THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 61 



train him for such a purpose, something may be done to 

 improve his natural defect by raising his forehand a little 

 more day by day, and in time, his carriage may be im- 

 proved, though he will never be a pleasant horse to ride, 

 and had much better be used for draught. 



The Narrow Chest 



A horse with a narrow chest cannot endure fatigue, for 

 he soon becomes distressed for wind, his lungs not having 

 sufficient room to expand. 



The form of the chest, therefore, makes a material dif- 

 ference to the horse, for while the deep shouldered and 

 broad chested horse will do his work with comparative 

 ease to himself, the narrow chested one will be labouring 

 for want of wind and strength. 



On the form of the chest and soundness of the lungs, the 

 health and power of the horse depend ; but if he be defec- 

 tive here and be forced to the extent of his speed, he must 

 soon give in or fall, where the well -formed horse will 

 scarcely be fatigued, with the additional advantage of 

 being very pleasant to ride. 



The Back. 



Some horses are very long in the back ; and these should 

 not be pulled up too suddenly, for by so doing, they are 

 liable to suffer in the loins and in other ways. Others 

 have hollow backs, and these are generally pleasant to ride 

 and sit on, and mostly very easy in their paces, so that 

 many would prefer them to a straight, or what is termed, a 

 roach back. Neither conformation is, in my opinion, a de- 

 formity, unless in the extreme ; but the rider must be very 

 careful in changing from the trot to a walk, or from the 

 canter to a walk, not to pull them up too sharply, as from 

 their formation they are weak in the back and loins, and 

 consequently liable to injury in those parts. 



