EXTERIOR. 63 



direction. In all probability, to this cause must be 

 attributed the custom of not allowing it to exceed the hock. 



The anus should form a rounded projection, and should 

 thoroughly close the orifice of the intestinal tube ; under 

 it is situated the perineum, which extends to the genital 

 organs. It is a band of very fine skin between the two 

 posterior members. The medial line of the perineum is 

 termed the raphe,. 



The haunch (15, fig. 31) is the angular and exterior 

 portion of the ilium, laterally situated in the rear of 

 the flank, and touching the thigh. There must be 

 sensible evidence of its presence ; but yet it must be 

 rounded and not prominent. If the latter, it is said to be 

 too angular, and can be seen in a horse which has too 

 oblique or too large a croup. 



The buttock (16, fig. 31) is situated at the extremity 

 of the animal, inferior to the croup, posterior to the thigh 

 and superior to the leg. It falls upon the calcanean cord, 

 should be long, and as straight as possible, with wide 

 hard muscles. In this case the buttocks are well furnished 

 and the horse is well rumped. 



In emaciated animals the buttock is distinguishable 

 from the thigh by an accentuated groove, termed the 

 parting of misery. In a vigorous horse this separation 

 has but slight indication. 



The turf and the razing gaits necessitate for the horse 

 the possession of a powerful muscle of the buttock, the 

 curve of which, descending from the points of the 

 ischiums, obliquely rejoins the leg. This is the result of 

 a long femur which permits movements to possess both 

 rapidity and extension, a conformation frequently to be 

 found in English horses. This variation of the length of 

 the femur on the tibia causes the buttock to appear more 

 or less descended and straight, for in all horses the 

 muscular attachments are identical. 



In the case of horses of the manege and haute ecole, 

 with elevated and measured gaits, the curvature has 

 greater convexity. 



This same particularity is found in a yet more apparent 

 manner under a great mass of muscle in heavy draught 

 horses, with whom all this force is expended in slow pro- 

 gression ; the buttock then appears cut. 



