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8 The Arabian Horse 



strong, the whole beautifully turned ; tail set on high 

 and grandly carried in an arch, powerful in the gaskins ; 

 hocks and knees very good and large ; these points much 

 larger than seen in the European horse, not only in pro- 

 portion to height, but often really so. Arms long, legs 

 short, hard, and clean ; large tendons and ligaments ; 

 pasterns sufficiently long, large, powerful, and springy ; 

 fetlock joints well developed, affiarding room for the ad- 

 vantageous attachment of ligaments ; feet tough, sound, 

 and good, and rather deep. An honest heart, a skin as 

 soft as silk, and a coat like satin. 



There is no weediness in the Arab ; his splendid 

 barrel will at once convince a judge of his wonderful 

 constitution, and gives the expanse necessary for the play 

 of heart and lungs ; great power and ability to carry 

 weight. Stand in front of him ; you will see the swell 

 and barrel of chest expanding far beyond his shoulders 

 and width of breast. Look at him from behind ; his 

 great back ribs extend far beyond his haunches on either 

 side, whereas in the generality of English horses their 

 flat sides are contained within the width of the breast, 

 and are hidden from view when you stand directly in 

 front ; and so, when you stand behind, are the back ribs 

 hidden by the quarters. This was not formerly the case. 

 In examining a sketch of Eclipse, drawn from measure- 

 ments taken by M. St. Bel, the swell of the barrel is 

 seen to extend be}'ond the breast and shoulders, showing 

 at once how correct is the opinion that the modern horse 

 has deteriorated in outward form. 



There is nothing more beautiful to contemplate than 



