THE BUILD. 11 



side can be no sign of bad caste, although it cer- 

 tainly looks ugly. 



The thighs should be as broad as the haunch- 

 bones ; and as much as they swell out broader, 

 they are better. A horse that is ragged-hi23ped, 

 it is said, is not objectionable ; but by this is 

 meant, that, notwithstanding the great muscularity 

 of the quarters and thighs, the protuberances of 

 the haunch-bones still project a little wider ; and 

 not from the quarters and thighs being at all 

 deficient in muscle, which is often also called 

 ragged-hipped, and makes the haunch-bones look 

 a little prominent.* Great thigh-muscle may 

 recompense in some degree for a slight droop 

 in the croup ; but great thigh-muscle, added to 

 a long and straight croup, is the make for the 

 turf. A large hinder channel, from the anus 

 downwards, caused by the muscles projecting, 

 and being well asunder, is another good point, 

 and much admired : it is a sign of great en- 

 durance. 



* The side bones of the loins — the transverse processes of 

 the lumbar vertebrae — being short, are a cause of a horse 

 being ragged-hipped ; and these side bones being thus short, 

 are also the cause of a horse being wall-sided ; therefore it is 

 that a wall-sided horse often looks ragged-hipped ; but a de- 

 ficiency of quarter and thigh-muscle;, which causes the haunch- 

 bones to stick out a little, is much oftener called ragged- 

 hipped. 



