170 THE CHEST. 



expansion and contraction, is the best certainly for some animals, and L all Lndei 

 peculiar circumstances, and with reference to the discharge of certain functions. 

 This was the grand principle on which Mr. Bakewell proceeded, and on which all 

 our improvements in the breeding of cattle were founded. 



This principle holds good with regard to some breeds of horses. We value the 

 heavy draught-horse not only on account of his simple muscular power, but the 

 weight which, by means of that power, he is able to throw into the collar. A light 

 horse may be preferable for light draught; but we must oppose weight to weight, 

 when our loads are heavy. In the dray-horse, we prize thir circular chest, not onlj 

 that he may be proportionably heavier before to him no dis?dvantage but that, bj 

 means of the increased capacity of his chest, he may obtain the bulk and size which 

 best fit him for our service. But he would not do for speed he would not do foi 

 ordinary quick exertion; and if he were pushed far beyond his pace, he would becom 

 broken-winded, or have inflamed lungs. 



Some of our saddle-horses and cobs have barrels round enough, and we value them 

 Dn account of it, for they are always in condition, and they rarely tire. But when 

 we look at them more carefully, there is just that departure from the circular form of 

 which mention has been made that happy medium between the circle and the ellipse, 

 which retainj the capacity of the one and the expansibility of the other. Such a 

 horse is invaluable for common purposes, but he is seldom a horse of speed. If he 

 's permitted to go his own pace, and that not a slow one, he will work on for ever; 

 but if he is too much hurried, he is soon distressed. 



The Broad Deep Chest. Then for the usual purposes of the road, and more partic- 

 jlarly for rapid progression, search is made for that form of the chest which shall 

 unite, and to as great a degree as possible, considerable capacity in a quiescent state, 

 and the power of increasing that capacity when the animal requires it. There must 

 be the broad chest for the production of muscles and sinews, and the deep chest, to 

 give the capacity or power of furnishing arterial blood equal to the most rapid ex- 

 haustion of vitality. 



This form of the chest is consistent with lightness, or at least with all the light* 

 ness that can be rationally required. The broad-chested horse, or he that, with mod- 

 erate depth at the girth, swells and barrels out immediately behind the elbow, may 

 have as light a forehead and as elevated a wither as the horse with the narrowest 

 chest ; but the animal with the barrel approaching too near to rotundity is invariably 

 heavy about the shoulders and low in the withers. It is to the mixture of the Ara- 

 bian blood that we principally owe this peculiar and advantageous formation of the 

 chest of the horse. The Arab is light ; some would say too much so before : but 

 immediately behind the arms the barrel almost invariably swells out, and leaves 

 plenty of room, and where it is most wanted for the play of the lungs, and at the 

 same time where the weight does not press so exclusively on the fore-legs, and expose 

 the feet to concussion and injury. 



Many horses with narrow chests, and a great deal of daylight under them, have 

 plenty of spirit and willingness for work. They show themselves well off, and ex- 

 hibit the address and gratify the vanity of their riders on the parade or in the park, 

 but they have not the appetite nor the endurance that will carry them through three 

 successive days' hard work. 



Five out of six of the animals that perish from inflamed lungs are narrow-chested, 

 and it might be safely affirmed that the far greater part of those who are lost in the 

 field after a hard day's run, have been horses whose training has been neglected, or 

 who have no room for the lungs to expand. The most important of all points in the 

 conformation of the horse is here elucidated. An elevated wither, or oblique shoulder, 

 or powerful quarters, are great advantages ; but that which is most of all connected 

 with the general health of the animal, and with combined fleetness or bottom, is a 

 deep, and broad, and swelling chest, with sufficient lengthening of the sternum, o 

 breast-bone, beneath. 



If a chest that cannot expand with the increasing expansion and labour of the lungs 

 s so serious a detriment to the horse, everything that interferes with the action of the 

 intercostal muscles is carefully to be avoided. Tight girthing ranks among these, 

 and foremost among them. The closeness with which the roller is buckled on in the 

 stabJe must be a serious inconvenience to the horse; and the partially depriving theae 

 muscles of their power of action, for so many hours in every day, must i 



