46 



CHAP. X\^II. 



ON THE HIPS. 



THE hips of a horse properly formed are 

 semicircular, or nearly round, without any 

 projection of the hip bones towards the tail. 

 Horses whose hips form a curve in this man- 

 ner will always have a good appearance, and 

 are, in fact, stronger in the quarters than those 

 that are cross made and high boned. A droop- 

 rumped and high-boned horse will never look 

 handsome, and if in bad condition, will have a 

 miserable appearance; besides, as round and 

 plump hips always denote compactness of 

 figure, and strength of body, so, on the coi> 

 trary, a projecting rump and high bones shew 

 that the horse is loosely formed, and unfit fo' 

 the purposes of the saddle. 



