EXTERNAL FORM. 



Ixxxiii 



hended, abstracting from the neck and head, within a square, 

 the limbs occupying somewhat more than one-half. 



Fig. 7. 



Were the limbs to occupy too large a proportion of the 

 square, the horse might be full of mettle, and possessed of 

 great power of speed, but he would be wanting in the power 

 of endurance necessary to suit him for useful services. A 

 certain depth of chest and body is required in every horse 

 from which we look for continued labour. This is essential 

 in the horse of heavy draught, the hackney, the ordinary 

 saddle-horse, and the hunter. A horse having this conforma- 

 tion is said to be short-legged. A length of the limbs dis- 

 proportionate to the depth of chest and trunk, is only admis- 

 sible in the case of the race-horse, in which the property of 

 speed is alone regarded. In an ordinary horse, the charac- 

 ter of too long legs is universally regarded as a defect. Such 

 a horse, whatever spirit he may possess, is easily tired, and, 

 after ^severe exercise, is frequently unable to take his food. 

 He is subject to be purged often by a draught of cold water, 



