90 LESSONS IN HORSE JUDGING. 



post on which the bone ilio iscJiiam is swung, then 

 it is evident that it is the point 1, and with it the 

 joint 4 that is affected, the former most so, and we get 

 the level ragged hips well seen in the 'bus horse, where 

 the point 1 is on a level with point 2, and where the 

 widest part of the quarters is at the top (Fig. 12), 

 or we have point 1 much lowered as in Fig. 13 seen 

 in the higher breeds, w^here the breadth of the quar- 

 ters is much lower down. Notice of course that as 

 it is point 1 which determines the breadth of the 

 quarters in all cases, the quarters will be widest at 

 the top or lower down according to the relative 

 position of point 1, to the axis of the lateral obliquity 

 (dotted line 2, 3). 



The hip joint is largely affected by both obli- 

 quities. It will be highest in straight quarters, 

 and lowest in drooping quarters. The length of 

 the thigh bone is the same in all positions 

 of the joint so that the stifle joint will be lowest 

 and furthest advanced nnder the body in droop- 

 ing quarters. This condition is most favour- 

 able for fast walking and trotting, but little 

 favourable for galloping, because the more 

 the quarters droop, the more is the femur or 

 thigh bone directed forwards and downwards, and 

 having a limited motion, and placed almost at 

 right angles with the ilio-ischium, its movement 

 backwards is therefore less, and incapable of being 

 stretched well back in the gallop. The femur is 

 placed at right angles, or nearly so, with the ilio- 



