104 THE HORSE. 



beauty. The tail ought not to be set either very high 

 up, or very low down. The side bones of the haunch 

 should descend considerably below the level of the 

 setting on of the tail, as they pass backwards to form 

 the points of the hips. This I insist upon as a vital 

 point, although I am at variance regarding it with 

 public opinion. By all means, give me a horse with a 

 moderately-di'ooped rump. Let other parties say what 

 they may, this is the sort of horse which will please the 

 turfite, and the fox-hunter. I hardly ever saAv a good 

 racer or hunter which had the side-bones of the haunch 

 perfectly level. If you look at a horse of this descrip- 

 tion taking his gallop, you will observe the legs stick- 

 ing out behind him, the root of the tail elevated, and 

 the back depressed at the kidneys. He drags the 

 hind-quarters after him, and is badly formed for carry- 

 ing weight. 



Not so, however, with the horse whose rump is 

 drooped, or, in other words, whose haunch bones, as 

 they pass backwards, descend below the level of the 

 arch formed by the vertebrae of the back as they reach 

 the tail. This certainly is the horse to go. The on- 

 looker is delighted with the swimming action of his 

 gallop. He has not the slightest difficulty in getting 

 his hind-feet under the weight he has to carry, and he 

 is able to throw his stifle joints nearly as far forwards 

 as the flaps of the saddle. In every way, he^ has full 

 command of himself. When jumping, he will be able 



