1330 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



a roach back is usually rough and uneven in his paces and inclined to 

 forge. The formation is favorable to strength, and unless the pecul- 

 iarity be very marked, especially if the quarters are good, and the 

 shoulder strong and obli(|ue, he will generally be a serviceable animal. 



In the illustration the top tigure showf^ a very straight back and croup 

 — with the dock coming out very high up. The central tigure a hollow 

 back and drooping croup, and the lower figure a roach back, 



Plate 3. — The hair of the tail usually indicates the breeding of a horse 

 to a certain extent. That of well-bred horses is generally straight and 

 fine. A thick, coarse or curly quality of hair usually denotes want of 

 breeding. The tail should be carried firm, straight and well away from 

 the hind (|iiarters. It should be set on almost in a line with the back 

 bone. In the coarsely bred animal the tail is usually set on low down, 

 possesses little muscular power, clings to the quarters, and altogether 

 looks mean. Fine, curly hair is occasionally, though seldom, seen even 

 in the tails of thoroughbreds. 



In the illustration the figure on the left shows a tail the dock of which 

 comes out high up, and the tail is well and gracefully carried. The sec- 

 ond figure shows the dock coming out lower down from drooping croup, 

 and tail not so well carried. In the next figure this is more marked, the 

 animal hugging the tail, while the figure to the right shows a tail with 

 coarse, wavy hair coming out very low down from a very sloping croup, 

 and meanly carried, the hams cut away and weak, and altogether the 

 parts of a mean-looking and generally unserviceable animal. 



Plate 6. — Let us now view the position of the hind legs, viewed from 

 the side, the horse standing. 



Fig. 1. — Shows the commonly received idea of the correct position, 

 but the whole limb is placed rather too far back, and it is rather too 

 near the perpendicular from point of hock to fetlock pad. 



Fig. «/.— Shows a more correct position, the limb is more under the 

 center of gravity than Fig. I, the hock not quite so far back and there 

 is a slight deviation forward from hock to fetlock. 



Fig. K. — Shows a horse standing too straight, hamstring not well 

 developed, and rather a deviation backwards from point of hock to fet- 

 lock, altogether a rather weak limb. 



Fig. L. — Shows the limbs too much bent, sickle shaped, giving the 

 horse a mean appearance, and at the same time the hock is not strong, 

 and disease, especially curb, is easily produced. 



Fig. M. — Shows the leg from hock down placed too far behind; this 

 conformation indicates weakness and is usually associated with defective 

 action. 



