50 DETERIORATED CONDITION OF 



useful saddle-horse for several purposes, but 

 not so good for a hack as one of lower stature ; 

 and for these reasons : a tall horse does not 

 move — all other things being equal — with the 

 ease and lightness of one of lower stature, 

 and, in consequence, wears its legs more, and 

 fatigues more its rider. 



In thus comparing horses of different statures, 

 I have been supposing them equally well-bred, 

 and equally well-formed, but nearly all our 

 tall horses«are tall now only because they have 

 long legs, which are objectionable ; first, be- 

 cause they don't wear well ; secondly, because 

 always allied with a shallow body. These 

 horses do well enough for the London streets, 

 where a showy appearance is the object in 

 view, but they are not calculated for hard work, 

 and are peculiarly unfitted for a hilly country. 



Fifteen hands three inches is not too high for 

 heavy cavalry horses, provided it be attained by 

 a deep body instead of long legs. Plorses really 

 tall do not appear so when well-formed. We 

 see this exemplified in a tall and well -formed 

 man, who never appears so tall as one of like 

 height who has a narrow chest and narrow 

 shoulders, who in short has a weak form. 



