98 THE HORSE 



The coach -horse may be less rotund than the hack- 

 ney. He is usually kept plump, even fat; but, if he 

 has naturally the rotund ppny form, he is likely to 

 become sluggish and unresponsive. There is a vast 

 difference between the pudgy build of most ponies 

 and the longer, graceful lines of a well -formed 

 coacher. Then, too, a fairly long-bodied horse need 

 not of necessity have a long back. It is frequently 

 said that no horse should have a long back. This is 

 only relatively true. What really is meant is that the 

 top line (back) should be short as compared with the 

 bottom line (belly). Then, too, there is a marked dif- 

 ference between a thick, piglike neck and one that is 

 strongly attached to the shoulders. While the neck of 

 a coacher should be rather long and thin, it should 

 have a high, firm seating on the shoulders and taper 

 rapidly toward its intersection with the head. The 

 demand is for smooth, rather long, flowing outlines. 

 Horses of pudgy build or with ragged hips or angu- 

 lar conformation are not wanted. An arched, flowing, 

 full tail, good feet and symmetrical limbs are indis- 

 pensable. 



When all is summed up, color has much to do with 

 the price, and indicates to some extent, it is believed, 

 quality and endurance, although superior horses are 

 sometimes found with faded light colors and undesirable 

 markings. Dark hoofs are, as a rule, tougher and bet- 

 ter than light-colored ones. Seal browns, bright unfad- 

 ing bays, with strong well-defined black or dark points, 

 are always in fashion and are to be preferred to all other 

 colors. Blacks seldom hold their color when exposed to 



