40 THE HORSE. 



respiratory organs, well protected by firmly rounded 

 sides, the angle formed by the direction of the omoplates 

 well open, enlarging the chest, separating the anterior 

 members from one another and thus constituting the solid 

 base of a vigorous appui. 



The power of contraction is incited, it is true, by 

 the less lengthy muscles, because the withers and the 

 breast are lower (the sides shorter) ; but the thickness of 

 the muscular layers gains both in force and in resistance 

 what is lost in speed, and as it concerns a dray, that is 

 to say, sustained efforts supported for the conquest of a 

 resistance, it is almost exclusively in a calm gait that these 

 great horses, usually agricultural, are found portrayed. 

 They should be given visible muscles, a robust neck on 

 which is grafted a strong head, a hairy forehead, the jaws 

 apart, the nostrils open, with a large throat, cylindrical 

 chest, short loins, round and muscular buttocks, solid 

 members, low, large and hairy. 



I have alluded to the towing horse ; a particular 

 species of traction occurs in its case. The boat being 

 upon an uniform surface which always offers the same 

 resistance, once the first impulsion be given, the subsequent 

 efforts are all similar. It is in this instance that the gait 

 should be the most calm and regular possible, for it is 

 broken only by the obstacles that the rope may encounter 

 on the steep banks, and usually the towing path is only 

 useful when it is as flat as possible. 



The model of the light draught horse is the breed 

 from the French province Perche ; it can trot whilst 

 drawing a laden carriage and is serviceable for artillery 

 manoeuvres. The heavy draught horse is the Boulonnais. 



From the draught horse, we have especially demanded 

 the use of all its strength, without exacting a gait other 

 than one usually slow. The coach horse or carriage- 

 horse is a link of union between the foregoing and the 

 saddle horse, which it often replaces, although slightly 

 higher : its traction is alleviated by the ably-combined 

 weight of the vehicle, travelling upon smooth and well- 

 kept roads. 



More speed and greater lightness is required from the 

 gait of the carriage-horse. It should nevertheless be 

 robust and big, with a well-developed neck. The 



