40 smart's definition of a horse. 



the same fences and the same country at the same 

 pace as one from whom we have a right to expect 

 great performances. When I speak of hig horses, I 

 use the term in preference to large ; for a horse may, 

 I conceive, be a large horse, and yet not be what I 

 mean by a big one. By bigness I allude to big 

 muscle, big loins, big joints, thighs, and sinews. 

 Now a horse may very properly be termed a large 

 one wanting all these. I have often seen what I in 

 horse language term a big little one, or, as Smart 

 says, " as long and as big as a boat." If he was not 

 this, I never saw a Httle one a wonder. Quite against 

 my judgment, but from long habit, I prefer riding 

 horses 16 to 15i hands, though I am satisfied for any 

 riding purpose the latter is high enough if he is good 

 enough ; but then he should be one of Smart's boats. 

 Every man has his prejudices, and where they are 

 harmless ones, right or wrong, he does no harm in 

 entertaining them. I, like others, have mine against 

 many things in horses, but there are three things in 

 a horse that I never bought one possessing — narrow 

 loins, narrow before the saddle, or calf-like knees. 

 I never saw one that could carry weight thus made. 

 I allow they go in all shapes (figuratively speaking), 

 but I never saw one go lo7ig thus shaped„ I do not 

 of course mean that every horse for 12st. men must 

 show strength to carry 17st. It is not necessary 

 every fighting man should be as big as Ben Gaunt. 

 Doubtless there are many 13st. men that could beat 

 him if they tried ; but depend on it that for 13st. 

 they must be big ones, and I am quite certain that 

 of men of that weight he would probably beat five 

 out of six. Johnny Broome is a nonpareil at anything 

 like his own weight ; but he would of course allow 



