10 HOW TO JUDGE A HOESE. 



where the shoulders are fastened, and the highest 

 point of the croup, for the same reason that the 

 carrying power of a horizontal pole is greater the 

 shorter it is. The back must appear higher in its 

 fore part (at the withers) than in its hind part if the 

 weight of the rump shall be equally divided between 

 fore and hind legs, because the extensions of the 

 vertebrae are considerably larger over the withers, 

 not only so much as is necessary to that projection, 

 but also to balance the ^foresaid depression of the 

 spinal curve. The higher and longer the withers 

 the better. From the point where the latter con- 

 nects with the back, the upper line should proceed 

 horizontally. Under such conditions the passive 

 carrying power of the back is not only a great one, 

 but also the bulk of the muscles located on both 

 sides of the high projections of the spinal column 

 increase the power of gathering on the hind legs, or, 

 in other words, the active carrying power. 



A deviation from this formation we find in the 

 overbuilt horse, where the line of the back mounts 

 upward from the end point of the low withers. In 

 this case the forward end of the spinal column rests 

 on supports lower than those of the rear end, the 

 weight being consequently thrown more on the fore 

 legs. This fault will be neutralised only when an 

 oblique shoulder and a high set-up neck facilitate 



