54 



brisk in appearance. On the other hand, his canter 

 or gallop is more graceful, more easy, and of course 

 more rapid. His mouth feels more lively or "lighter," 

 as it is termed, to the bridle-hand, and there is 

 altogether a vivacity both in appearance and in 

 movement which is seldom found in a half-bred 

 horse ; wholly different however from that bustling 

 kind of activity which may be noticed in a butcher's 

 trotter. If my reader will bear these general re- 

 marks in mind when he has an opportunity of 

 comparing different breeds with the eye, I think, 

 that after a few trials, he will be at no loss to form 

 an accurate opinion, even where the difference of 

 breed is not considerable. I have heard people 

 exclaim, " What breed !" when they see a slovenly- 

 made weedy thing, witH long spider-like spindle- 

 shanks, and as lean as a lath. Though a certain 

 degree of slimness of make is commonly observed 

 in thorough-bred horses, especially when young, 

 there is no greater mistake than to suppose that 

 this is the invariable concomitant of pure descent. 

 Smolensko was remarkable for the size and power 

 of his limbs : I once measured his leg below the 

 knee with my hands, and it required the span of 

 one hand, aided by a finger of the other, to en- 

 circle it. I believe that Terrare was yet larger in 

 the bone. 



