110 THE HORSE 



but the great success of a horse's stock would induce breeders to resort to 

 him if they were largely endowed with white. Grey hairs mixed in the 

 coat, as in the Venison's, are rather approved of than otherwise ; but they 

 do not amount to a roan, in which the grey hairs are equal, or even more 

 than that, to those of the other colour mixed with them. 



COAT, MANE, AND TAIL 



THE TEXTURE of the coat and skin is a great proof of high-breeding, and 

 in the absence of the pedigree would be highly regarded ; but when that is 

 satisfactory it is of no use descending to the examination of an inferior 

 proof ; and, therefore, except as a sign of health, the skin is seldom con- 

 sidered. In all thoroughbred horses, however, it is thinner, and the hair 

 more silky than in common breeds ; and the veins are more apparent under 

 the skin, partly from its thinness, but also from their extra size and 

 number of branches. This network of veins is of importance in allowing 

 the circulation to be carried on during high exertions, when, if the blood 

 could not accumulate in them, it would often choke the deep vessels of the 

 heart and lungs ; but by collecting on the surface great relief is afforded, 

 and the horse is able to maintain such a high and long-continued speed as 

 would be impracticable without their help. Hence, these points are not 

 useful as a mere mark of breed, but as essential to the very purpose for 

 which that breed was established. 



THE MANE AND TAIL should be silky and not curly, though a slight wave 

 is often seen. A decided curl is almost universally a mark of degradation, 

 and shows a stain in the pedigree as clearly as any sign can do. Here, 

 however, as in other cases, the clear tracing of that all-powerful proof of 

 breeding will upset all reasoning founded upon inferior data. The setting 

 on of the tail is often regarded as of great importance, but it is chiefly 

 with reference to appearances ; for the horse is not dependent for action or 

 power upon this appendage. Nor is strength of dock of any certain value 

 as a sign, for I have known some very stout horses with flaccid and loosely 

 pendent tails ; but still it may be accepted as a general rule, that when the 

 muscles of the tail are weak, those of the rest of the body are likely to be 

 so also. 



THE THOROUGHBRED HUNTER AND 

 STEEPLECHASER 



HITHERTO we have considered the thoroughbred horse as intended to be 

 tested " over the flat," that is to say, on our ordinary racecourses, but, as I 

 have before mentioned, the hunting-field is also largely supplied from the 

 same source, and in addition the steeplechase is now almost entirely carried 

 on by means of thoroughbred animals. It is found that many horses which 

 are too slow when tried as two or three-year-olds over our ordinary courses, 

 and therefore discarded from the racing stable, are able to beat all others 

 over a country, either with hounds or in the steeplechase. Whether this 

 improvement in form is owing to the greater distance, or to increased age, 

 or to the, addition of fences, such is undoubtedly the fact, as might be 



