164 THE HORSE. 



likewise the centre or bulk of his weight will be too easily thrown beyond 

 the natural situation of his feet, and he will be exceedingly unsafe. There- 

 fore, for the light carriage and the saddle, although we want capacity of 

 chest, we want it not too much before. A moderate breadth, with depth 

 at the girth, and a swelling out, or barrelling behind the elbow, will be the 

 most desirable form. Horses with narrow chests may have plenty of 

 spirit, and willingness for w^ork ; but they have not the appetite or the en- 

 durance of those whose breast is moderately wide. 



The heavy cart or dray horse, whose power of draught is equal to the 

 weio-ht which he can throw into the collar, requires the broad chest, not only 

 that his weight may be thrown more before, but that by the increased 

 capacity of his chest he may obtain that bulk and size which will enable 

 him to press with the requisite force upon the collar. 



Depth of chest has another advantage ; it not only gives increased capa- 

 city to the cavity within it, but increased room for the insertion of those 

 muscles on and between the ribs, by the action of whichj the chest is 

 alternately expanded and contracted in the act of breathing; and the action 

 of which is so necessary when the breathing is quickened by exercise. 



Again, depth of chest will admit of a great deal more increased expan- 

 sion, than will a chest approaching to a circular form. That which is 

 somewhat straight may be easily bent into a circle ; but that which is 

 already rounded can scarcely be made more so : therefore it is that the 

 heavy horse, with all his capaciousness of chest, is easily blown, and inca- 

 pable of speed, because all this expanse was employed in the accumulation 

 of flesh and fat, and can be very little increased when exertion causes the 

 flow and the change of blood to be considerably more rapid. The flatter 

 chest may be readily expanded as the circumstances of the animal may 

 require. A judge of the horse never likes to see a chest too high from the 

 ground, and legs too long. The animal may be free and speedy, but there 

 is not sufficient capacity of chest to render him a good feeder, or to give him 

 much endurance. 



The next point of consequence regarding the capacity of the chest, is the 

 length or shortness of the carcase ; or the extent of the ribs from the elbow 

 backward. Some horses are what is called ribbed home; there is but little 

 space (see cuts pp. 63 and 163) between the last rib and the hip-bone. In 

 others the distance is considerably greater, which is evident by the falling 

 in of the flank. The question here is, what service is required from the horse ? 

 If he have to carry a heavy weight, and much work to do, let him be ribbed 

 home, — let the last rib, and the hip-bone be almost close to each other. 

 There is more capacity of chest and of belly ; there is less distance between 

 the points of support; there is more strength and endurance. A hackney 

 (and we would almost say a hunter) can scarcely be too well ribbed home. 



If speed, however, be required, there must be room for the full action 

 of the hinder limbs ; and this can only exist when there is sufficient space 

 between the last rib and the hip-bone. The owner of the horse must make 

 up his mind as to what he wants from him, and be satisfied if he obtains 

 that; but let him be assured that he cannot have every thing: this would 

 require those differences of conformation which cannot possibly exist in the 

 same animal. 



The thorax, or chest, is formed by the spine / above ; the ribs e, 

 on either side ; and the sternum, or breast-bone^ c, beneath. 



THE SPINE AND BACK. 



The spine or back-bone consists of a chain of bones from the poll to the 

 extremity of the tail. We have described the bones of the neck, and we will 



