84 BARREL — WIDTH OF CHEST 



but thicker than in the racehorse. The saddle will 

 thereby also remain steadier. 



The barrel of a hunter must be rounder than that of 

 the thoroughbred, so as to allow more room for the 

 play of heart and lungs, and furnish an increased 

 supply of air to the latter, which is very essential 

 when a horse has to keep going for several miles 

 without a check. Width of chest is also desirable. 

 It must be borne in mind that the continued exertion 

 of fox-hunting quickens the respiration at times to a 

 dangerous extent, and particularly is this the case if a 

 horse is not in perfect condition. A very increased 

 flow of blood is hurried through the lungs from the 

 heart under such circumstances, compared to that 

 which passes when the horse is at rest. If, therefore, 

 the space for the play of heart and lungs is insufficient, 

 the horse must come to grief, and not infrequently 

 drops down dead during a long run. I have in a 

 previous chapter mentioned the case of no less than 

 seven horses beinor killed durino- a run with stao-hounds, 



O O <-> 



and all these were narrow-chested animals. 



The forearm of a hunter must be more muscular 

 than that of a thoroughbred racehorse, inasmuch as 

 not only strength, but endurance also is needed. The 

 leg must be broader when viewed sideways, and 

 especially below the knee ; just in proportion to the 

 distance of the tendon from the ' cannon,' or shank 

 bone, will be the increase of mechanical power. A 

 racehorse may be tied with a piece of silk below the 

 knee without in any way suffering impediment, whereas 

 a hunter so treated would very rarely be able to go far 

 and soundly. A hunter should be shorter in the leg 

 and his action higher than that of a racehorse. This 



