CONFORMATION. 453 



on tlie circulation, which again is dependent on the vigour of the consti- 

 tution. If the circulation be weak there will be a want of tone through- 

 out the body producing the weakness or washiness of colour to which we 

 object. This weakness will of course be felt especially in the extremities, 

 which are furthest removed from the centre of the circulation. 



Whether this explanation be correct or not, it is certain that horses, 

 whose colour fails in the extremities, are generally weak in constitution. 

 Hence the common saying, " Washy in colour, washy in constitution." 



934. Constitution. 



A good Constitution generally accompanies a powerful frame ; but this 

 is not invariably the case either in horses or men ; and a powerful frame 

 we need scarcely say is not of much use without a good constitution. 



Some horses apparently well made are yet so highly nervous, that they 

 will never carry flesh. Others, again, with the best appearance some- 

 times deceive us from want of spirit and pluck. We cannot always ex- 

 plain these things. 



Many a horse, however, may be dull and sluggish, when in poor condi- 

 tion, which may be a very different animal when well fed and cared for. 

 As a general rule, unless a horse is naturally a good feeder, we cannot 

 make much of him. 



935. Breeding. 



Breeding or " blood " exercises a mysterious influence in the horse. 

 Closely allied with it is nervous organisation. It may be, perhaps, that 

 the well-recognised effects of breeding are really more dependent on the 

 latter than on blood. In the high-bred animal the thought almost of 

 the rider, the slight feeling of the hand or leg is conveyed to the horse ; 

 whilst the under-bred animal is very slow in receiving any such impres- 

 sions. Endurance and courage are also notable characteristics of the 

 well-bred horse ; whilst a lazy sluggish feeling and a desire to save him- 

 self mark the under-bred animal. A good thorough-bred horse will go 

 till he drops. A low-bred animal will always stop in good time. The 

 rider may think that he has urged him by whip and spur to the utmost 

 extent of his power ; but on a visit to his stable a few hours after, he will 

 probably find that the brute shows no great signs of having over-exerted 

 himself. A high-bred horse fights against difficulties, whilst the other 

 yields to them. A high-couraged horse, when he comes to a hill, will 

 face it and pull harder than on level ground. On a downward slope he 

 will probably not care to exert himself. The low-bred animal may 

 perhaps show a disposition to increase his pace downhill, but will " shut 

 up " at a stiff ascent. The well-bred horse will go as pleasantly and gaily 

 at the end as at the beginning of a long day ; whilst the other, though 

 he may very likely be troublesome and fractious at the onset, will pro- 

 bably require both whip and spur to keep him to his work. 



Our best-bred horses are derived from an admixture of Arab blood. 

 The English " thorough-bred " is not of pure Arabian stock. Arab sires 



