120 HISTORY OF THE 



geldings stand training to a later period of life than 

 stallions ; for as they generally carry less flesh than 

 entire horses, so they require less work in train- 

 ing. 



After the head, the peculiar formation of his 

 haunches may be said to be the truest characteristic 

 of the thorough bred horse. What little injury is 

 done to the elegance of the parts, by the width of 

 the hips, is amply compensated by the increased 

 strength it imparts to the animal ; and when found 

 in conjunction with good loins, these projections 

 of the ilium can hardly be too great for the pur- 

 poses of power and action. The form and sub- 

 stance of the thigh form another material point. 

 The thigh of the hare gives us the best idea of 

 what should be the formation of those of the race- 

 horse ; accordingly we find its thighs let down to a 

 great extent for their size, and the lower parts of 

 the hinder legs placed under them, as those of the 

 racer should be, from a proper curve of the hock. 

 Well developed muscle, not size, is what is wanted ; 

 for although horses are said to go with their shoul- 

 ders, the power to give the impetus in progressive 

 motion comes from behind. The hock is a very 

 complicated joint ; it should be large and lean, 

 with its points projecting behind the body. As the 

 proper understanding of this important subject is 

 of manifest interest and utility to all sportsmen, 

 we cannot do better than illustrate it still further 



