14 THE HORSE 



and whose stride is of no consequence whatever. In him, the length of 

 the upper or true thigh is generally as great as that of the thoroughbred, 

 but the lower thigh is much shorter, and the horse stands with a much 

 straighter hind-leg, and consequently with his hocks making a very slight 

 angle. Muscular quarters and gaskins are desirable in all breeds ; for 

 without strong propellers no kind of work to which the horse is put can be 

 duly performed. The judge of a horse generally likes to look at the 

 quarters behind, so as to get a good view of their volume, and unless they 

 come close together and leave no hollow below the anus, he suspects that 

 there is a want of constitution, and rejects the animal on that account. 

 But not only are muscles of full size required, but there must be strong 

 joints to bear the strain which these exert, and one of the most important 

 of all the points of the horse is the hock. This should be of good size, but 

 clean and flat, without any gumminess or thoroughpins, and with a good 

 clean point standing clear of the rest of the joint ; the " curby place " and 

 the situation of spavin should be free from enlargement; but to detect these 

 diseases a considerable amount of practice is required. Lastly, the hocks 

 should be well let down, which depends upon the length of the thigh, and 

 ensures a short cannon-bone. The pasterns and feet should be formed in 

 correspondence with those of the fore extremity, to which I have already 

 alluded. 



Such are the recognized points to be desired in the horse ; but in spite 

 of the general opinion of good judges being in favour of them, as I have 

 described, no one can predicate with certainty that a horse possessing them 

 all in perfection will have a corresponding degree of action out of doors. 

 No one who has bought many horses will be content with an inspection in 

 the stable, even if the light is as good as that of the open air, for he well 

 knows that there is often a vast difference between the estimate of the 

 value of a horse which he forms indoors and out. Much of this depends 

 upon the temper of the individual, for if he is dull and heavy he will not 

 " make a good show," though still he may be capable of being sufficiently 

 excited by hounds, and many such horses are invaluable hunters. Inde- 

 pendently, however, of this element, it will be sometimes found that the 

 frame which looks nearly perfectly symmetrical while at rest, becomes 

 awkward and comparatively unsightly while in motion ; and the horse 

 which is expected to move well will often be sent back to his stall with 

 " That will do, thank you," after a single run. 



It is but right to say that there are many exceptions to the above general 

 points, and every now and again a horse as ugly as a camel turns out to be 

 a fine performer. One of this class which excited ridicule in the Leicester 

 country was taken to France by the owner, who declared that no one under 

 the rank of an emperor was worthy to own him, and whether on his merits 

 or not we cannot say, but Napoleon III. bought him on seeing him ridden 

 over a country by the English veterinary surgeon to whom he belonged. 



