72 THE HORSE. 



" Never can such or such a portion be too large, too 

 broad, too high to be beautiful." It is my duty to 

 state with precision, for the reader will not be satisfied 

 by the mere utterance of vague opinions. Others went 

 too far in the direction opposed to Bourgelat's system of 

 measurements. He, however, depreciated the practically 

 applicable portion of his observations by becoming involved 

 in details impossible to recollect and difficult to verify. 



I shall therefore endeavour to be clear, and, as far as 

 may be, descriptive, in order that the eye may quickly 

 perceive and thoroughly comprehend my observations. 

 Necessarily, they must be connected with the muscular 

 bed, upon which the skin of the animal is animated and 

 moulded. I shall even pursue investigation as far as the 

 rigid frame of the skeleton, the osseous heads of the 

 different regions of which, often apparent on the exterior, 

 attract our attention because of the useful instruction they 

 can impart. 



1 shall endeavour to indicate the principal portions, 

 and the deductions which can be made, by comparing one 

 with another, in order to remain within the limitations of 

 veracity, relying upon nature itself. 



It is necessary to see and to compare in order to 

 acquire that exactitude of eye which is essential for the 

 draughtsman undertaking the difficult study of animals. 

 From experience, confirmatory of theory, the artist will 

 obtain the benefit of tuition about the exterior of the 

 horse through especial attention to all which is indicative 

 of a good conformation, strength and aptitude for the 

 different gaits. 



The information which I shall endeavour to impart 

 will merely serve to guide further observations. I do not 

 say it is necessary that all the measurements here set 

 forth must be found on any horse which is beautiful, but 

 I do affirm that I have personally found them on a 

 very large number of horses, and that in employing 

 them the artist will not stray far from the truth. 



The very numerous measurements we have taken in 

 Asia, Africa and Europe, with instruments easy to 

 manipulate, permit the confident assurance of the exacti- 

 tude of the hippometrical experiments which will be 

 cursorily indicated. 



