I like a handsome head, long and light neck, prominent withers, short and strong back and loins, long croup, long and oblique shoulders, close coupling between the point of the hip and the last rib, hocks well let down, short canon bones, long fore arms, and the pasterns fairly long. These desirable points are rarely found in one animal. A horse should be close to the ground, which he will be when the distance from the brisket to the ground will be equal to that from the withers to the brisket. A horse which is high off the ground is generally clumsy in his movements, and liable to stumble.

I would have nothing to do with a horse whose fetlock and pastern joints are stiff, because he would be deficient in elasticity, would drag his feet, and would consequently be liable to trip.

I take particular care to see that the heels are not contracted. In order to prevent my horses acquiring this defect, I do not have them shod when they work on soft ground, in which case the heels remain well apart, on account of the frog being subjected to pressure. I always have my horses shod with tips, the ends of which are imbedded into the wall at the heels ; and I thus prevent them having their heels contracted and their feet becoming diseased.

Horses are like men ; having obtained physical perfection in them, we further require good temper and courage.

The highest mental qualification of a horse is to be a free-goer ; because such an animal, contrary to what is often thought, is neither irritable nor sulky. I will again refer to this point. At present I confine myself to stating that such a horse is valuable, even if his make and shape are only moderate. If an animal has not the essential requirement of being always ready to go forward, he is useless, although he may be a perfect picture to look at.

I like to begin breaking a horse when he is two off and not more than three years old, and to buy if possible in or near