HEIGHT AND COLOUR 109 



though perhaps telHng over a long flat. All are agreed that the gaskin 

 or lower thigh must be muscular, and both for beauty and effect this 

 is a most important point. In other respects, the hind-quarter of the 

 thoroughbred should resemble that of any other variety of the species. 

 The whole of these points should be in proportion to one another — 

 that is to say, the formation of tlie horse should be " true." He should 

 not have long, well-developed hindquarters, with an upright, weak, or 

 confined fore-quarter. Nor will the converse serve, for however well 

 formed the shoulder may be, the horse will not go well unless he has a 

 similar formation in the propellei^s. It is of great importance, therefore, 

 that the race-horse should have all his various points in true relative 

 development ; and that there shall not be the hind-quarter of a long 

 racing-like horse with the thick confined shoulder which would suit a 

 stride less reaching in its nature. A remarkable instance of the advantages 

 of such a formation is exhibited in Saunterer, whose frame is not character- 

 ized by power or any other special perfection, but being perfectly true in 

 his formation he was one of the best, if not the very best, horse of his 

 year, as he proved by his various achievements. At page 101 will be found 

 an engraving of him, copied from one of the best portraits I ever saw, by 

 Mr. H. Barraud, which should be carefully examined. 



HEIGHT 



In height the race-horse varies from 15 hands to 16 J, or even 17 hands; 

 but the general height of our best horses is about 15 hands 3 inches. Few 

 first-class performers have exceeded the height of Surplice, who was 16 

 hands 1 inch, as was also another Derby winner. Wild Dayrell. Sir 

 Tatton Sykes was 15i hands; and between his height and that of Surplice 

 may be ranged the majority of great winners. The average, therefore, may 

 fairly be laid down as the best height for the race-horse, though it cannot 

 be denied that for some small and confined courses — as, for intance, that of 

 Chester — a smaller horse of little more than 15 hands height has a better 

 chance, as being more capable of turning round the constantly recurring 

 angles or bends. 



COLOUR 



The colour of the thoroughbred horse is now generafly bay, brown, or 

 chestnut, one or other of which will occur in ninety-nine cases out of a 

 hundred. Grey is not common, but sometimes appears, as in the case of 

 Chanticleer and many of his stock. Black also occasionally makes its 

 appearance, but not more frequently than grey. Roans, duns, sorrels, etc., 

 are now quite exploded, and the above five colours may be said to complete 

 the list of those seen on the racecourse. Sometimes these colours are 

 mixed with a good deal of white, in the shape of blazes on the face, or 

 white legs and feet : or even all these marks may occur, and the horse may 

 have little more than his body of a brown, bay, or chestnut. Most people, 

 howevei% prefer a self colour, with as little white as possible ; and nothing 



