Pastoral-Agricultural.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 546, 22 July 1882, Page 11

Pastoral-Agricultural.

i THE FARM.

GAIT OF THE HORSE. * THE GALLOP.,; >; •

For this,gait length and muscularity are essential, /the former affording cover, the latter contributing to staying power. The fore-hand does hot receive at the hands of thoroughbred breeders that attention which is its due, : as is evident from the heavy shoulders, the short shoulders, and occasionally the somewhat straight shoulder seen in the racehorse. Looking at the hindquarters for propelling power, these apparently monopolise the breeder’s attention ; here, J believe, lies a frequent source of failure in using thoroughbred blood for crossing. Again the frequent inadequacy oi bone, the absence of measurement below knee and hock, is noticeable. The bold, extensive strides of the racehorse are indicative of the fullest energy. When a horse gallops well he extends his head and neck to the fullest, inclining it downwards; he brings his hind legs well under him. This is the criterion of a good galloper. I have heard many vets connected with, racing stables remark that a horse possessing a middling fore-hand but good hind-quarters would be chosen before the horse possessing a middling hind but good fore-hand. A deep thorax in all horses destined for speed, as the deeper cavity admits of greater expansion under exertion. A bold trapezium bone at the back of the knee; on its magnitude depends muscular action. A short-necked, short-backed, short-jointed horse at his pasterns would prove a dead failure on the turf ; but as a trotter he would cut a very respectable figure. In fact, for galloping it is length everywhere—back, quarters, shoulders, hip to hock ; short cannons, long pasterns, very wide hips diminish the stride; a very short head and neck might lose the race. In the hunter, knees, hocks, and loins demand the most critical examination, for on these depend weight-carrying ability. Long forearms and thighs are superlative makes in the galloper, but they too must be muscular. Powerful haunches must be included in the category. Some horses gallop high—they are rough and slow (troopers). The well-laid deep shoulder permits the owner to get his forelegs well away, whilst his strong loins, haunches, and thighs enable him to go collectively in the gait ; at the same time he is better able to throw his legs well under him. These considerations mainly affect the horse in his gallop, and unless present in more or less perfection he is useless as a sire for galloping purposes, where a clean pair «f heels in a first flight country are essential, or where his stock may be asked to have a slap at the brook.— R. H. Hilhouse, “ Agricultural Gazette.” ■-