58 HOW TO JUDGE A HORSE. 



to place its hind legs under tlie body, or to hold out 

 long backward with its fore legs, without the legs 

 being in the way of each other. Horses, of this 

 build, are called long-legged, and, are neither fast 

 nor enduring. 



To judge the obliqueness and horizontal exten- 

 sion of the croup and shoulder, and their relation 

 to each other, especially to the back, we drop : 



5, a line from the posterior edge of the shoulder 

 and 



6, a line from the hip to the ground. 



That divides line 1 in three parts. The first part 

 shows the length of the shoulder, the middle 

 part that of the back, and the third part that of the 

 group. The first and third part can never be too long, 

 and the second part never be too short. By good 

 proportions, these three parts in their succession, 

 from front to rear, will be in the ratio of 7, 8, 9. The 

 space between fore and hind legs cannot be too large, 

 and the horse cannot be too long, providing the 

 positions of the legs are correct, and the length of 

 the horse is not brought about by a long back, but 

 by the length of the shoulderpiece and that of 

 the croup. "Short back and long horse" is the 

 demand. 



After having examined the horse from the side, 

 inspect it also from the front and rear, paying atten- 



