[APPENDIX.'\ 



AN ESSAY ON 



TOE AND SIDE-WEIGHTS 



CHAPTER I. — Action of the Race-Horse. 



Frequently when horses are the topic the action is commented 

 upon, and nearly every one who makes any pretentions to equine 

 lore is prone to commend or condemn that of the animals which are 

 the subject of discussion. The neophyte is puzzled to understand a 

 good deal of the phi-aseology which horsemen use to convey their 

 meaning when speaking of peculiarities in the animals, and a re- 

 course to the dictionary fails to aid him in knowing what the jargon 

 means. 



Adjectives expressing every degi-ee of quality precede terms which 

 are inexj^licable, and he ponders over the matter in amazement. 

 Bold, prompt, true, slovenly, slow, rapid, scrambling, dwelling, 

 I'ound, smooth, and a score or two more of opi)osite or synonymous 

 meaning are used to express the various methods of progression 

 which horses display. There are some in common use which are still 

 more intricate, and he hears of daisy-cutters among the race-horses, 

 and open-gaited trotters, without having the least conception of what 

 is meant by the obtuse designations. As he improves in knowledge 

 and becomes familiar with the technical language employed, the un- 

 coutli phrases have a meaning, oftentimes very expressive and appro- 

 l)riate, giving a lucid, if terse, explanation more eftective than long 

 descriptions. 



