THE AMERICAN BLOOD-UORSE. 



4t 



of the most winning strains, but there must also be a frame of 

 the most useful character, if not always of the most elegant 

 form. Many of our very best horses have been plain and even 

 coarse-looking ; but, in spite of their plainness, all their points 

 w^ere good and useful, and the deficiency was in mere elegance, 

 pot in real utility. 



The height of the race-horse varies from fifteen hands to 

 sixteen and a half hands, or even seventeen hands ; but the 

 general height of our best horses, is about fifteen hands and 

 three inches. Few first-class performers have exceeded the 

 heighi of sixteen hands and one incii. The average, above given, 

 may be fairly laid down as the best height for the race-horse ; 

 though it cannot be denied, that for some small and confined 

 courses, a smaller horse, of little more than fifteen hands high, 

 has a better chance, as being more capable of turning round 

 the constantly recurring angles or bends. 



The head and neck should be characterized by lightness, 

 which is essential for this department. Whatever is unneces- 

 sary is so much dead 

 P weight ; and whatever is 

 found in the 

 head and 

 neck, which 

 is not neces- 

 sary for the 

 peculiar pur- 

 poses of the 



AMERICAN PLAJTTATION SCENE. TaCC-horSC, iS 



BO much weight thrown away, which must still be carried by 

 the horse. The head, we may say in detail, should be lean 



