34 



CHAP. XL 



ON THE CHEST. 



MUCH depends on the chest of a cavalry 

 or saddle horse with regard to his action. — 

 Heavy chested horses never vidll go fast, nor 

 be pleasant to ride. The chest ought not to be 

 prominent nor loaded with flesh in a horse in- 

 tended for the saddle or light harness; it 

 should go down straight from the extremity of 

 the neck to the upper part of the arms, nor 

 should it seem to shake or labour when the 

 animal is in motion. A horse with a heavy 

 chest is generally coarse made ; and if driven 

 beyond a certain pace will labour and sweat 

 profusely, which is unpleasant to the rider, 

 particularly in warm weather. A hard, coarse 

 mouth is also the usual accompaniment of a 

 chest so formed; such a chest, therefore, in 

 chusing a cavalry or saddle horse, must be 

 avoided. 



