274 SPECIAL POINTS OF VARIOUS CLASSES OF HORSES. 



should be " light in front," have sloping shoulders, and sound 

 legs and feet, so that he may be sure-footed and able to stand 

 work ; and he should be rather high in front (see p. 1 60). 

 The conformation of his head and neck should be such as to 

 allow him to bend readily to the rein. The action of the 

 hack should be somewhat "high," and should be "true," so 

 that, when viewed from behind, the near pair of limbs, in the 

 walk, trot and canter, should move in a line parallel to that of 

 the off pair. Action, good looks, and a showy carriage of the 

 head and tail are essentials in the high-priced hack. 

 " Mouth " and " manners " are two other indispensable 

 requisites which do not come within the province of this 

 book. 



The Lady's Horse. — A lady's- horse should be a good- 

 looking hunter or smart hack, according to the work for 

 which he is intended. He should carry his head and neck 

 particularly well ; because his rider, owing to the nature of 

 her seat, cannot keep her hands low down. His forehand 

 should be inclined to be high, so that his paces may be easy. 

 His withers should not be high and thin ; for if they are, they 

 will be liable to be galled on the off side by the saddle. 



The Cavalry Trooper. — The chief requirements as 

 regards conformation, which the cavalry trooper should 

 possess are : — 



I. That he should be up to the weight he has got to carry. 

 But he should on no account be too heavily topped for his 

 legs, or for the work he will be called upon to do. His loins, 

 therefore, should be strong, his shoulder-blades long, and his 

 legs should be as short as is compatible with the possession of 

 sufficient speed for military purposes. 



