THE FORE LEG. II 



work, it should run more in a horizontal than a 

 perpendicular direction. In the Irish horse, this 

 part is short, and instead of proceeding" almost 

 directly backwards, suddenly droops, and though 

 such a conformation does not unfit him for trot- 

 ting, or drawing, or even leaping, and is even 

 an advantage for an upright leap, yet he cannot 

 in the gallop compete with the English horse, 

 whose croup is long, and very little inclined 

 downwards. 



The quarters are never too extensive from before 

 backwards, nor deep from above downward, nor 

 are they ever too much spread out laterally. A 

 great deal is done by the hind legs, and the 

 quarters should in every case be as expanded 

 and well furnished with muscles as possible. 

 When the haunch bone projects more than usual, 

 the horse is said to be " ragged hipped," and is 

 commonly objected to for it. But as this bone, 

 by spreading well out, affords plenty of room 

 for the attachment of muscles, it cannot be said 

 to be a fault. When it appears so, the loins are 

 the seat of that fault. They are too narrow. 



The Fore Leg. 

 In the saddle horse, and where safety is desir- 



