THE HUNTEK, 589 



for a short space, so that fleetness and lightness shall be 

 more sought for than strength and the power of endurance \ f 

 but even in this case a distinction will exist between the 

 characters suited for the Course and those required for the 

 Hunting-field. The Hunter should possess a good fore-end, 

 that he may pass safely along the rough surface over which 

 he is urged, and over the obstacles which he encounters. 

 The low fore-end and elevated hind-quarters, which are suited 

 to the power of rapid progression over a smooth surface, 

 would, in the Hunter, be inconsistent with safety ; and the 

 tendency to the ewe neck, which, in the short and violent 

 gallop of the Course is admissible, would, in the case of the 

 Hunter, be inconsistent with sensitiveness to the rein and 

 the ease of the rider. The neck of the Hunter should be 

 sufficiently muscular, and his chest just so broad as to indi- 

 cate strength without heaviness. The long stride of the 

 Racer not being required in the Hunter, he should possess 

 the conformation which indicates strength in the dorsal and 

 lumbar regions, that is, he should be well-ribbed home, and 

 have the back moderately short. In the length and develop- 

 ment of the hind-quarters, in the formation of the limbs, 

 muscular to the knee and hock, and below these joints tendi- 

 nous ; and, indeed, in almost all the other characters which 

 indicate a well-formed horse, the two classes may be said to 

 agree, except that the Hunter should be shorter legged, ac- 

 cording to the common expression, that is, should have the 

 limbs bear a less proportion to the trunk than the Racer, in 

 whom this character may be sacrificed for speed. To de- 

 scribe the Hunter, indeed, is merely to describe a well-formed 

 horse, in which exists that harmony of parts which consists 

 with the best exercise of the powers of the animal. The per- 

 fect English Hunter is beyond a question the finest variety 

 of horse that exists in any country, combining in a yet hap- 

 pier proportion than the Race-Horse the lightness of the 

 horses of the warmer regions with the strength of the ancient 

 races of Europe. If we compare the Hunter in his confer- 



