ST. GATIEN, 



have to carry. As the limbs of the domestic horse, especially 

 when used at fast paces and when jumping, have far more 

 strain put upon them, than li the animal were in a wild 

 state ; the judicious breeder will try to obtain as much 

 ''bone" as possible. This necessity is inculcated by the 

 proverbial saying that " a horse is as old as his legs/* The 

 bones of the limbs, like tendons and ligaments, may b^ 

 looked upon as adjuncts to, or component parts of, their 

 muscles, which are the active organs of movement. All 

 these structures are dependent for their development 

 on the blood supply, which is increased by exercise. 

 Thus, continued idleness causes the bones, tendons 

 and ligaments of the legs to become abnormally liable 

 to injury. Also, in cases of paralysis of a limb, the 

 bones, as well as the muscles, waste. Hence, when 

 judging of a horse's capacity for standing work, we must not 

 confine our attention to his ''bone," without also considering 

 the condition of his muscles, tendons and ligaments. In 

 making practical observations on horses, we may often be 

 greatly assisted in our investigations by judging of the 

 muscles by the bones, and vice versa. Thus, if we see an 

 animal in poor condition which has been brought on by hard- 

 ship or want of food, we may, by the appearance of his 

 " bone,'' form a good idea of what his muscles will be when he 

 *' fills out." Even when a horse is " fit and well,'' a display of 

 large, well-shaped bone (of the body as well as of the limbs) 

 should dispose us to consider that his muscles are more 

 powerful than they appear at first glance. I was much struck 

 by this fact when I had the pleasure of closely inspecting the 

 celebrated St. Gatien, whom Mr, John Hammond very kindly 

 showed me in his box, some time before he ran his dead heat 

 with Harvester for the Derby of 1884 ; for I was greatly 

 '' taken " with the sight of the large, symmetrically formed 

 bones of his legs, his long back ribs, and his well-developed 

 pelvis, the inner angle of which was so prominent as to make 

 a distinct *' rise " in the outline of his croup ; not to mention 

 his long, sloping shoulders, and immense gaskins. On the 



