88 



HORSES. 



HORSES. 



We would congratulate the Society upon the increased 

 interest in the horse, as shown by the exhibition to-day, 

 of specimens of unusual excellence, of the class sub- 

 mitted to this Committee. Having no place on which 

 to show to any advantage the movement and speed of 

 this noble and beautiful animal, we were obliged to 

 content ourselves as well as we could, by examining his 

 points, and witnessing his motion as he went around such 

 a space as we were able for a short time to command. 



The business horse, that is, the horse which is best, 

 on the whole, for all kinds of work, most in demand by 

 the great majority of our people, and of course the one 

 for which premiums are offered by this Society, should 

 possess a good share of the following points and 

 characteristics, the more the better, viz : he should be 

 compact, to insure endurance and hardiness of constitu- 

 tion. Touatt says, "as much strength as possible in a 

 little space." Legs short; fore-legs and hind-legs about 

 equal in length; the withers sharp, thin, and a trifle 

 higher than the hips ; the fore-legs well spread at the " ^ 

 chest, to give room for the development of the vital 

 organs, perpendicular and straight, knees wide and flat, 

 clean and compact, from knee to fetlock short, free from 

 meat, the back cords large, standing out well from the 

 bone ; viewed from the front the legs should be thin, from 

 the side, wide and sinewey ; the fetlock rather wide, and 

 thicker in front than behind; pasterns short, neither 

 upright nor very sloping. Mr. Hinds, quoted by 

 Linsley, says " horses having long and sloping pasterns, 

 soon tire." The hoof should be nearly round, open at 



