212 ON THE HACKNEY AND HUNTER. 



length, if his fhoulder be not too unfavourably 

 made. 



The fpine, being too fhort, is not fufficiently 

 pliable, and the want of room between the 

 ribs, and hip-bones, occafions the entrails to be 

 fo prelfed towards the lungs in action, as in a 

 confiderable degree to impede infpiration. 

 Length of back will always be found advan- 

 tageous, when there is fufficient general fub- 

 ftance, and particularly, width and fwell of 

 the mufcles in the loins and fillets; but fhort 

 backs, are infinitely to be preferred to long 

 thin (hapes, with hollow flanks, and narrow 

 weak loins. 



Hollow backs are apparently weak, and 

 the curvature of the fpine, muff in degree hin- 

 der action, as well as all other irregularities of 

 form. Horfes of this form, have fometimes a 

 ver r elevated crePt, look handfomely mounted, 

 give an eafy, convenient feat, and are pleafant 

 goers. High, or bream-backed horfes, 

 throw the faddle forward, and are liable to be 

 galled bv it, and are often hard flumping 

 goers. But a horfe (unlefs a capital one be 

 the object.) muff never be rejected, merely 

 on account of being either hollow, or fwine- 

 backed. . 



I am uncertain, whether a mare, fo much 

 hurt in her loins, as to be called broken- 

 backed, would breed; but thoroughly con- 

 vinced 



