124 THE HORSE 



were very prevalent some years ago, but the presence of 

 that colour can, in nearly every case, be traced to the 

 introduction of extraneous blood. Of the chestnut there 

 are seven shades . . . the dark, at times approaching a 

 brown-black, mahogany, or liver colour ; the dull dark 

 chestnut ; the light mealy chestnut ; the red ; the golden ; 

 the lemon; and the bright chestnut. The most popular, 

 the most common, and the most standing colour is the 

 last named. The bright chestnut is a lively shade, with 

 a little gradation of lighter colour at the flanks and at the 

 extremities — but not much. It is in most cases attended 

 with a star on the forehead, or thin 'reach,' 'blaze,' or 

 ' shim ' down the face. The flaxen mane and tail pre- 

 valent 100 years ago, and occasionally found at the 

 present day, are usually seen on the bright chestnut. This 

 shade is also not unfrequently shot with white or silver 

 hairs, hereditarily distinctive of certain strains. 



" The golden is a beautiful colour, not many removes 

 from the bright chestnut, but is not unfrequently faced up 

 with a white heel behind. The lemon is a very light golden 

 shade, known sometimes as the ' yellow ' chestnut. 



" The red chestnut is a very popular colour ; and a red 

 chestnut is almost sure to be a whole-coloured horse. 

 There is no variation of shade in it, not even at the flanks, 

 quarters, or extremities. It is said to come of a taint of 

 bay origin, especially the lighter variety — the cherry red. 



" The light mealy chestnut is condemned by all ; it is 

 indicative of a weak constitution, soft legs, and a slow 

 phlegmatic temperament. Commencing with a dull chest- 

 nut body, the flanks and under-line are a mottled ash 

 colour, gradually shading off to a dirty white at the 

 extremities, which are usually covered with soft hair of 

 the same hue. 



" The dark chestnut is a favourite with some breeders, 

 but is mostly a changing colour, varying with the season of 

 the year, from almost a black to a dark cherry red. ... It 

 is said to be a hardy colour, but there can be no doubt that 

 a first-class mare is considerably depreciated in value, if 

 a dark instead of a bright or golden chestnut. The dull- 



