58 EXAMINATION OF HORSES AS TO SOUNDNESS 



much breadth of space between them is not 

 desirable. 



The Hind- Quarters. — The hind-quarters should 

 be long, round on the outside, and deep, and there 

 should be considerable length from the hip to the 

 hock. This is essential for hunters and riding- 

 horses generally, the great majority of good 

 jumpers having great length there. There 

 should be considerable length in the continuation 

 of the back from the loins to the tail, and this 

 region should be fairly straight. Short round 

 quarters are undesirable, as also are very droop- 

 ing quarters, although, of course, exceptions 

 occur to this rule — notably in some classes of 

 hunters. The thighs should be prominent and 

 muscular, the muscles well developed. 



The Hock. — It is very important when select- 

 ing a horse that the hocks should be sound and 

 of good shape, for a great deal of strain is put 

 upon this joint in all classes of horses. The 

 hock should be clearly defined, and have no 

 swelling, whatever upon it, as swellings or 

 enlargements of any kind denote weakness. It 

 should appear wide when looked at from the 



