THE LKGS. 41 



would be for a racer. In speaking of the body, I observed that 

 the animal must have length, as well as power, to become fleet : 

 "to get over the ground" length becomes absolutely necessary 

 in the propelling parts of the machine, and these are the loins and 

 the limbs. To be sure, we do occasionally meet with horses with 

 long limbs and short bodies — the Persian horses I have seen have 

 been of this description ; but such are rare and undesirable con- 

 formations; the limbs, as I observed in a former lecture, doing too 

 much for the body, or rather, the latter restricting them in their 

 action. People in general make objection to horses with undue 

 length of limb : such a horse has " too much daylight underneath 

 him to be good for any thing" is a common expression enough in 

 these cases; and, prima facie — and in nine cases, perhaps, out 

 of ten — these people are correct in their disapprobation. But, 

 every now and then comes a horse before us with all this apparent 

 objectionable sub-corporeal "daylight," and yet with extraordi- 

 nary power in his long limbs, with circularity in his chest though 

 it be not deep, and with the known character of being " a good 

 feeder after work ;" and when such a horse does present himself, 

 we may, should he possess breeding, regard him, notwithstanding 

 his long legs and light body, as an animal of a rare and valuable 

 description. His legs having but little to carry, are therefore 

 likely to "wear well;" but what is of the greatest consequence 

 as a hunter or racer, he is likely to prove a fleet horse, and withal 

 a good-winded horse. I have known horses whom, looking at 

 their " herring guts" and long legs, nobody would have purchased, 

 and yet, from their being in possession of the qualities hereinbefore 

 mentioned, that have turned out most valuable acquisitions. I 

 mention these facts to shew that one ought not hastily to reject a 

 horse with long limbs and their ordinary accompaniment, a light 

 carcass. 



The Fore-Legs. 



The two fore-limbs — extremities, as they are often called by 

 professional persons — differ essentially from the hind ones in their 

 superstructures ; though their lower members and their pedestals 

 are similar one to another. There is no resemblance, for instance, 



G 



