70 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



flat, not too large or square, and running nearly in a 

 straight line to the muzzle ; nostrils capacious ; muzzle 

 small and fine; lips thin; mouth tolerably deep; the 

 jaw bones wide at top. 



The neck rather short and light, as the reverse, as 

 well as a heavy head, induces stumbling ; it should not 

 be gross and thick, nor large and deep, but rising strong 

 and promptly from the shoulders and withers, and after- 

 wards declining and tapering to the head, with a strong 

 crest, and somewhat crowning at the top ; on the under 

 part, the neck should be straight from the chest, and by 

 no means convex. 



The shoulders capacious, of large extent, and spread- 

 ing well back ; they should reach fairly to the top of the 

 withers, which should be well raised, but not too high ; 

 if the withers are low and flat on the top, the horse will 

 be inclined to plunge and stumble ; the chest should be 

 deep, rather broad, and full. 



The body substantial, deep, and round, a cylinder 

 being the best form for capacity ; round horses have the 

 best wind, as their lungs have full play, and they keep 

 in the best condition, and require the least food; the 

 back a plane of good width, handsomely rounded ; back 

 bone straight, or-with a trifling inclination, and rather 

 short ; a very short back indicates strength, but not 

 speed and action ; loins wide, and the muscles of the 

 reins full and swelling on each side the back bone , ribs 

 well rounded out ; the hip .bones thrown well forward, 

 forming a strong loin, with a sufficient space between 

 the ribs and hip bones, which should be round; the 

 buttocks deep and oval ; the rump level with, or not 

 much elevated above, the withers ; the croup must have 

 reasonable space, and not sink too suddenly, as that 

 would set the tail too low, which ought to be nearly on 

 a level with the back ; the dock should be strong, and 

 well covered with hair. 



The hinder quarters should spread to a wider extent 

 than the fore parts, and the hind feet stand further 

 asunder than those before ; the thighs should be straight, 

 large, muscular, and of considerable length ; the hock 

 wide and clean ; the shank not too long, but flat, and of 



