10 THE FARMER'S 



The carcass of a horse ought to be a subject of 

 partictilar attention. This cannot be too circular. 

 A cylinder gives the greatest possible capacity. 

 A horse, therefore, with a round chest, has more 

 room for the expansion of his lungs than a horse 

 with a chest otherwise formed. His wind must 

 therefore be better; besides he fats much easier; 

 he requires less food. A horse with a round chest 

 will keep fat upon almost any thing, whereas it is 

 almost impossible to fat a horse with a narrow or flat 

 chest. A horse with a thin narrow chest cannot 

 bear heat, has bad wind, is always lean, weak and 

 tender. 



The spine, or back, which extends from the fore 

 to the hind quarters, cannot be too short for strength 

 A short, hump-back is indicative of g'-eat strength, 

 especially in carrying weights. We arch bridges 

 for the purpose of adding to their strength, and a 

 horse's back may be compared to a bridge,^ and the 

 four legs the four pillars of support. The shorter 

 the arch, the greater weight it will support, and for 

 the same reason, a horse with a short, curved or 

 hump back (other things being equal) will carry 

 the greatest burthen. 



AJthough a short back is indicative of strength, 

 it is not of speed and action. A long back must 

 obviouslV give greater room for action. The hare 

 and weasel have, in proportion to their size, ex- 

 tremely long backs; and "to run like a Meu-ch 

 hare," is proverbial. A long back, however, 

 must be a weak back, and unable to support heavy 

 weights. In choosing a horse, therefore, for com- 

 mon use, it will be best that he should have aback 

 of a medium length; neither too long nor too short. 

 The hind quarters of a horse ought to be long 



