38 RACE HORSE. 



draw a straight line from the top of the shoulder-blade 

 to intersect with the point of the former line. 



Thus the real symmetry of a grand and beautiful 

 horse, possessed with muscular powers and strength, 

 is formed by a right-angled triangle ; and the farther 

 from it a race horse's form is, the less pretensions that 

 horse has to beauty, speed, bottom, or lastingness, ability 

 to carry weight, or activity. 



A thick, upright shoulder, is a very certain mark of 

 a " stum bier," and is fit for no use whatever but the 

 slow draft. 



A low coupling in the back, is a true mark of weak- 

 ness ; it denotes want of strength, lastingness, ability 

 to carry weight, or speed. 



A low loin, is a certain mark of weakness, and a 

 weakly and washy constitution. 



But, a rising loin, of ability to carry weight, speed, 

 activity, and lastingness, and a good constitution, sym- 

 metry, beauty, and muscular strength. 



A race horse's legs cannot be too short. 



A great declivity, and thin shoulders, denotes 

 speed. 



A narrow breast, weakness. 



A horse's breast bone, formed like that of the rabbit, 

 denotes also speed, and it is the best form for a race 

 horse. 



A short, broad hock, denotes strength ; a broad stifle, 

 well let down to the curb or hock, denotes bottom or 

 lastingness, strength, and activity. 



There are not two race horses in five hundred, pro- 

 perly formed in the knees ; which should be small, 

 divested of superfluous appendages, and strong; they 

 denote activitv and strength. 



