68 THE HORSE. 



not altered in relation to them, though it is lower and more forward 

 in reference to the spine. Hence the muscles which draw the 

 thigh forward have more power, and also act much more quickly, 

 giving that rapid thrust of the hind legs forward which is essential 

 to good and strong action. With the perfectly horizontal croup 

 you may have a long sweeping stroke which tells over such a course 

 as Newmarket, but you very rarely meet with a quick coupling and 

 uncoupling, unless the pelvis is set on the sacrum or continuation 

 of the spine, at a considerable angle, so as to give the quarters 

 more or less droop. Most of our best horses have exhibited this 

 formation, w r hile a great number of very handsome, but utterly 

 useless brutes, might be enumerated which possess the high croup 

 of the Arab in an exaggerated condition, of which Mr. Gratwick's 

 Ethiopian is a good example. If the portraits of the Godolphin 

 Barb are at all to be depended on, we are indebted to him for the 

 introduction of this useful, though not particularly elegant shape, 

 and I believe that it is in this direction, and in point of size, that 

 he has been so useful in the stud. The eye is captivated by the 

 animal, which, as the dealers say, " has both ends up ;" and expe- 

 rience teaches every horseman, who will profit by it, that both the 

 stargazer and the high-crouped horse are to be avoided. In select- 

 ing the thorough-bred horse, then, choose such as have a deep and 

 wide back and loin, avoiding either the " roach back," which causes 

 that part to be inflexible, and the hollow one, which tends to give 

 way too much under weight, but regarding as most desirable such 

 a width of ribs and hips, and depth of spinous processes as shall 

 give sufficient lodgment for muscles, and looking also for a proper 

 length of spine, not too short for stride, nor too long for strength. 

 Lastly, let the pelvis be attached at such an angle as to give a slight 

 droop to the quarters, whether the tail be set on in correspondence 

 with it or not, for the dock does not always come out of the pelvis 

 in the same position viewed in relation to that part alone 



Some of the above opinions are in opposition to those of Mr. 

 Percivall, who objects to a great width of hip in the race-horse, 

 and also asserts that he cannot be too lengthy and straight in his 

 quarters. He says, " Although the race-horse may prove disadvan- 

 tageously broad across his hips, I believe he will never be found 

 either too lengthy or too straight in his quarters; by which I mean 

 ^the length and elevation of an imaginary line carried from either 

 hip to the point of his quarter, or of another carried from the sum- 

 mit of his rump to the root of his hock. Such straight formation 

 of quarter implies small degree of inclination in the position of the 

 pelvis, the eft'ect of which is extension of the angles between the 

 pelvis and the femoral bones, and corresponding increase of the dis- 

 tances between the pelvis and the stifles in front, and between the 

 pelvis and hocks behind; thereby augmenting the dimensions of 



