SUPERIOR FACE OF THE BODY. 139 



oblique, seem to augment the inclination of the coxse. As we have 

 seen, it may, nevertheless, be that in the two cases the obliquity of the 

 ilium is equal and even more horizontal in the one which appears the 

 more oblique. Hence it is especially the direction of the ilium which 

 it is necessary to take into consideration in the determination of the 

 conditions of force and strength of the regions in front of the croup, 

 and particularly its characteristics of length, width, and thickness, 

 which we have already detailed. A certain intuition which not every 

 one possesses is necessary to appreciate these, and hence the errors of 

 judgment which are so common. 



M. Richard 1 has good reason to criticise persons who make no 

 difference, in their selection for speed, between the horse with a hori- 

 zontal croup and one in which it is oblique, and asserts that compensa- 

 tions can equalize their mechanical aptitude, if not in blood, at least in 

 structure. Vallon 2 has not expressed a different opinion in advancing 

 that an oblique croup is capable of forcibly propelling the body and 

 of communicating to it great speed, provided the anterior part of the 

 trunk is low and light. The length of the locomotory segments, the 

 degree of the openness of the articular angles, the position of the 

 limbs under the trunk, the muscular development, the race, the energy, 

 and many other factors of speed, can accompany a croup with an 

 oblique ilium, and would be more or less defective in subjects with a 

 horizontal croup. It is incorrect to connect a special aptitude, what- 

 ever it be, to the conformation of one region alone, and much more so 

 to pretend that it depends exclusively upon one particular osseous 

 inclination. We will not dwell on this point. 



MODIFICATIONS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CROUP RESULTING 

 FROM LABOR. The direction of the croup is not always congenital; 

 it is often modified by the manner of utilization or work. 



Young animals which are attached to heavy loads too early, and 

 those which are employed in mountainous districts for traction or as 

 animals of burden, will have, in time, a croup more and more oblique. 

 On the contrary, in the saddle- or the pack-horse which are placed in 

 service prematurely, this region tends to become more horizontal. 



Muscularity. Besides the qualifications, length, width, thickness, 

 and direction, which we recognize in this region, it is also necessary 

 that the muscles be firm, dense, well outlined, and well developed. 



Without these qualifications the region will be entirely deficient in 



1 Richard (du Cantal\ Etude du cheval de service et de guerre, Ce 6d., p. 215, Paris, 1882. 



2 Vallon, Cours d'hippologie, tome i. p. 41'6, Paris, 1863. 



