48 DETERIORATED CONDITION OF 



that become very speedy, but not too speedy 

 for the horses of that period. 



The second fact is one to which I can speak, 

 namely, that our hunters very early in this 

 century, and before they became so long from 

 the hips to the hock, scould keep up with our 

 stag-hounds, while these have even gone much 

 faster than our fox-hounds, because they have 

 to work on a stronger scent. But I have 

 shown that our hunters, formerly able to carry 

 much weight, had more racing blood in their 

 veins than those of the present day. 



This unnaturally wide space between the 

 hips and his hocks is inconvenient from fre- 

 quently producing " over-reach." 



A horse's hips should be wide and his loins 

 highly muscular, but the lower end of his 

 shoulders should be light. 



The chest of a horse of the first class can- 

 not be too protuberant, but may be too wide 

 for speed. The chest, however, cannot be 

 too deep, or the ribs before the girths too 

 long, while the back ribs, when much speed 

 is required, should be rather short. For 

 very fine action, therefore, the shoulder-blades 

 miist be long, while they cannot be so without 



