THE KENTUCKY SADDLE-HORSE 157 



most impossible for other horses to compete with 

 the Denmarks. He appeared to think — I have 

 never spoken with him on the subject — that 

 symmetry, good manners, good mouth, style of 

 action both in front and behind, sure-footedness, 

 docility, and intelligence were the requisites to be 

 aimed at. Now, these are all characteristics of the 

 Denmark. Not all are characteristics of the Thor- 

 oughbred. For instance, in the slow gaits a Thor- 

 oughbred, particularly one that has ever been in 

 training, is not sure-footed; he travels too close to 

 the ground. Again, he is not docile, as he becomes 

 very easily excited, and when his blood is up, 

 wants to gallop at full speed. His mouth, owing 

 to this easily aroused excitement, more frequently 

 than not, gets all wrong, and he responds more to 

 force than to that sympathy which makes a good 

 saddle-horse, and his rider seem to be one. His 

 style of action is inferior to that of the Denmark 

 both in front and behind and, as a general thing, 

 he lacks the symmetry of substance which is really 

 the most remarkable thing about a Denmark. It is 

 surely a pity that there should be in our show 

 rings this confusion as to standards. The Thor- 



