30 



HINTS ON HORSES 



Hbidquartcrs. — A horse's hindquarters may 

 be about the same height as his wither, in 

 which case the hind leg is long and therefore 

 has more driving power. 



Long quarters with thighs well let down 

 into the hocks denote speed. 



A round full hindquarter may be due to 

 muscle or fat. This is of importance in hunters 

 and racehorses. Hunters are usually grosser 

 than racehorses. Some run fat, others are 

 trained fine. This training is apparent in the 

 haunches and buttocks. 



A clear-cut indentation between the 

 haunches and buttocks is called the " poverty 

 line." This line is very noticeable in underfed 

 animals. 



Drooping hindquarters are described as 

 " goose-rumped." This formation is often 

 found in Irish horses. 



Charles Kingsley showed his appreciation 



of the points of a horse in the following 

 admirable passage in "Ilereward the Wake": — 



"The ugliest, as well as the swiftest of 

 mares, she was, say the old chroniclers; and 

 it was not till the stranger had looked twice 

 at her, that he forgot her chuckle-head, grey- 

 hound flanks, and drooping hindquarters, and 

 began to see the great length of those same 

 quarters, the thighs let down into the hocks, 

 the compact loin, the extraordinary girth 

 through the saddle, the sloping shoulder, the 

 long arms, the flat knees, the large well-set 

 hoofs, and all the other points which showed 

 her strength and speed, and justified her 

 fame. 



'".She might carry a big man like you 

 through the mud,' said he, carelessly ; ' but as 

 for pace, one cannot expect that with such a 

 chuckle-head. And if one rode her through a 

 town the boys would call after one — 



