Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1880 — A Good Horse. [ARTICLE]

A Good Horse.

Wind, says an old horseman, is the great secret of a fast horse. Good lungs will cover a multitude of faults, while, on the other hand, perfection of shape and form are useless when the wind is out The chest therefore, in all cases, should be large and spacious. D may vary somewhat in shape, according to the service to which toe horse is to be put If he is apt to be kept tor slow work and heavy drawing, the chest may be nearly circular inform, because this shape is one for strength and bulk to receive and bear up against the pressure of the collar, while at the same time sufficient room is secured for the expansion of toe lungs caused by slow regular work. But if the chest is circular let it be at tl»e same time deep, or -etee the lungs may be cramped, A horse with a shallow chest is worthies, for any purpose. The rule then is: For a draft horse, a circular but deep chest; but as you pass through the different degrees of speed up to the racer and trotter, the chest will increase in depth compared to its roundness, until for the highest rate of speed you must take a chest as deep as a greyhound, and at the same time not lacking in strength.