96 THE HORSE, 



gaments, on which the strength of the part greatly de- 

 pends. Although not by any means so often looked 

 to, this is a point of far more importance than the dis- 

 tance which intervenes between the last rib and the 

 bones of the hip. A horse may be strong, although 

 there should be a considerable space at the short rib ; 

 but no horse can be strong if his back is veiy narrow 

 over the kidneys. 



When the ribs approximate closely to the bones of 

 the haunch, the horse is said to be ribbed home. This 

 is certainly an advantage in the carter, and if in a 

 moderate degree, in the hackney and hunter also ; 

 but it should never be the case in the racer. The 

 racer must have plenty of room to throw in his hind- 

 quai'ters in the gallop, and therefore reqim*es a consi- 

 derable space at the short rib. If he is tight here, he 

 will be so confined in his action, that his stride must be 

 short. Any person may be convuiced of this fact, by 

 obsemng a thorough-bred horse in his gallop. When 

 he is going well, and sweeping along smoothly, the 

 stifles will be seen to approach very nearly to the flaps 

 of the saddle at each stroke — a thing which could not 

 occm' if he were completely ribbed home. The hunter 

 can bear to be closer here than the racer, because he is 

 chiefly valuable for his diu-able, weight-carrying, and 

 jumping properties. 



