THE HORSE. 23 



B to P, without which a great stride can hardly be attained, 

 but which will seldom if ever be found wanting if the shoulder- 

 blade be well placed. A prominent and fleshy chest is admired 

 by some, probably because they think it indicative of powerful 

 lungs and room for their use. We object to it as adding to 

 what it is so desirable to avoid the weight to be lifted forward 

 in the act of progression while all the space the lungs require 

 is to be obtained by depth instead of breadth, as from A to H, 

 in which point, if a horse be deficient, he will seldom be fit 

 for fast work. The other points which we have marked for 

 comparison are G- to E, or the width of the leg immediately 

 below the knee, which in a well-formed leg will be equal all the 

 way down ; in a bad one it will be narrowish immediately below 

 the knee, or what is called ' tied in." 1 The shape of the neck 

 is more important than might at first thought be supposed, as 

 affecting both the wind and the handiness of the mouth ; no 

 horse with a faulty neck and a head ill-attached to it, as at Q 

 to K in fig. 6, ever possesses a good or manageable mouth. 

 The points of the face are not without significance, a feebly 

 developed countenance generally showing weakness of courage 

 if not of constitution. We therefore like to see a large and 

 bony protuberance above the eye, as at L in fig. 5, giving the 

 appearance of a sinking immediately below, followed by a 

 slightly Roman or protruding inclination toward the nose. 

 These when present are generally signs of 'blood,' which is in 

 some proportion or other a quality without which no breed of 

 horses will ever improve or long entitle itself to rank as other 

 than a race of drudges, fit only for sand or manure carts." 



Bearing these points in mind, you may, by observing and 

 comparing the different animals which fall under your eyes, 

 soon qualify yourself to give an intelligent opinion of a horse. 

 One can not become perfect in this branch of knowledge in a 

 week or in a year. Certainly no careful student of this little 

 book will allow himself to be imposed upon in the purchase of 

 an animal having many of the bad points represented in fig. 6. 

 The perfect horse (fig. 5) you will not expect to meet every day. 



