SOME DEFINITIONS. 31 



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. 2. SOME DEFINITIONS. 



In the language of the exterior, certain expressions are often em- 

 ployed whose signification should be exactly known. They are the 

 following : Beauty, Defect, Blemish, Vice, Fault. 



A. Beauties. 



Beauty, says Bourgelat, resides in the fitness and the relation 

 of the parts. This definition is incomplete, for it refers only to the 

 proportions of the whole and excludes those of the parts taken sepa- 

 rately. Indeed, it may be that the general harmony in a horse is 

 defective, although some of the parts are absolutely beautiful; the 

 whole may be composed of elements badly arranged, notwithstanding 

 that certain of them are not incompatible in subjects of the best 

 conformation. 



A more precise sense should therefore be attached to the word 

 beautiful, and we should assert that it indicates the perfect adaptation 

 of the organ to its function, or of the subject to the service for which 

 he is destined. It is not that which pleases the eye, as is often under- 

 stood by persons ignorant of these kinds of study, but that which is 

 'qualified as fit by the connoisseur, the competent man. Beauty is 

 therefore synonymous with fitness. It is seen, then, that a beautiful 

 region is a good region, a beautiful horse is a good horse, the beauty of 

 the whole results, as Bourgelat says, from the beauty and reciprocal fit- 

 ness of all the parts. One of these may be beautiful without the whole 

 possessing that quality. 



This acceptation of the word beautiful is applied generally as well 

 as particularly, and it is the only one which should be accepted when 

 the word is employed. 



There is still another distinction to be established among the 

 beauties : some are absolute, others are relative. 



Absolute beauties are always sought for whatever may be the ser- 

 vice, the saddle, or light or heavy traction. A spacious chest, large 

 articulations, dense and voluminous muscles, regular equilibrium, and 

 powerful attachments are absolute beauties to be exacted indiscrimi- 

 nately from all horses, for these characters indicate the strength and 

 energy necessary for all services. 



Relative beauties, on the contrary, denote a specialization for such 

 and such a service. Thus, we prefer largeness of the chest, massive 

 shoulders, voluminous muscles, short, vigorous members, a body close 

 to the ground, wide loins, etc., in the slow and heavy motors which 



