BREEDS OF HORSES 97 



that are unsound. Poor fore feet are one of the commonest and 

 most serious faults in draft horses. 



Chest. As this part encloses the heart and lungs it should be 

 roomy in every respect. Perfect, 2 points. The chest is judged 

 from the front and sides. It should be fairly wide, markedly deep, 

 with the breast bone low and level and the heart girth large. A 

 narrow, shallow chest denotes poor constitution, lack of endurance, 

 and deficient breathing organs. If too wide the action tends to wad- 

 dling or rolling. A narrow chest and high knee action often go to- 

 gether. An ample, wide, deep chest denotes vigor, power, strong 

 constitution and easy keeping qualities. 



Ribs. These form the barrel and should be deep, well sprung 

 and carried low at the flank and close to the hip. Perfect, 2 points. 

 Flat ribs mean lack of room for the digestive organs; the rounded 

 barrel indicates good keeping qualities and ability for hard work. 

 A cut up flank, with short, flat ribs and a long, loose coupling, indi- 

 cates weakness, poor digestive powers and poor keeping qualities, 

 tendency to scour and constitutional debility. 



Back. The general appearance of the 'back should denote great 

 strength and compactness. Perfect, 2 points. The back extends 

 from the rear of the withers to the last rib and should be broad, 

 straight, and muscular. If the ribs are poorly sprung the back will 

 be narrow and sharp. A rounded barrel tends to give a horse a 

 slightly leggy appearance. This must be considered in judging. 



Loins. The loin is the part of the back not supported by ribs. 

 It couples the body to the hips and should be short, wide, deep and 

 strong. Perfect, 2 points. Long low loins are objectionable. Ac- 

 tion of the hind legs is defective (slouching and scuffling) where 

 there is such conformation. A roach back is the opposite of a sway 

 back, and is preferable to the latter. The loin of the mare is longer 

 than that of the male, but should be strong, not sagging. 



Underline. From the floor (sternum) of the chest the under- 

 line of the body should run back full and low. Perfect, 1 point. 

 If the underline slopes sharply upward to the stifle the abdomen has 

 a cut up appearance. This indicates lack of roominess and denotes 

 poor keeping qualities. 



Hips. The upper part of the hind quarter should show great 

 development of wide, thick, smooth muscle and freedom from 

 angularities and coarseness. Perfect, 2 points. The muscles of the 

 hips, and hind quarters in general, give the hind legs the power to 

 start and draw heavy loads. The region should be capacious for 

 the accommodation of the maximum amount of muscle. Steepness 

 toward the root of the tail (croup) detracts from the symmetry of 

 form and lessens the space available for attachment of muscles. 



Croup. The part of the hind quarter from the top of the hip to 

 the insertion of the tail. It should show comparative levelness, am- 

 ple muscle and great strength. Perfect, 2 points. The most nota- 

 ble deficiency of this part in draft horses is excessive droop, or steep- 

 ness and shortness, with weakness of muscle. Such conformation 

 tends to slouchiness in gait and often is associated with sickle hocks. 



