LECTURES ON HORSES. 
185 
for the play of the lungs and heart, though the circular admeasure- 
ment is obtained in different ways ; the one animal being seldom 
required to go out of a footpace, the other being intended to trot, 
to gallop, to race. Observe how awkwardly and clumsily the 
cart-horse gallops, or even trots ; and with what agility the thorough- 
bred glides along in his canter or speed ! Only exchange their chests, 
however, and mark what would happen ! The result is sufficiently 
shewn in what we see in cart-horses with deep and narrow chests, 
and in circular-chested race-horses : the one is “ all abroad” in his 
gallop, and cannot go “ any pace at all the other has not the sub- 
stance about his shoulders and neck a horse for heavy and labo- 
rious draught should possess. 
Length of Chest, in general, is not a desirable point in a 
horse, because it is commonly combined with shortness of rib, and 
consequent deficiency in the vertical diameter of the cavity, or else 
with flat-sidedness and narrowness of the cavity : where, however, 
we find the ribs of their requisite length and proper span, and where 
the interval between the last rib and the hip-bone is but short — 
which by horse people is called being “ ribbed home,” or “ well ribbed 
up,” then the length of chest is what all judges in horses will not 
fail to admire. The space between the last rib and the hip or 
haunch-bone forms the part denominated the flank. When this is 
lengthy, and the flank in consequence loose or tucked up, the horse 
is said to be loose or slack in his loins ; though, in point of fact, it 
is th e. flank and not the loin, which is “ loose” or “ slack:” at the 
same time be it observed, it is the circumstance of the loin being 
commonly defective in such formations that has led to the phrase- 
ology. Depth, and length, and breadth of chest, with other struc- 
tures in accordance, will insure enduring speed, with wind and 
bottom in its possessor. One of the most remarkable instances I 
ever saw of this perfection of chest was in the famous old mare, 
Fleur s-de- Lis, the property of George the Fourth : she had one of 
the deepest chests and finest shoulders, perhaps, ever seen ; and 
for her qualifications and performances I need hardly refer any 
sporting man of the present day to the Records of Racing. 
Before quitting this part of my subject, I would say a word or 
two concerning what is well understood among horse-men by the 
phrase “ girth” of a horse, i. e. what he measures round in that 
part of his body usually encircled by the girths. So deceptive is 
this measure apt to be, that even the best judges are not unfre- 
quently a good deal out in their opinion about the dimensions of 
horses’ chests : I have often myself been surprised to find one horse 
measuring more than another whom I had regarded as a much 
larger chested horse. It is, therefore, in all cases, where any doubt 
