RUSSIAN HORSES. 



555 



by the purchasing remount officers (remonteurs), are 

 very critical as regards the quahty of the pasterns, as 

 we may learn by the frequency with which they employ 

 the word, babkee (pasterns), in the remarks they make 

 on the young ones paraded for their inspection. On 

 the whole, they have very good fore legs. Their shoul- 

 ders are inclined to be short ; but their worst point is 



Pholo l/y'\ 



[M. U II. 



Fig. 553. — Well-bred Russian Remount. 



undoubtedly their hocks, which in many instances are 

 weak. I feel certain that if the question of hocks was 

 better understood in Russia, effective means would be 

 taken to remedy this defect. 



These remounts, especially those which come from 

 the country of the Don, have a strong infusion of Arab 

 blood, with a dash of the thorough-bred. They are essen- 

 tially saddle horses bred for cavalry purposes. The number 



