186 THE STUD. 



second look at such as are thus made. That the 

 reader mav not do this, we will look a little as to 

 the extent to which such opinions need be carried. 

 TTe will say nothing as to its appearance, as the 

 rejecting or not of such a horse on this account 

 only, depends wholly how far it may or may not 

 be objectionable to the particular buyer. 



That low backed horses are on an averafre 

 not so strong as those more regularly formed is 

 highly probable, although I am not aware that 

 the fact has been practically proved ; indeed, I 

 could instance several horses more than com- 

 monly low in the back that have carried heavy 

 weights with hounds, and have not been found at 

 all deficient in powers. ^Yithout entering into 

 anatomical discussion of this point, I will pro- 

 duce a, perhaps, very unprofessional, but not alto- 

 gether, I conceive, inappropriate, illustration of 

 why a low back may not be as weak as its ap- 

 pearance denotes. 



A sheet of ice of an inch thick, it is well 

 known, will support an enormous weight under 

 ordinary circumstances ; make it three times the 

 thickness, and draw off the water, it will not 

 support its own weight. 



The low back is consequent on the curve of 

 the spine. The spine of itself possesses little 

 strength : it is the supporting parts that constitute 

 this. These are the ribs and muscles. To bring the 



