10 THE TRUNK OR CARCASE. 



The back should not be too long nor too 

 short, for though length is favourable to an 

 extended stride and rapid motion, yet it makes 

 the horse weak, and unable either to draw or 

 carry any considerable weight. On the other 

 hand, if the back be too short, the horse's action 

 must be confined, and short-backed horses in 

 general make an unpleasant noise when trotting, 

 by striking the shoe of the hind foot against the 

 shoe of the fore one : and though they are in 

 general very hardy, and capable of enduring 

 much fatigue, and of living on but little food, 

 yet a back of middling length is better by far 

 than one immoderately short or long. 



The back should be nearly straight ; when it 

 is curved downwards, the horse is termed "saddle- 

 backed," and though he is very easy to ride and 

 pleasant in his pace, yet he is weak, and unable 

 to carry a great weight. Sometimes, instead of 

 being sunk, the spine is arched upwards, and the 

 horse is said to be " roach backed." He is the 

 very reverse of the saddle-backed horse in every 

 respect. 



The croup, or space between the termination 

 of the loins and the root of the tail, should he 

 considerable, and in a horse intended for quick 



