PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 49 



cause of his being beat in the race in which he 

 may be engaged. 



As to the appearance of a horse in condition, 

 when brought to the post to run,-— He should ap- 

 pear (if I may be allowed the expression) bloom- 

 ingly ripe, fresh, and healthy in himself, clean and 

 unloaded in his muscular surface from what is 

 commonly called the "waste and spare;" in other 

 words, there should be neither in him, nor on him, 

 any superfluous flesh or adipose membrane (fat). 

 He should be clear in his wind, kind and glossy in 

 his skin, cool and clean on his legs, and, from be- 

 hind the girths of his saddle, he should be 

 straight and handsome in his carcass (if he is not 

 too great a glutton). The muscles of his body 

 should feel hard and springy to the touch, with a 

 sort of projecting swell or substance in the body 

 part of them, and particularly those of his hind 

 quarters, which should also appear as if they 

 were distinctly divided from each other. His 

 crest, not being too high, should feel firm and 

 closely attached to his neck. This is the appear- 

 ance, or state of condition, in which a horse 

 should be when brought to post to run; and the 

 orders to be given to the jockey, how such a 

 horse is to be ridden in his race, must be according 



VOL. II. E 



