14 



PLATE XII. 



THE CANTERER, OR LADY'S HORSE. 



The horse selected for this purpose should be particularly light 

 in the head and neck, the play or springing appearance of the head 

 giving great beauty to this action. The horse from which this 

 drawing was made was pretty and showy, without having the power 

 of anything like speed or good action ; the buttocks round, without 

 any show of muscle ; tight in the hocks and legs ; although short 

 and strong in the pastern, his legs are not well able to carry his 

 carcass. 



This description of horse in the horse-dealer's hands is very apt 

 to please, and catch the attention of a person not much in the habit of 

 purchasing. I never had but one of this sort in my possession, 

 which I bought during a lameness occasioned by an accident in 

 hunting. He was, like the present subject, very showy, and by most 

 people called handsome ; but the first journey I took him, (a distance of 

 only eighteen miles,) he performed with such extreme difficulty in three 

 hours, that I never chose to mount him again. When any horse has 

 power of speed and action, the play or movement of the bones and 

 muscles is perceptible. The horse that is round and puffed in the 

 quarter very seldom has strength or speed. Compare with Figures 

 2 and 3. The hock, which is flat and straight underneath, must be 

 deficient in strength. 



