46 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



i. e., as to whether the thoroughbred type or the 

 Kentucky type of horse is best suited for saddle work. 

 We use this word type advisedly, inasmuch as in our 

 discussion we mean to include the horses in which 

 thoroughbred blood, or Kentucky blood, predominates, 

 even though they may not be eligible for their re- 

 spective stud-books. In comparing the conformation 

 of the two types we find, first, that the Kentucky 

 saddler has a comparatively short neck, which rises 

 abruptly and sharply at the withers. He carries a 

 high, peacocky head. According to the Kentucky 

 standard, "the neck is lifted in a graceful arch so that 

 the head is about as high as that of the rider's." His 

 back is short, he is extremely closely coupled and in- 

 clined to be leggy, while his shoulders are usually 

 straight instead of oblique. In contrast to this the 

 thoroughbred type of horse has a long, fine neck, 

 which can be carried in just as graceful a style as that 

 of the Kentucky horse, but which slopes gradually 

 from the shoulders, enabling him to carry a moder- 

 ately low head. His back is longer, and although 

 there are many thoroughbreds racing to-day who 

 possess straight shoulders, it is easier on an average 

 to find the oblique shoulder suitable for saddle work 

 among thoroughbreds than among Kentucky horses. 



If we regard this difference of conformation purely 

 and simply from the standpoint of looks, we will, I 

 am sure, readily concede that, although the Kentucky 

 saddler, with flowing mane and tail, is artistically a 

 pretty picture, from a " riding" point of view he re- 

 sembles too closely the conformation of the harness 

 horse. Glance, for example, at the three pictures in 

 this chapter of a first-class hackney, Kentucky saddler, 

 and thoroughbred. 



