaps with care and attention 

 the animal may continue to go sound for years under favorable circum- 

 stances. 



882. Special points needed for some sorts of work. 



It is nearly impossible to obtain perfection of shape, except perhaps 

 occasionally at a very long figure. The intending purchaser should there- 

 fore pay special regard to those points which are essential for the class 

 of work, for which he needs the animal ; whilst in other points he may 

 be content with something short of the ideal standard. 



Again, each class of horse, the racer, the hunter, the hackney, the cob, 

 the draught horse, (fee., has some particular points in his best conforma- 

 tion which would be absolutely faulty in another class. For instance, in 

 the dray horse we look for circularity of the ribs, breadth of chest, and 

 fore-legs wide apart, points which would be absolutely ruinous in a race- 

 horse, whose special vocation requires a deep chest, and legs closer 

 together. In the one animal we want all that contributes to strength 

 and weight and aptitude to put on flesh ; whilst in the other we need 

 those shapes which are most likely to give speed combined with endur- 

 ance. The respective conformations of the bull-dog and the greyhound 

 will perhaps illustrate our meaning. 



The remarks on Conformation, which follow, are chiefly directed to the 

 better class of horse, used for racing, hunting, riding, and light-harness 

 work. 



883. Of the Bony frame. 



As outward forms are mainly dependent on the formation of the bony 

 skeleton, we shall at once proceed to the consideration of that structure. 



