CHOOSING A MOUNT 93 



A horse should be broad across the 

 loins; if these are strong, and the horse 

 well ribbed up, there will be no unsight- 

 ly sinking of the flanks even in front of 

 hips that are broad, as they should be. 

 The thighs extend from the lower part 

 of the haunches or hips to the stifle- 

 joints, and these and the haunches are 

 covered with powerful muscles, which, 

 when well developed, form strong quar- 

 ters. A well-placed tail, carried at a 

 correct angle, adds greatly to a horse's 

 appearance. From the stifles to the 

 hocks are found the lower thighs, and 

 these should be long and strong. The 

 hocks should be prominent, clearly de- 

 fined, and free from all puffiness or swell- 

 ing. From the hocks to the fetlocks 

 the leg should descend perpendicularly, 

 neither bent under him nor back of him. 

 The same rule applies to these fetlocks 

 as to the fore ones ; and the same may 



