272 SPECIAL POINTS OF VARIOUS CLASSES OF HORSES. 



In a "flying" country, he may be more or less of a steeple- 

 chaser. In all cases, he should be a thorough stayer. His 

 galloping and weight-carrying powers {see Chapter XXIII.) 

 should of course vary according to the nature of the work he 

 will be called upon to perform. In a " flying" country, a tall 

 horse, other things being equal, will tire less than a smaller 

 one, from jumping big fences. In a " cramped" country, the 

 difference may be all the other way. As the ordinary hunter 

 has to carry a fair 'weight, and as he may have to raise it 

 frequently over fences, besides having at times to go through 

 heavy ground ; he will require to be much stronger than the 

 mere galloper, and his legs should consequently be shorter in 

 comparison to his length of body. 



The Heavy Cart-Horse. — i. The legs should be as 

 short and massive as possible : consequently the animal will be 

 considerably longer in the body than he is high at the withers 

 or at the croup, and he will be deeper from the withers to the 

 brisket, than from the withers to the ground. 



2. He should be of great width of body when viewed from 

 behind ; and across the chest in front. 



3. His muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments should be 

 as thick and strong as possible. 



4. The shoulders should be sloping in cart-horses which do 

 not use their fore legs, to any marked degree, as propellers ; 

 and somewhat upright in those which utilise them in that 

 manner (see p. 212). 



5. The height over the croup may be less than that at 

 the withers {see p. 74). 



The Harness Horse. — For convenience sake, I use the 

 expression " harness-horse " to signify all horses which go in 



