POINTS TO BE OBSERVED IN BROOD-MARES 39 



developed from knee to pastern that the groove 

 on each side of the tendon should be deep enough 

 to admit of a forefinger being placed in the middle 

 of the flat part of it ; pasterns rather short and 

 sloping, not straight ; feet good and of equal size, 

 and not flat ; thighs big and with plenty of room ; 

 girth 8 feet or 9 feet round, the larger the better, 

 provided the mare is well bred ; hocks well placed 

 under her, so as to be able to ' change ' on any bank ; 

 well ribbed-up. 



Always allowing that she is sound, a mare so shaped 

 may be considered perfection. Where, however, any 

 of the above-named qualifications are wanting, they 

 may be corrected in the foal by choice being made of a 

 stallion which is perfect in such points. 



Out of such mares as here described I have bred not 

 only little horses which have been marvels of strength 

 and activity, but also horses of greater size, which have 

 been fit to carry weight in the shires, and which have 

 won some hunt-cups, and the Grand Military to 

 boot. 



From the measurements which I took of two per- 

 fectly-shaped hunters of 15.2 and 15.3, I have been 

 able to take the following as standard measurements. 

 They may perhaps serve as a guide to those who may 

 contemplate the purchase or breeding of hunters, etc. 



Shoulders, measure taken from the top of the withers 

 to the top of the middle of the chest, 38 to 45 inches. 

 (I may add that the more sloping the measuring-tape 

 has to be placed, the better the shoulder, if not loaded 

 in front.) 



When measuring horses of 16 or 17 hands, the above 

 measurement would be Increased. 



