THE NORTON FARMERS’ CLUB. 
437 
carriage horses, of the most valuable description, for the London 
markets and gentlemen’s carriages, may all be bred from the same 
kind of mare, and should have a thorough-bred horse for their sire. 
The head is well termed the leading point in a horse, and is, in 
general (like the countenance of the human being) an index to the 
character of the animal. I should almost go so far as to reject any 
mare for breeding nag horses that had a heavy bad head and 
countenance, as too frequently indicating a corresponding heart and 
temper, or proving a want of true and genuine descent. The 
neck should not be heavy, but nicely curved, and well brought out 
of the top of the withers, instead of being, as many are, brought 
out at the bottom of the shoulders or chest. The shoulders are 
about the most important part in a nag-horse, and should have the 
scapula well laid back at the top, in an oblique position from the 
shoulder point. The scapula should be long and wide, extending 
nearly to the top of the withers, but attached so closely, and so well 
covered with muscle, as to leave no prominence, and completely 
concealing its motion when the horse is in action. The shoulder 
point should be high up, and not prominent or heavy. The fore 
leg should stand in a perpendicular position, the toe of the foot and 
the shoulder point forming a perpendicular line. The knee should 
be straight, neither bent forwards nor backwards ; but of the two, 
the former is preferable. The sinews should be distinct, strong, 
and well-developed immediately below the knee, and continue of a 
uniform size to the pastern joint. The pastern should be strong, of 
medium length, and neither too straight nor angular; the foot round, 
black, and even in its external appearance and growth ; the heels 
open, but by no means low, which is very objectionable in a horse 
for the road : the frog bold, and free from thrush. To return to 
the shoulder : there should be abundance of muscle at the back of 
it, making the horse appear wedge-shaped when mounted, or gra- 
dually widening from the neck of the horse to the knee of the 
rider. The brisket should be deep and narrow, so as to keep the 
girths well back, and secure the saddle in its proper place. A wide 
circular chest, in a roadster, is seldom found to possess straight 
and quick action. A hackney that will not carrry his saddle in 
the right place, you may be sure is defective in form, and I would 
rather part with such a one than be at the expense of a crupper to 
ride him. I do not like a very deep carcass in a roadster. It is 
necessary in a hunter, and desirable in a harness horse, but in a 
hack that has to carry a burden on the road, a round, neat barrel, 
with a good well-rounded and lifted loin, grown completely into 
the quarters, is more to my taste, and will prevent the legs being 
worn out, as is too often the case, with carrying too much weight, 
long before the constitution is impaired. The quarters should be 
