236 WEIGHT-CARRYING AND STAYING POWER. 



rule, light behind the girth, flat-sided, and badly ribbed-up. 

 With thin necks and light shoulders, their good legs and 

 feet have but little weight to carry ; and as the quality of 

 their tissues is of the best, and their spirit undeniable, they 

 can go marvellously long distances without getting knocked 

 up — provided always that they are not over-paced or over- 

 weighted. I need hardly say that a genuine stayer will also 

 be capable of appearing to advantage in a '' go-as-you-please '' 

 task , for he will possess all the good points of the other, 

 with better organs of breathing. The small amount of extra 

 weight (on account of increased length of rib) which he 

 will have to carry, will be more than compensated by the 

 larger space allowed for his digestive organs. As a rule, in 

 proportion to their respective sizes, small horses will stay 

 better, and will be capable of enduring more fatigue, than big 

 horses. The reason for this appears to be that the former 

 have more vitality than the latter, on account of the rate of 

 the circulation of their blood being quicker. 



I need not point out the advantages of good action in the 

 present connection. 



