54 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



be the position and length of the bones, and the char- 

 acteristic appearance of those muscles by the use of 

 which a spirited animal is able to perform his mighty 

 deeds. How does a horse look to the eye when the 

 formation of his hind-quarters is as it should be ? 



Several things must be kept in mind by the student : 

 First, that the bones must be of the proper length, of 

 the right size, and be put together in a right position ; 

 and, secondly, that the muscles must be of the right 

 length and size, and have the right direction. The 

 bones, remember, are the levers ; while the muscles are 

 the powers by which these levers are moved. We all 

 know that a weight is more easily lifted by a long lever 

 than a short one ; that the lever must be large enough 

 to have the required strength, and, above all, placed at 

 the right angle, in order that every ounce of the applied 

 weight may be utilized in the best possible manner. 

 This, in brief, is the philosophy of the whole matter. 

 When the bones are short, and badly placed, the mus- 

 cles do not act upon them in such a way as to secure 

 the needed power ; and the leap attempted is not made, 

 or the wished-for stride obtained. Long bones, well 

 placed, imply great leverage ; and long muscles mean 

 that the contracting power by which the levers are 

 moved is great. On these conditions, stride depends ; 

 and therefore it is that length of bones and muscles in 

 the hind-quarters of a horse is a thing greatly to be 

 desired. In order to get a true and adequate knowl- 

 edge of the hind-quarters of a horse, let us inspect the 

 several parts in detail. 



