230 CONDITION, AND GOOD LOOKS. 



(Fig. 263), especially entires, have a tendency to deposit 

 fat. I need Ihardly say that a thick layer of fat would 

 feel softer to the touch than a mass of ligament, muscle 

 and tendon; and that the nearer a horse approaches the 

 cart-horse type, the heavier is his neck. 



The diagonal line on the flank, the appearance of the 

 ribs through a thick layer of muscle, and the lean though 

 muscular condition of the shoulders of a race-horse in 

 training, are well shown in the photograph of Ormonde 

 (Frontispiece). 



3. Signs of condition afforded by the siaie of the 

 breathing, — Although a practical trial would give an 

 experienced observer the best possible idea of the state of 

 an animal's organs of breathing ; the question depends so 

 much on individual merits and defects, that it is very 

 difficult to lay down any fixed rules for guidance in making 

 such a test. Supposing that the horse had done his work 

 in what we considered a satisfactory style, we might 

 prove the correctness of our judgment, by observing the 

 manner in which he would recover from the effects of his 

 exertion. If after a sharp ** rough-up,'* his lungs resumed a 

 tranquil form of breathing, when he had rested or (better 

 still) had been walked about for a few minutes, and if he 

 did not show any appearance of being distressed by the 

 severity of the work, we might fairly conclude that his 

 *' pipes'' were in good order. Trainers generally think that 

 the fact of a horse *' blowing his nose" (as a kind of 

 sneeze which these animals sometimes make after a quick 

 "spin," is called) is a sign of the wind being all right. I 

 may also point out that if the wind of a hunter is not 

 ** clear," he will be unable to quickly **come again," if he 

 gets out of breath during a run, even if he be *' eased 

 off" for a little with the object of letting him ** catch 

 his second wind." If a strong gallop has the effect of 

 making a horse unusually thirsty, we may doubt that his 

 lungs are in good order. To find out, in doubtful cases, 

 whether or not a horse is a roarer, we had best, immediately 



