12 THE HORSE. 



perhaps never, knock or cut, however near the hoof 

 may approach. A full, clear, azure eye. 



Such are the requisites of form, whether for the 

 racer or cart horse. For the hack, hunter, or 

 racer, there are certain other requisites of form 

 and quality ; the chief of which to be quoted are the 

 deep, backward-declining, and as it is called, the 

 counter or coulter shoulder, well elevated forehand, 

 deep girthing place, with sufficient racing blood to 

 give lightness, action, and fineness of hair and skin. 

 This description applies with perfect aptitude to the 

 hunter, which should have moreover great strength 

 of loin and fillet, and should not be high upon the 

 leg. Nor is any addition necessary for the running- 

 horse, but greater general length, which is the usual 

 result of full or thorough blood. As to our coach 

 horses, such is the modern rage for speed, that our 

 mails and stages may well be said to consist, in a consi- 

 derable degree, of racers and hunters ; and our private 

 coaches of hunting-like horses on a large scale. 



In regard to the natural and peculiar form of the 

 slow draught horse, he carries his substance in a 

 round, full, and horizontal mode ; his chest is wide 

 and full; his shoulder rather round and bluff than 

 deep, and its summit, the apex or top of the fore- 

 hand, not high and acute, but wide. Such form 

 seems best adapted to the collar, and to enable the 

 animal to draw, propel, or move forward, heavy 

 weights ; we nevertheless, daily see numbers of first- 

 rate draught horses with deep flat shoulders. It 

 used to be held, that a low shoulder facilitated 

 draught ; and such was the form of the old Suffolk 



