THE CROUP 59 



and power. All horses, whatever their type and purpose, should possess 

 these attributes in a high degree, and of course in proportions best adapted 

 to the particular services required of them. In the race-horse an extended 

 croup is of the first importance to the development of a high rate of speed. 

 The muscles are then long, and their range of contraction and power over 

 the bony levers on which they act is correspondingly great. In the heavy 

 draught-horse great length is not an essential quality, but, other things 

 being equal, an extended croup is a feature much to be desired, since it not 

 only adds to the beauty of the animal as a whole, but materially increases 

 the liberty and scope of action of the hind-limbs. 



Just as length is identified with speed, so is width related to power; 

 hence it becomes of the first importance that in horses designed for heavy 

 work the pelvis should be broad, thus affording ample space for the attach- 

 ment of large, j^owerful muscles. 



Here it should be pointed out that the full width of the coxoe or pelvis 

 is not always accurately expressed in the transverse diameter of the croup, 

 inasmuch as any marked downward slope or lateral inclination of the 

 former will tend to reduce the width of the latter; but since in these 

 circumstances the width of the bones remains the same and the muscles ai"e 

 undiminished in volume, it is not of material importance to the horse as a 

 living motor. 



As we have already observed, ample width is essential in all classes of 

 horses, but in the lighter breeds excess in this direction becomes a fault, 

 more or less serious in proportion as it is great. A croup too wide imparts 

 to the action behind a heavy, rolling character; the movements of the limbs 

 are thus made to dwell, and progression is impaired. 



In the slow-moving draught-horse this is of no importance, but in those 

 employed for riding and driving purposes it is a serious defect. A narrow 

 croup, although less objectionable in the latter than the former, is in both a 

 sign of weakness. 



Besides length and width, the direction of the croup also exercises con- 

 siderable influence in determining the aptitude of the horse for particular 

 service. 



The highest point of this region occurs immediately behind the loins 

 where the internal angles of the ilia or haunch -bones are firmly united 

 with the sacrum or terminal portion of the spine. Thence it proceeds 

 more or less obliquely in a backward and downwai'd course. Everyone 

 I'ecognizes the great variation existing in the degree of inclination of 

 this region, but few appreciate the nature of its influence on the peculiar 

 mechanical endowments of the animal. 



The slope of the croup is in one way or another governed by the slope 



