THE GALLOP. 155 



forward he in this position is capable of making, he in fleetness 

 excels almost every other animal, and far surpasses every fellow 

 of his own kind, not thorough-bred, that can be brought against him. 

 So far the race-horse — I might in pride say the English racer — 

 is an animal veritably sui generis. Contrast the clumsy gallop of 

 the cart-horse — if the pace as he performs it can be so called — 

 with the airy skimming movement of the race-horse ; nay, com- 

 pare the high, round, or clambering gallop of the foreign horse, or 

 that of many of our hacks, our trotters especially, with the racer's 

 action, and how strikingly different are they found ! All this will 

 go to demonstrate the truth of what I have just asserted, that, so 

 far as regard different horses, there are many and various kinds of 

 gallops, though to class them or make any sort of useful arrange- 

 ment or distribution of them is a task to which we, for the pre- 

 sent at least, may find ourselves incompetent. 



The circumstances of the cart-horse hardly being able to gallop 

 at all, while the race-horse is evidently " made for galloping," may 

 serve, on due consideration, to throw some light on that conforma- 

 tion of body and limb which is peculiarly characteristic of a good 

 galloper. Length everywhere in the form of the body appears 

 indispensable : length of neck, back, and loin ; length of limb, of 

 arms, and thighs, and pasterns, are all seen to advantage in the 

 well-formed racer, and must predominate in any horse we may 

 select in expectation of being a good galloper. On the other hand, 

 shortness of make, combined with uprightness in the joints, such 

 as we evidence in the dray or cart horse, may serve for trotting, 

 but can in nowise answer the purposes of galloping : it is im- 

 possible for spring and speed to result from such conformation. We 

 are not, however, to take it for granted that length of body and 

 limb are the only requisites — that all horses so made can gallop : 

 some there are that have not the faculty of speed, other require- 

 ments being wanting. It would, indeed, be a consummation of 

 the equestrian's skill could he in every instance connect speed 

 or action with form, and determine when, for want of the neces- 

 sary adjuncts, although the form was present, the speed must be 

 absent. As, however, I observed on a former occasion, in conse- 

 quence of the vital influences having a share in the production of 

 action and speed, there seems faint chance of the horseman ever 



