Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-02-19

Mr.. Barthropp in a discussion on the Breed
ing and Management of Horses. at q late
meeting Of the birmingham farmers club.
Eng, gave the following as his idea of a good
" hunter -
The most valuable horses are those that
can carry the most weight, although it does
not always follow that the l6-hand horse can
beat one Of the Is hands. yet most men like
to be on a horse high enough to enable them
TO see what is on the other side of q fence as
they come 10 ii; ! therefore think the hun
ter brood mare should not be less than l5I
hands 1t Is sometimes said, - A horse does
not 20 on his head, and that it is not an in
portant feature; but ! think a good head Is a
great setting of to a horse Iwould have
him well proVortioued to his size and care
not so much for pretty head as a good
intelligent looking One-nc matter If it is
rather long, provided il is lean, with a kindly
expression Of eve, nicely hung on the meek,
clear between the Jaws to admit the windpipe
having full play, and free from all thiekeHing
OF any kind the neck should be light, vet
running gradually to strong, wel-laid shout
ders. the back should be Of moderate length,
with ribs springing well from the chine. a
well arched loin, two long hind quarters; the
tail ''on the top Of his back, as it is called
Ii pretty enough 10 look at, but the horse
with rather dropping hind quarters will be
found the fastest. The thighs should be full
and muscular, running down into clean. big
hooks, fiat hind legs, good fetlock Joints and
feet. Ii is important, also, that the mare
has deep, as well as good springing ribs. /
not fieshy shoulders. good deep
brisket with plenty Of room for the lungs 20 I
play, arms well developed. and standing
square on good fat iorelegs the sinews Of I
which should he free from all appearance Of I
ieshiness, but hard and wiry feeling, and
running into strong tetlock and pastern points
with feet free from all appearance Of contrac.
ion or aatness.
This description Of the essential points of
horse, is, perhaps, an imperfect one. but
NOV not what more 10 say about il, further
han, above all things. secure good oblioue
houlders, and strong thighs and hooks.
vice, straight fore legs are. doubtless. desir-
bic, but would rather put up with horse
nth arched fOrelegs, and that is a little
Toss-ankled, provided his shoulders and
md legs are good, than to have the best
lrmcd fore legs ever seen, with UPRIGHT
hort shoulders; remember, however. thar il
not every horse with high withers that is
4sirable, but the shoulders should be long
I'd well laid into the back. The chief
'ints Of excellence enumerated in the mare.
e IN all respects the same in the stallion.
it'll. perhaps, the exception that his form
ould be more compact. his joints more firm
knit, and his general appearance denoting
e possession Of great power in comparative
small compass, and he must be thorough
cd.
What, then, has been said as to the shape -
the hunter and riding horse applies equally
the cart horse with Inc exception Of the (
builders for, while YOU cannot Wei have \
e shoulders Of a riding horse too obliQue. n
1se Of the cart horse ought to be more or "a
c upright, 50 as to allow him to throw his al
light into the collar. Ii Is equally imror-
1t with cart horses as with others, that at
tion should be paid to their breed, select
, those that are remarkable not only for Z
ir form, but for the hardness Of their con- I
ution, and for their activity. DR.