TAIL. 



:59 



anyone who understands equine anatomy ; although it 

 may win the applause of an ignorant public. 



The tail should be muscular at its root, and naturally 

 short as regards its solid portion (dock). Strength of tail, 

 as may be tested by endeavouring to lift it up with the 

 hand under the root, usually shows vigour of body. An 

 unusually long dock is, to a certain extent, a sign of 



I'hoto hrj] 



Fig. 340. — Mrs. Hayes' Arab pony, Freddie. 



[M. H. H. 



inferior breeding, as it is a reversion to an early type 

 of ancestor. 



The tail should, as a rule, be set on " high " (Fig. 

 340) ; as this form points to a more or less horizontal 

 position of the sacrum. If this part be bent downwards, 

 as in Fig. 333, so as to form a decided angle with the 

 vertebrae of the loins and back, the backbone will not 

 be as well adapted to general purposes of locomotion, as 

 it would be if it were comparatively horizontal. 



17 



* 



