FORM AND ACTION OF GOOD SADDLE HORSES. 167 



horse is unsafe to ride, and his rider, if a judge of action, 

 feels that he is so ; but if the action of the hind and 

 fore-legs be properly balanced, the rider feels his horse 

 firm under him ,and that he cannot very well come down. 

 Indeed, in this case, he seems to be riding up-hill, while, 

 under opposite circumstances, he seems to be always 

 riding down hill. 



One important point, which I consider has been gained 

 by the breeding of horses for speed, is, the great length 

 between the hip-bone and the hock, as exhibited in the 

 greyhound : and although the possession of this point 

 is not so absolutely necessary, yet I, for one, should be 

 inclined to give its" possessor the preference for a hun- 

 ter of the present day, for the horso either is, or ought 

 to be, capable of great speed. But our hunters had not 

 formerly this shape, and did not so much require it. 

 There is, however, one objection against any excessive 

 length between hip and hock, which is, that it fre- 

 quently causes over-reach, a most disagreeable infirmity 

 for either a hunter or roadster. A horse's hips should 

 be wide, to carry weight, and his loins highly muscular, 

 but the lower ends of his shoulders should be light. 

 His chest cannot be too full, but it may be too wide for 

 speed, as well as for agreeable action, causing a rolling 

 motion, very unpleasant to the rider. 



Great depth of chest is a powerful recommendation, 

 and the ribs before the girths cannot be too long, but 

 the back ribs (when much speed is required) should be 

 rather short. For very fine action the shoulder-blades 



