96 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



find much difference in the slope of the croup in draft 

 horses. A steep croup is very common, especially in those 

 coming- from continental Europe. This steepness, which 

 is seen best from a side view, is not looked on with favor by 

 the most discriminating horsemen. The horse with steep, 

 short croup lacks not only beauty of outline, but has less 

 length and thickness of muscle than does the horse with a 

 neatly arched, long conformation. This feature the judge 

 should emphasize, keeping in mind that the movement of 

 the load is directly connected with the extension of the hip 

 joint through the use of long, thick muscles at croup and 

 thigh. In the opinion of some, a steep croup is often re- 

 lated to a weak coupling and crooked hind legs. Hayes 

 notes 21 that the upper line of the croup, from the loins to 

 root of tail, should remain convex, a condition which is 

 more or less regular, "caused by the prominence of the 

 inner angle of the pelvis ; by the action of the muscles 

 which flex the back, and by the strength of the ligaments 

 which preserve the stability of this arch. We may note how 

 relaxation of these muscles will affect this state of convexity 

 if we pinch the loins of a horse, so as to make him crouch, 

 which he does by the contraction of the muscles that lie 

 on the top of the loins. When he crouches in this manner, 

 the upper line of the croup will tend to become straight. 

 Hence we may accept the conclusion, w r hich is freely borne 

 out in practice, that undue straightness of the upper line 

 of the croup indicates weakness of the part," 



As viewed from the rear the croup should appear not 

 only wide but with a level tendency, rather than falling 

 sharply away on each side, as characterizes the narrow 

 croup. When in high condition, draft horses show a well 

 denned groove above the spine, which divides the croup 

 into two equal parts. From a rear view the croup on each 

 side of this groove should arch with a wide yet not high 

 curve, showing a broad, strong conformation rather than 

 a sharpness, that resembles the peaked roof of a house. 



21 The Points of the Horse, 3d ed., 1904, p. 254. 



