EXTERNAL CONFORMATION. 25 i 



tlie girtli in any horse, Such a form is of the utmost ad- 

 vantage in a horse of speed, not only by giving capacity 

 to the chest, but by giving more room for the attachment 

 4)f those muscles, on and between the ribs, which are call- 

 ed into exertion, by effecting increased expansion of the 

 chest, and relieving the distress of the animal. 



The barrel, or sides, should be deep and round, and 

 not flat. When a horse is flat-sided, the belly is pendant, 

 and such horses usually have bad action, and are only fit 

 for slow work. 



The back should be straight and sufficiently long to 

 leave room for the saddle. The advantage or disadvantage 

 Kii a long or short back depends entirely upon the purposes 

 for whidi the horse is recpiired. For general purposes, a 

 horse with a short carcass is perferred. They are pro- 

 verbially hardy, can carry great weight, and endure much 

 fatigue. But on the other hand, their action is confined, 

 they are seldom fast, and sometimes uneasy in their paces, 

 and apt to over-reach. A long back is favorable to ease and 

 rapidity of progression, but is unfavorable to strength or 

 bearing heavy weiglit. Saddle backed horses, tiiat is, when 

 the back is sunk, are also weak, but very easy hi their paces. 



The loins cannot be too broad or too muscular in any 

 description of horse, for breadth here gives strength with- 

 out inteifering with speed. The loins should also be 

 straight. At the junction of the back and lions, in some 

 horses, there is an indentation, which shews imperfection 

 in the construction of the spine ; it is a serious defect, and 

 is termed " badly loined." When the curve is upwards, 

 though it confers strength, it is an unsightly defect, the elas- 

 ticity of the spine is diminished, and the horse's paces are 

 unpleasant ; it is termed roach-backed, and from their 

 hind legs being brought too much under them, they are 

 very apt to over-reach. 



The quarters are considered by judges to be most im 

 portant joints in the frame : on their developement depend 

 his power and speed. Their muscularity denotes power, 

 and their depth, breadth, and width indicate the advanta- 

 geous direction of that power. When there is want of 

 breadth from the haunch bones backward, shown Oy ths 

 low setting on of the tail, as exemplified in the cart inu'se, 

 there is usually confined and slow action, unless compen- 

 sated for by d<c;pth and width. 



