56 ROACH BACK, AND HOLLOW BACK. [BOOK I. 



the Flanders and Norman breeds have all this ten- 

 dency ; and they are invariably of a sluggish nature, 

 when the belly, also, hangs low. 



The major part of our horses of this built have 

 their sides falling in, more or less, toward the hind 

 quarter, some few of them to such a degree that 

 the flank appears as if it were fastened to the loins, 

 These are remarkably poor feeders, have a good 

 deal of short-lived vigour, without the gift of keep- 

 ing it up at any kind of thing. Nutritious food, but 

 less in quantity, does for horses which are out in 

 the first-mentioned point all that can be done, and 

 that is very little : those of the second species of 

 bad form cannot bear long journies, nor long pri- 

 vation, or they are liable to contract flatulencies and 

 spasmodic cholic. 



Another species of disproportionate length, as 

 compared to height, consists in what is called 

 " high-mounted," the limbs having then much 

 more length than the body ; a defect that is ren- 

 dered still more apparent when (as generally hap- 

 pens) the horse is also roach-backed, like the first 

 sketch of back-bone in the next page; and it is still 

 more striking when a little man is mounted upon 

 it, with a saddle that is ever sliding forward upon 

 the withers. Such a form always denotes weakness 

 of limb, and want of freedom in the forehand ; nor 

 can a horse of this built take a long step, nor trot 

 well, nor thrive in the field, by reason of the dif- 

 ficulty he has in reaching the grass, which induces 

 him to bend one knee forward, whilst the other leg 



