POINTS FROM WHICH THE PROPORTIONS ARE STUDIED. 395 



nearly in accord with the conditions stated by the founder of veterinary 



schools. 



Width.— We designate by this term, width, ampleness, the 

 transverse development of the body, particularly at the level of the 

 chest, the breast, and the croup. It results in great part from the 

 muscular development of the parts, and is best appreciated by viewing 

 the horse in front or behind. We determine it also by an oblique 

 inspection, either in front or behind, or, finally, by looking at the 

 subject from above, when he is harnessed or mounted. 



When the ampleness is considerable, the animal is vulgarly said to 

 have bulk, to be stout, a state which is indicated by the width of the 

 chest, the prominence of the shoulders, their muscularity, the round- 

 ness of the ribs, the width of the croup and the volume of its muscles. 

 This conformation is characteristic of the heavy draught-horse, to which 

 it communicates at the same time bulk and power. It is sought for 

 also, although in a less degree, for some services of luxury, principally 

 in the coach-horse. 



For fast services, on the contrary, too great a width would be 

 prejudicial. It would increase the weight of the body, already pro- 

 portionately high, diminish the stability of the equilibrium without 

 being of advantage for speed, and would soon wear out the members, 

 whicli would be too weak as columns of support. A larger osseous 

 skeleton, especially behind, a longer chest, muscles which are more 

 dense and firm, are to be preferred. " From behind forward," De Cur- 

 nieu^ says, "the horse must be wedge-shaped, — that is to say, have a 

 wide croup and narrow chest ; he will all the better cleave the air before 

 him, and if he is a little too high over the withers, the power of the 

 hind-quarters will diminish this defect, which, besides, often facilitates 

 the quickness and increases the force." 



The lack of ampleness is a principal fault for all kinds of work, 

 for it is the necessary consequence of the narrowness of the thorax and 

 the insufficiency of the muscular apparatus. It may be characterized 

 by qualifying the animal as being etriqiie, lanky. 



Body and Members. — The body and the members are the two 

 elements which compose the height. But, as they do not bear the 

 same proportions in all subjects, it is important to know in what con- 

 ditions they vary through excess or deficiency, still giving to the whole 

 a sum of height in harmony with the length. 



In ordinary language, when the body is spoken of in opposition to 



» De Curnieu, Legons de science hippique g^n^rale, premiere partie, p. 278, Paris, 1865. 



