COLOUR OF THE HAIR 
299 
table tempers. They are, however, considered rather con¬ 
stitutionally weak. The dark chestnut possesses a finely- 
moulded form, with well-rounded quarters, although the legs 
have a tendency to be rather fine This horse is capable of 
great endurance, and possesses a healthy constitution. His 
temper will be found fiery and high. Small feet are fre¬ 
quently met with accompanying this colour, and which are 
generally disposed to contraction. 
Snow-white horses are now seldom to be met with, 
although at one time they were very common; I mean, 
those which are white in their earliest years ; as light grey 
animals soon become white, especially those which have 
dark-coloured joints. 
The silver-grey is now not common, but they are in 
general high-bred, and of undoubted descent from the 
Arabian or Barb. Their height seldom exceeds fourtee* 
and a half hands ; (which is the ordinary size of their pro¬ 
genitors ;) with a well-rounded body, firmly knit, light legs, 
oblique pasterns, and high shoulders. They are active and 
fleet, fitted for hard work, and possessing excellent health. 
Their action and appearance peculiarly fit them for the use 
of the ladies. 
The iron-grey is a larger horse than the above, generally 
higher in the withers, with a thinner body, flatter chest, 
and more angular in all his proportions, with his legs often 
too long. They are showy horses, and well adapted for a 
carriage. In some instances they make good hunters, and 
are useful as roadsters, being capable of greater endurance 
than would be expected from the flatness of their chests 
They are, however, found often to have a tendency to 
contraction of the feet, and hence lameness. 
The dappled grey is usually a well-formed and active 
horse, and divested of all the angular points which charac- 
