THE RACE HOUSE. 19 



I shall now proceed to describe the hind-quar- 

 ters, or posterior extremities. As may be sup- 

 posed, the well-formation of those parts is of the 

 utmost importance to a race horse in his run- 

 ning; it is, therefore, necessary that they should 

 be, in breadth, substance, and length, of very 

 superior dimensions. The hips should have a 

 great breadth between them; and if they are a 

 little coarse or projecting, so much the better, 

 provided such coarse projections are not in the 

 extreme, or appear vulgar or unsightly. From 

 the centre and posterior part of the loins to the 

 top of the tail is called the " croup," and should 

 be of great length, and, if it deviates from that 

 of a straight line, it may be somewhat arched in 

 the centre; the croup being thus formed gives 

 great breadth to the top of the quarters, the 

 length of which, from the croup down to the 

 hock, cannot scarcely be of too great an extent, 

 in order that there may be sufficient room here 

 for the attachment of those broad, powerful, 

 lengthy, and distinctly divided muscles on the 

 outside of the quarters and thighs; and there 

 should also be a similar portion of such muscles 

 on the inside of the quarters and thighs ; so that 

 a man, who is a good judge, taking a posterior 

 view, may observe how the horse is made. In 



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