26 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



by bringing it more or less into the elliptical form. In 

 this case the cavity of the chest would be larger when 

 the breathing would be suspended than at any other 

 time, because its original shape was such as not to ad- 

 mit of an increase of size by any change of form. The 

 flirther it would be changed from the cylinder, the 

 smaller it would become. But if, in the first instance, 

 the chest were a great deal deeper than broad, the ele- 

 vation of the ribs on the side would just serve to bring 

 it into the circular shape, which is the most capacious 

 of all. Hence it must be evident that depth of chest 

 is indispensable in all cases. 



"As the lungs of the horse occupy a much larger 

 space when he is in active exercise than when he is at 

 rest, we are justified in concluding that he requires to 

 have the power of increasing the size of his chest in 

 proportion as he is called upon to increase his speed. 

 Contrary to the popular opinion, the chest must, to a 

 certain extent, be flattened on the sides, in order that 

 it may be capable of being changed from the elliptical 

 into the circular form. The horse for very slow work 

 may have his chest approaching the circle, because the 

 trifling elevation of rib which is required by his quiet 

 mode of breathing will only be sufficient to complete 

 the circular shape. Whilst he may do with this kind 

 of chest, it cannot, however, be considered advanta- 

 geous, as a greater power of wind might often be of 

 decided service to him, and could never be injurious. 

 The depth of the chest, when compared with its width, 



