;io THE HIND LIMB. 



leg will be stretched out as much as possible to the rear 

 (compare Figs. 129 and 182), and the direction of the pelvis 

 (as a point of conformation) will be more horizontal than 

 in the draught animal. A ''horizontal croup" is a 

 great beauty in the saddle horse, and is also a decided 

 mark of speed. If the pelvis or croup (which in this 

 case is practically the same thing) be too level (pp. 254 

 and 255), we may suspect that the back is weak. 



It is evident that the pelvis is more upright when the 

 animal is standing still, than when he is in movement ; 

 and when he has no burden on his back, than when he is 

 mounted. 



In jumping, the conditions are different from those of 

 galloping or draught ; for special provision has to be made 

 in the leap for raising the fore-hand, when the horse " takes 

 off." If we refer to Fig. 224, we shall see that the more a 

 horse, at that moment, gets his hind legs under him, the 

 easier will it be for him to raise his fore-hand. The more 

 upright is the position of the pelvis, the more will the 

 hip joints be lowered and brought forward. Hence a 

 " goose-rumped " horse will be able to get his hind legs 

 more under him, than if his pelvis were more or less 

 horizontal. The correctness of this theory is borne out 

 by the fact that in Ireland, hunting men like a hunter to 

 have a drooping pelvis ; because, so they say, this shape 

 is generally associated with cleverness in jumping. Al- 

 though high-class chasers generally have the pelvis fairly 

 sloped ; they are rarely goose-rumped. with an exception 

 now and then, like.Soarer, who won the Grand National 

 in 1896. 



A horse with unusually drooping quarters, as in Fig. 333, 

 is said to be " goose-rumped." 



I am indebted to Professor Ewart for pointing out 

 to me that the zebra, whose natural enemy is the 

 lion, has extraordinary power of rapidly wheeling round 

 (making a ''right" or " left-about turn") when he meets 

 his feline foe, and is then able to gallop off in the 



