THE AMERICAN BLOOD-HORSE. 53 



tance, therefore, that the thorough-bi-ed borse should have all his 

 Various points in true relative development, and, that there should 

 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. 



The color of the thorough-bred horse is now generally bay, 

 brown, or chestnut, one or the other of which will occur in ninety- 

 nine cases out of a hundred ; gray not being common, though 

 it sometimes appears. Black, also, occasionally makes its ap- 

 pearance^ but not more frequently than gray. Roans, duns, 

 sorrels, etc., are now quite exploded, and the above five colors 

 maybe said to complete the list of colors seen in the race-hoi'se. 

 Sometimes these colors are mixed with a good deal of white, in 

 the shape of blazes on the face, or white legs and feet ; or even 

 both may occur, and the horse may have little more than his 

 body of a brown, bay, or chestnut. Most people, however, 

 prefer the self-color, with as little white as possible ; and nothing 

 but the great success of a horse's stock would induce breeders 

 to resort to him, if they were largely endowed with white. 

 Gray hairs mixed in the coat, are rather approved than other- 

 wise ; but they do not amount to a roan, in which the gray 

 hairs equal, or even more than that, the other colors mixed 

 with them. 



The texture of the coat and skin is a great proof of high- 

 breeding, and, in the absence of the pedigree, would be highly 

 regarded ; but when that is satisfactory, it is of no use descend- 

 ing to the examination of an inferior proof; and, therefore, ex- 

 cept as a sign of health, the skin is seldom considered. In all 

 thorough-bred horses, however, it is thinner, and the hair more 

 silky than in common breeds ; and the veins are more apparent 



