THE POINTS OF THE HORSE 143 



withers to a wide, somewhat level part called the loin. 



The loin is the broadest and flattest part of the back, 

 and lies between the last rib and the point of the hips. The 

 strength of back lies in the loin, which should be short, wide, 

 and heavily muscled. A long, narrow loin is a sign of weak- 

 ness and inability to stand up under severe work. 



The coupling is the space between the point of hip and 

 the last rib. A short coupling indicates endurance. 



The hip is seen as a point more or less prominent on each 

 side, just back of the coupling. The hips on mature females 

 are usually more prominent than on the males. Symmetry 

 of form calls for the hip to be nicely laid in, with a smooth 

 covering of flesh. There are other good reasons for not 

 having a wide placing of the points of the hips, which need 

 not be discussed here. 



The croup, or rump, is the long, muscular development 

 from the point of the hips to the setting on of tail. Great 

 power and strength exist here, and so it is important that 

 this part be long, wide, and fairly level. A steep rump is 

 unsightly, and a narrow one has less muscle than a wide one 

 equally long. Length here is also desirable as affecting 

 speed. 



The thigh extends from the rump down to the large joint 

 below, known as the hock. This part should be very mus- 

 cular, and wide from the lower side of the croup to a joint 

 below called the stifle. The upper part of the thigh is wide, 

 while the lower portion, often termed the gaskin, is long, 

 narrow, and very muscular. From the point of the hip to 

 the hock one should look for considerable length. 



The stifle joint is located in the front part of the thigh 

 close to the body. This is comparable to the knee in the 

 human skeleton. Some of the strongest muscles of the upper 

 thigh are connected with this joint by means of tendons. 



