CHAPTER IV, 



EUROPEAN HORSES. 



THE HUNTER — THE HACKNEY — THE RUSSIAN HORSE — THE AUSTRIAN HORSE— THE HOLSTEIN 

 HORSE — THE FRENCH HORSE — THE ITALIAN HORSE — THE RACES AT ROME — THE SPANISH 

 HORSE — THE SHETLAND PONY — THE CARRIAGE HORSE — THE CART HORSE — THE PERCHERON 

 HORSE. 



THE HUNTER. 



THE best of all hunters is a thorough-bred horse with bone, 

 standing about fifteen hands and a half. A lofty forehand, 

 a good oblique shoulder, and a clear high action are indispen- 

 sable. The body should be compact, the barrel round, the loins broad, 

 the quarters long, the thighs muscular, and, above all, the hunter's tem- 

 per should be good. In other words, he must have wind and bottom, 

 plenty of jumping power, and be able to go at a good rapid pace. 



THE -HACKNEY. 



The perfect roadster is more difficult to find than even the hunter. 

 He must have good fore-legs, and good hinder ones too ; he must be 

 sound in his feet, even-tempered, no starter, quiet in all situations, not 

 heavy in hand, and never disposed to fall on his knees. Safety in this 

 latter respect depends entirely on the foot being placed a* once flat on 

 the ground. His height should rarely exceed fifteen hands and an inch. 

 He is more valuable for the pleasantness of his paces and his safety, good 

 temper, and endurance, than for his speed. It is the roadster which 

 furnishes most of the recorded instances of intelligence and fidelity in 

 the horse. Their memory is often remarkable. A horse was ridden 

 thirty miles into a quite new district by a road very difficult to hnd. 

 After an interval of two years, during which the animal had never been 

 in that direction, the gentleman had occasion to make the same journey. 



