THE THOROUGHBRED 21 



and strong in arm and long and wide in fore arm, with com- 

 paratively little width between the legs. A rather broad, strong 

 knee, supported by a short flat cannon bone extending well back, 

 is desirable. The hind leg at the hocks ought to be deep, clean, 

 free from fleshiness, and be supported by a short, flat, clean 

 cannon bone. The pastern joints should be smooth, placed true, 

 and in harmony with the leg as a whole. The pasterns should 

 not be straight but rather long and slanting, yet strong, clean, 

 and springy, being carried at an angle of about 45 degrees. The 

 feet should be of medium size, wide and high at the heel, con- 

 cave below, and be carried straight and true. In order to secure 

 speed it is essential that the knees and hocks move smoothly 

 and freely and that this movement be true. 



The height of the Thoroughbred ranges from 14^ to i6| hands, 

 but 15 to 1 5 \ is most approved. It is probable that this breed 

 has increased in height with its development. Nearly fifty years 

 ago Rous argued that a gain of a hand had occurred during the 

 preceding hundred years. Sir Walter Gilbey states that " from 

 an average height of 14 hands in 1700 the breed has been graded 

 up to an average of 15 hands 2j inches in the year 1900." 



The color of the Thoroughbred is variable. Bays and browns 

 are most common and most popular, though chestnuts are 

 common, while blacks, sorrels, grays, and roans occur. 



The weight of the Thoroughbred is quite variable, but in gen- 

 eral ranges from 900 to 1050 pounds. 



In temperament the Thoroughbred is nervous and mettlesome, 

 being endowed with great spirit and endurance in the race. 



The distribution of the Thoroughbred is world-wide in regions 

 where light horses for speed purposes prevail. This is note- 

 worthy in Great Britain, France, Germany, Australasia, Argen- 

 tine Republic, and the United States. 



Prices at which Thoroughbreds have sold cover a wide range 

 of high figures, this breed, in fact, leading all others in this 

 respect. The highest price paid up to 1906 is for the stallion 

 Flying Fox, sold for 37,500 guineas ($187,500) at the sale of the 

 Duke of Westminster in 1904. Flying Fox was taken to France 

 for stud purposes. Late in 1905 King Edward VII of England 

 sold the stallion Diamond Jubilee for $150,000 to Senor Ignacio 



