AS A BUSINESS HORSE 15 



" The limbs of the Morgans are large in proportion to the size of the animal, 

 but they are free from meat, remarkably wide, flat, and sinewy, with the back 

 .sinews standing well out from the bone. The joints are very close, the pas- 

 terns short, the feet rather small, but almost invariably excellent. A good 

 many of them have considerable long hair about the legs, and this we do not 

 like, as it detracts from the beauty of the animal, and retains the moisture 

 about the limbs longer after the animal has been exposed to the wet. True, 

 if carefully groomed, they will not be left wet, but it is a melancholy fact that 

 grooms are not always thus careful. Where the limbs are otherwise unexcep- 

 tionable, we do not consider this a very serious objection, especially in horses 

 whose legs are short, the vital energy great, and the circulation consequently 

 good. 



"The shoulders are large and muscular, the blade sloping well back, the 

 point low and well formed, and the breast broad, giving a deep, wide, roomy 

 chest. The hips are long, deep, and wide, the loins are broad and full, the thighs 

 plump and sinewy, the muscles extended large and hard well down to the 

 hock. The neck is rarely very long, and sometimes hardly as long as we 

 should like to see it, though many excellent judges disagree with us in this 

 respect, claiming that the neck being barely long enough to make the animal 

 pleasant in hand, not another ounce should be added, because it is only an 

 unnecessary weight that must be carried, without contributing anything to- 

 wards the power of motion. 



"To a certain extent this is undoubtedly true, but we place so high an 

 estimate upon a good and sensitive mouth, that we should prefer to have the 

 neck a trifle too long, rather than have the animal heavy in hand. Still, it 

 must be admitted that heaviness in hand is a very rare fault with this class 

 of horses. 



" However horsemen may differ as to the perfection or imperfection of 

 the neck, there can be no sort of question as to the head, which can be 

 found as fine and beautiful in no other breed of horses except the thorough- 

 bred or Arabian. Some difference of opinion exists among horsemen as to 

 the size of the head, but we think it is now the generally-received opinion 

 that the head should be small, and all agree that it should be lean below the 

 jowls. The first injunction given to the purchasers of the horses for the 

 French cavalry is to 'see if he has a small head', while Mr. Hinds commends 

 the ' Englishman's long-accepted description of a good horse, and nothing 

 else', thus : 'His head ought to be lean, of good size, and long'. 



" The Morgan has a small, lean head, broad between the eyes, which are 

 prominent, bold, lively and pleasant, full of spirit and courage, yet mild, giv- 

 ing evidence of a temper at once spirited and tractable. The ears are small 

 and well shaped, set rather wide apart, but are delicate and lively. 



" The back is short and broad, the hips well coupled, the loins wide, and 

 displaying on each side masses of firm, unyielding muscle, which will satisfy 

 the horseman of his ability to carry weight and endure fatigue. Just behind 

 the withers the back is often a little depressed, and individuals are occasion- 



