8 THE HOESE 



classes of work, together with a few ^particulars of 

 the commonest faults and unsoundnesses. 



A fact which is often overlooked in connection 

 with the purchase of a horse is that an animal 

 may be admirably suited for one class of work 

 and quite unsuitable and incapable for another. 

 Thus, many horses may be "rough" and uncom- 

 fortable for riding, but will be excellent in every 

 way as roadsters ; and a horse which is capable of 

 pulling a great weight is obviously unsuited for 

 fast galloping. Therefore the intendmg purchaser 

 must first make up his mind exactly what class of 

 work he wants his horse for, and he must then 

 endeavor to secure an animal with conformation 

 such as will enable it to perform this work in the 

 best manner and with least exertion to itself. At 

 the two extremes are the thoroughbred and the 

 cart horse, the former bred for speed, the latter 

 for strength. Two greater differences could 

 hardly be unagined in one species of animal, for 

 the points necessary to the one are utterly con- 

 demnatory in the other; and although perhaps 

 these differences are peculiar to the shell or ex- 

 ternal parts of the animal, rather than to the 

 internal and vital parts, yet they are very ap- 

 parent to the eye, and are the ones to which at- 



