1 6/ 



CHAPTER XV. 



COMPARATIVE SHAPE OF HORSES. 



General Remarks — Relations between Height and Length of Body — Comparative 

 Height at Withers and Croup — Points in Common — Limit of Height — Thick- 

 ness of Limb — Length of Neck— Length of Head — Comparative Weight of 

 Body — Comparative Length of the Bones of the Limbs — Differences of Con- 

 formation between the Two Sexes. 



General Remarks. — In order to simplify comparison 

 and to prevent tedious repetition, we may divide horses, 

 from a conformation point of view, into (i) horses of speed, 

 and (2) horses of strength ; and each of these classes into 

 (a) saddle horses, and (b) harness horses. Thus, we have 

 the speedy saddle horse in the fiat-racer ; the speedy har- 

 ness horse in the match-trotter ; the strong saddle horse 

 in the weight-carrying hunter and trooper ; and the strong 

 draught horse in the Shire or Clydesdale. I shall there- 

 fore contrast, in this chapter, " points " of speed with 

 those of strength ; and the differences between horses 

 intended for the saddle, and those required for work in 

 the shafts. English and Colonial lovers of horses will 

 demand a further distinction — to which I shall do my 

 best to attend — between fiat -race horses and cross-country 

 horses. In general terms, the outcome of this research 

 will be a more or less successful investigation into the 

 " points " of the race-horse ; hunter, trooper, or riding 

 hack ; match trotter ; light harness horse ; and heavy cart 

 horse. Later on, an attempt will be made to show that 

 aU riding hacks and cavalry horses should possess the 



