26 THE HORSE. 



fit for little. He may drag out a miserable existence 

 at slow work, but he is totally incapable of very ac- 

 tive exertion. " Wind," says a sensible old tm^te, 

 "is the grand secret of a good race-horse. Good 

 lungs will cover a multitude of faults, as disproportion- 

 ate as ugly ; whilst, on the other hand, perfection of 

 shape and forai are useless when the wind is out.'* 

 The shape and size of the chest are, therefore, matters 

 of no trifling importance ; because they will, in a great 

 measure, govern the condition of the lungs. 



In every case the chest should be large and capaci- 

 ous ; but its exact shape may vary a little according to 

 the pui-pose for which the horse is required. In the 

 animal for slow work and heavy draught, it may ap- 

 proach towards the circular form, because this shape is 

 generally accompanied by great bulk and strength for 

 the collar ; whilst, at the same time, sufficient expan- 

 sion can take place to accommodate the slow and regular 

 action of the lungs which is required at a walking pace. 

 This sort of horse, however, is quite unfit for any kind 

 of work requiring speed. As Mr. Youatt very pro- 

 perly remarks, " He would not do for ordinary quick 

 exertion, and if he were pushed far beyond his pace, he 

 would become broken-winded, or have inflamed lungs." 

 Let it be particularly observed, moreover, that even 

 in the draught-horse the chest should be deep as well 

 as round, in order to afford sufficient space for lungs of 

 the proper magnitude. Depth of chest is not so much 



