4 PURCHASING EROM THE STABLES. 



and the back sinews clear, powerful, and wide away 

 from the suspensory ligament ; the whole covered 

 with a fine thin skin, and finishing with small, but 

 well open, short, tough feet, and 111 take the caste 

 for granted. If added to this, he is a long horse ; 

 five years old ; perfectly fresh ; short between the 

 knee and fetlock ; fourteen hands two inches high ; 

 higher at the croup than at the withers ; fine action, 

 and a good constitution, I'll take the speed besides 

 for granted ; for when these latter qualities of fine ac- 

 tion, and a good constitution, are united to all the 

 above form, the only remaining desideratum, the 

 nervous excitability,* will then always be found, 

 more or less, associated with it. 



THE BUILD, COMMENCING WITH THE QUARTERS, 

 TAIL, THIGHS, STIFLE, ETC. 



Four of the most desirable points for the racer are, 

 powerful well-shaped quarters, thighs, and stifles ; and 

 large, lean, bony hocks. The straighter and longer 



the spine is from the croup the end of the loins 



to the setting on of the tail, so much better is the 

 quarter ; for the most scientific writers tell us, that 



* Nervous excitability is used in contradistinction to dull temperament, yet 

 there is a peculiar kind of docile laziness of temper characteristic of many 

 high caste Arabs, but which, by dint of good training, put forth their 

 energy, and shine on the turf as well as others of more choleric blood : 



J. Stewart, p. 55. "It is to be remembered, that good conformation merely 

 gives the power to perform extraordinary exertions ; the will to exert that 

 power depends on something else, which appears as necessary for great feats 

 as the conformation. This energy, or disposition to work, may be too great 

 or many purposes. The racer, indeed, can never have more than enough : it 

 is a combination of energy with good conformation that commands eminence 

 on the turf." 



