300 ■ NAVIX ox THE HORSE. 



of Springing to force himself forward. His tail, like his mane, 

 is slight, and thinly haired. His buttocks seldom touch each 

 other; his legs, below the knee and hough, very small, the back 

 cords almost as visible as if the skin were taken off; the hair 

 on the legs is very fine, and no fetlock tuft ; his hoof is small 

 and cupped. The only mark of superior strength in the 

 thorough-bred racer, or turf-horse, is his chest, which is wide 

 and deep. His ribs are very much curved, making his body 

 round. He is very light in the flanks, and his belly remark- 

 ably so. 



^ THE HUNTER. 



The hunter of former times was a horse of large size, and 

 capable of making a great leap. He was not required to have 

 much blood. The hunter of the present day is, perhaps, three- 

 quarter-bred, is much lighter and more fleet. His qualities 

 and action are of but little value to Americans, who seldom 

 indulge in the sports of the chase. He is not a distinct breed, 

 and has not been perpetuated in this country, though we 

 have many horses that would do well for the chase. 



THE HACKNEY. 



The hackney, like the hunter, is not a distinct breed, but is 

 a horse peculiarly adapted, in his size, carriage, and paces, to 

 the saddle. He is produced by crosses of the thorough-bred 

 on other stocks. A description of what the English horseman 

 esteems a good hackney may not be uninteresting. The hack- 

 ney should stand about fifteen hands and an inch ; he should 

 be short and strongly couj:)led in the back; he should be strong 

 and well muscled, both in the fore and hind-parts; his chest 

 should be wide and deep, giving plenty of room for the lungs ; 

 he should have a light head, and neck carried well up; his 

 mane and tail should be heavy ; his limbs clean and bony, with 

 pasterns somewhat oblique; his movements should be quick 

 and elastic, and his disposition kind and tractable. 



