8 CONFORMATION OF THE HORSE. 



the ribs, in order to increase the transverse diameter 

 of the chest. The breast of these animals should 

 also be broad ; in fact, this indicates the width of 

 the chest. In horses required for fast work, a wide 

 breast is distinctly objectionable, because it hampers 

 the movements in front. The chest differs very 

 much in its width and depth. In some horses it 

 is narrow, and the fore legs stand close together. 

 This gives the animal the appearance of being very 

 narrow in front, detracting from its beauty. 



The Back, Loins, and Croup. 



The back begins behind the withers and is con- 

 tinued into the loins, the latter ending on about a 

 level with the angle of the haunch, at which the 

 croup commences. The conformation of the back 

 varies, but it must always be in proportion to the 

 size of the animal. Trotters and thorough-breds are 

 long in the back, loins, and croup. But cart horses 

 and Hackneys, to be typical, must be of medium 

 length, and the contour form a graceful curve. 

 A short back is desirable for carrying great 

 weight, and a long one for rapid progression. For 

 a lady's saddle horse, a short back is objection- 

 able, because it renders the paces uneven. A 

 hollow-backed horse is objectionable for carting 



