413 GOVERNOR SPRAGUE. 



or hocks wide apart, like those of the Duroc cross — his thigh is too 

 short for that — but he opens wide enough to pass smoothly and with 

 perfect ease. He extends his feet behind moderately, and sets them 

 forward squarely under his body — Messenger style — but not as far 

 either backward or forward as the Cla3'S and Patchens. He has not 

 the lithe, springy action of the Abdallah, but one of about the same 

 reach and of great power. He does not seem to lift his hind feet so 

 high nor so near his body, and spread his stifles out so wide as Flor- 

 ida; and the reason is, that his thigh is shorter; while his length of 

 limb being almost the same as Florida, he approaches him far nearer 

 than those who have a 24^-inch thigh, and only 39 inches from hip to 

 hock; and the degree of this difference is in exact pi-oportion to the 

 difference in physical proportions. He bends his legs, and shows his 

 muscle and well-proportioned levers in a propelling power that is 

 expressive of great vigor, yet great ease. You get the idea of his 

 trotting action as well in seeing him sidewise, passing near or distant, 

 as in coming toward or going from you. His motion is a rapid use of 

 his feet and legs, and an even and steady glide of his body. He is a 

 deceptive trotter; he makes so little apparent motion, and every move 

 in right line, that he really goes much faster than appearances indi- 

 cate. He has abundant motion at all points, but no excess anywhere. 

 I notice a recent remark of one who came close to the truth in say- 

 ing, " Excessive knee-action is exhaustive, and, like straddling behind, 

 is positively a false motion, entirely extraneous to anything that helps 

 the horse forward." An observation to be highly commended, as con- 

 taining: much common sense. Excessive motion has two disadvan- 

 tages; it produces an irregular and uneven gait, and exhausts the 

 vital forces and energies of the horse. These irregular gaited horses 

 are not the stayers. That Governor Sprague can trot at all times, and 

 so many heats, at such even rate of speed — like his sire — is owing to a 

 conformation that affords abundant action, with no excess anywhere. 

 He holds his head at fair elevation, and with perfect poise of body 

 glides along in the smoothest and easiest manner possible. 

 In a previous chapter I said: 



The question has been asked, Is there any true proportion or measure for a 

 perfect trotter? I answer, There is ; and there are some stallions that come 

 very near to the true proportion. The Abdallah and Messenger standard of 

 39—23 is about as near the proportion as can be selected. A stallion that has 

 a thigh 24 inches should not be leas than 40 inches from hip to hock. This 

 was Hambletonian's and Volunteer's proportion. Smuggler is 24: — 40, and no 

 Huer action behind was ever witnessed than he displays. 



