The points of the horse : a familiar treatise on equine conformation . gued. The objection sometimes advancedagainst thoroughbreds for hunting, that they cannot comeout again as quickly as half-bred animals, is valid only whenthe former are lighter built than the latter ; for, if bloodhorses of equal bone and muscle were obtained, the differencewould be all the other way. Large muscles, as we have seen, require large bones. Italso goes without saying that the more are bones exposed tothe effects of concussion, the denser and stronger should theybe. Consequently, we may conclude that the lighte
The points of the horse : a familiar treatise on equine conformation . gued. The objection sometimes advancedagainst thoroughbreds for hunting, that they cannot comeout again as quickly as half-bred animals, is valid only whenthe former are lighter built than the latter ; for, if bloodhorses of equal bone and muscle were obtained, the differencewould be all the other way. Large muscles, as we have seen, require large bones. Italso goes without saying that the more are bones exposed tothe effects of concussion, the denser and stronger should theybe. Consequently, we may conclude that the lighter ananimals body is, in comparison to the strength of its com-ponent parts and the amount of its muscular force, thegreater will be its powers of rapid progression. Hence wefind that the race-horse, like all quadrupeds of which speed isthe chief characteristic, has comparatively slender bones ofextremely dense texture, and that his muscles make up instrength what they lack in substance. Owing to the law ofcompensation, which governs the conditions of animal life, it. MUSCLES AND TENDONS. it is almost impossible to obtain bone of great volume, and, atthe same time, of the finest quality. On this account, as sizeis indispensable with the cart-horse, we endeavour, with him,to obtain large bone of sufficient strength to meet hisrequirements. In the intermediate classes of horses, therelations between volume and quality should be judgedaccording to the nature of the work in view. Arrangement of bones.—The relative position whichbones occupy with respect to each other affect their leverage,weight-carrying, and concussion-resisting powers—conditionswhich will be treated in detail when we consider the variouspoints which they affect. Cartilage.—Cartilage or gristle is a strong, flexible,bluish-white substance which is found in connection withbone, and of which there are various kinds. Articularcartilage covers the ends of bones that form moveable cartilage is bon
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisher, booksubjecthorses
