FORMATION. 21 



legs are generally placed too far behind them in 

 consequence. 



From the tail to the thighs powerful muscles for 

 locomotion are passed. The posterior muscle of the 

 quarters is called the rotator tibialis, and, as its name 

 implies, it rotates the tibia; the bone between the 

 hock and thigh, or indeed what is generally termed the 

 thigh. Next to this comes the most powerful muscle 

 of all, the adductor femoris ; it is easily distinguished 

 from the preceding by the indentation or line called by 

 grooms the ( quarter mark,' which is very evident in all 

 horses in racing condition. 



As these muscles are the most powerful agents in 

 moving the hind limbs, it stands to reason that they 

 should not only be large, but long, that there may be 

 greater leverage. 



A line drawn from the round bone and stifle joint 

 should fall immediately on the centre of the loins. 

 From the stifle to the hock the distance cannot reason- 

 ably be too great, nor the muscles too large, for there are 

 not so powerful agents in the whole muscular system as 

 the anterior and posterior muscles of the thigh. They 

 are known to the anatomist as the f gastrocnemii,' and 

 almost in proportion to their development is the pro- 

 pelling power of the horse, great or small. I thought 

 in 1858, that Arsenal's quarters and thighs were about 

 as near perfection as possible. 



It would seem, therefore, that a racehorse with thin 

 and weak thighs or gaskins would be an utter anomaly, . 

 at least anatomically speaking ; and practically I have 



