INTRODUCTION. 11 



shape accommodated. A deep chest, however, may 

 enlarge, it may become more circular; with every 

 movement of the ribs, therefore, the lungs can ex- 

 pand, admit air, and arterialize the blood. Where- 

 fore, we sanction the circular chest in the heavy 

 draught horse, whose labour is slow and methodical ; 

 but from the hackney to the horse of light work, we 

 occasionally demand both pace and continuance. 



For another reason we want the deep chest. The 

 circular chest will be weighty in front ; its very form 

 will require thick and heavy shoulders. This will 

 give a slowness of action, a battering of the fore feet, 

 and a want of safety. The deep chest usually has 

 its principal fulness behind the elbow, and the absence 

 of weight in a forward position renders the paces 

 light and graceful : therefore the form for saddle pur- 

 poses will be that of moderate depth at the girth, and 

 a barrelling behind the elbow. 



There ought to be plenty of room ; the chest should 

 be long; the ribs should be somewhat apart from 

 each other, so that they may reach back towards the 

 hips. We have then more room for the organs of 

 respiration. The spine is then firmly supported, and 

 the lungs are better able to discharge their healthy 

 functions. Therefore, a horse ribbed home, or having 

 but a small space between the last rib and the hip- 

 bone, is almost sure to be strong and enduring. He 

 may not be very speedy ; but he may be depended 

 upon for a good constitution, and as being capable of 

 every ordinary service. If we require from the horse 

 only occasional exertion, we may excuse a little hol- 

 lowness of the flank ; for there will be more room for 

 b6 



