CONDITION. 257 



rapid action, and that his system is not overloaded with fat. 

 The fact of the "water-mark" being clearly indicated is also 

 dependent on the absence of fat about the part. 



The line which marks the termination of the sheet of muscle to which I 

 have alluded, corresponds to the posterior border of the fleshy portion of the 

 patiniciilus, and indicates the commencement of the aponeurotic portion. 

 The "water-mark," or "quarter-mark," to which I have also drawn attention, 

 is the line of separation between the rotator tibialis and the abductor femoris. 



The most time-honoured method of ascertaining whether 

 or not a horse is in condition is to feel his crest with the 

 hand, so as to find out if it be hard or soft. This plan has 

 its merits ; for the crest is a part on which many " gross " 

 horses (like the one represented in PI, 30) have a tendency 

 to deposit fat. I need hardly say that a thick layer of fat 

 would feel softer to the touch than a mass of ligament, 

 muscle, and tendon. 



The diagonal line on the flank, the appearance of the ribs 

 through a thick layer of muscle, and the lean though muscular 

 condition of the shoulders of a race-horse in training, are well 

 shown in the Frontispiece. 



3. Signs of coiiditioji afforded by the state of the breathing. — 

 Although a practical trial would give an experienced observer 

 the best possible idea of the state of an animal's organs of 

 breathing ; the question depends so much on individual 

 merits and defects, that it is very difficult to lay down any 

 fixed rules for guidance in making such a test. Supposing 

 that the horse had done his work in what we considered a 

 satisfactory style, we might prove the correctness of our 

 judgment, by observing the manner in which he would 

 recover from the effects of his exertion. If after a sharp 



s 



