PREPARING- PONIES FOR MEASUREMENT. 119 



racing condition. It is, of course, evident that to be in 

 such condition the animal could neither be "faked" 

 nor drugged. 



As I am in no way responsible for the moral or im- 

 moral tendencies of rules of racing in India, I shall 

 leave the subject alone, and shall now proceed to de- 

 scribe the methods generally adopted under existing 

 requirements to get ponies to measure as low as 

 possible. 



I may first of all explain that in the position which 

 a pony has to adopt when he is being measured, the 

 line of his fore-arms and front cannonbones has to be as 

 nearly vertical as practicable ; his fore-feet must not be 

 unduly separated ; his head must not be lowered beyond 

 what will bring the upper line of his neck horizontal ; 

 no pulling down of the skin at the withers is allowed ; 

 and the hocks must be pretty well under him. As a 

 rule, every chance is given to the animal to " settle 

 down," so that he may measure as low as he can fairly 

 do. before the record is decided upon. No allowance 

 is made for shoes. The height taken is (or, at least, 

 ought to be) the vertical distance of the highest point 

 of the withers from the ground. 



Apart from the actual length of the bones, the height 

 of a horse is affected chiefly by : 



1. The condition of the muscles which connect 

 the fore limbs to the trunk ; for the more they become 

 relaxed by debility whether from fatigue, ill health, 

 or the action of drugs the more will the body and, 

 consequently, the withers sink between the fore legs. 



2. The angles made by the bones, respectively, at 

 the shoulder, elbow, and fetlock joints. This is 



