HORSES OF LUXURY. 



841 



Preferred Coats. Little importance is placed upon the color 

 of the coats of these horses. However, light coats, such as the gray 

 and the pied particularly, are very much in favor, as they contrast 

 agreeably with the red coat of the rider. 



FIG. 341. Hunter. 

 (Reproduced from a photograph belonging to M. Delton.) 



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Conformation. A beautiful hunter should have a long, high 

 neck, never arched ; beautiful shoulders, high chest, prominent withers, 

 strongly-built body, muscular loins, well attached, a powerful croup, 

 thigh, and buttock, and, finally, strong members of good equilibrium. 

 To these qualities must be added energy, good breeding, endurance, 

 and speed, for hunting is very laborious and difficult, and exacts a 

 special training (Fig. 341). 



But all horses which are used for this service by no means possess 

 all these conditions, especially in France. Many of them are blemished 

 and have a very defective conformation ; hence they are not serviceable 

 very long. 



Origin. The best hunting-horses are half-breeds, bred in England 

 and in greater numbers in Ireland. Those which are used in France 

 are usually half-ruined thoroughbred and some Norman horses. 



Price. Their value is not uniform, owing to the variety of their 



