THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 243 



still, in this improved state, if he should pass into the 

 hands of a race-jockey, his condition must again he 

 somewhat altered before he can be considered as in 

 condition to run. This conventional term, therefore, 

 comprehends a variety of states and degrees, some de- 

 pendant on the real necessities for alteration in the 

 state of the animal according to the several uses to 

 which he is applied, and others founded on an artificial 

 taste relative to his exterior appearance. Condition 

 in a cart-horse would imply with a healthy state of his 

 hairy covering, fulness, and rotundity of frame gene- 

 rally, by which his exertions in carrying loads or 

 drawing weights would be assisted. In the racer, on 

 the contrary, in the hunter also, and, in a minor degree, 

 in every variety of horse used for quick motion, fine 

 condition would imply a state the reverse of fulness 

 and rotundity. 



Condition must, nevertheless, embrace some com- 

 mon properties in all. It requires such a state of the 

 body, both internally and externally, as fits its various 

 organs to act uninterruptedly for the benefit of the 

 whole ; and thus much it is evident as equally neces- 

 sary for the heaviest cart-horse as for the fleetest racer. 

 But in the lighter varieties, in addition to this, to be 

 in condition expresses a state favourable to accelerated 

 and long-continued motion, produced by condensing 

 the greatest possible quantity of animal fibre, particu- 

 larly of pure muscle, into the smallest possible bulk, 

 and of promoting the absorption of the useless and 

 hurtful incum.brance of the adipous and other intestitial 

 matter, by which means we unite the grand desiderata 

 of lightness of body with full strength and elasticity. 

 This state, if accompanied with a sleek and healthy 

 coat, may be considered as one of perfect condition ; 

 and it is in the attempts to produce such state that all 



