THE HACK, 249 



5. The height over the croup should be less than that 

 at the withers (p. 61). 



For further remarks on cart-horses, see pp. 254 and 258. 



The Harness-horse. — For convenience sake, I use the 

 expression '* harness-horse '' to signify all horses which go in 

 draught, except the heavy cart-horse* Taking the limits as 

 the racer and Shire horse, I may say that the conformation of 

 the animal should, within certain limits, approach that of the 

 former, or of the latter, according as his work is fast or slow. 

 For remarks on the conformation of the match trotter, see 

 page 261, ct seq. The ordinary trapper should be thicker 

 in the shoulders than the saddle nag ; and, if he has strong 

 hind-quarters and fair action, he may be pardoned if he be 

 long in the back, slack in the loins, and somewhat flat-sided. 

 For fashionable town work, the harness-horse will, as a rule, 

 require to be either one of the smart small sort, or of the 

 imposing brougham type. The former should have all the 

 good looks and ^* quality" of a well-bred, middle-weight hack. 

 The latter should measure high at the withers ; should have 

 sloping shoulders, so as to have free action in front ; and 

 should carry his head high. Owing to the manner in which 

 he is bitted and "checked," his hind action is not taken much 

 into consideration. Between these two kinds of horses, there 

 is as much difference as between a clever bull-terrier and an 

 overgrown, weak-loined mastiff. Fashionable trotting action 

 is far more the result of training than of conformation. For 

 pairs and teams, horses should match in height, colour, 

 general character, action, manners, and mouth. 



The Hack. — The chief points about the hack are that 

 he should be "light in front," have sloping shoulders, and 

 sound legs and feet, so that he may be sure-footed and able to 

 stand work; and he should be rather high in front (p. 132). 

 The conformation of his head and neck should be such as to 

 allow him to bend readily to the rein. The action of the 

 hack should be somewhat "high," and should be "true," so 



