58 short backed; ribbed home. [book I. 



the cure longer than those of any other shape back 

 whatever. Yet are they preferred by timid horse- 

 men, principally on account of the easy seat a hol- 

 low back affords. Great caution in administering 

 strong repeated diuretics should be impressed upon 

 our minds at the sight of a very hollow-backed 

 patient. See Sections 53 — 56. 



When the bend in the back-bone, or " hollow 

 back," is restricted to the fore part of the animal, 

 the loins being well filled up, his built in other 

 respects is less material, to be " short in the car- 

 ease" being then an advantage; and it is much 

 greater when the said bend is confined to a gentle 

 curve, scarcely distinguishable, just behind the 

 withers. [See the middle sketch (b.) in the last 

 cut.~\ This is considered a straight back, belonging 

 to a tight made, compact horse ; he is invariably 

 ribbed home : and, as there then exists but a small 

 space between the last rib and the hip-bone, as seen 

 in the plate at 30 — 34, so is it always accompanied 

 by the deep chest, good hind quarters, and wide 

 loins (i. e. not pinched together,) and his ribs finely 

 curved. Horses so formed are always healthy, and 

 esteemed, at first sight, superexcellent, being sup- 

 posed, with justice, capable of doing more work 

 than those of any other built whatever. But the 

 gift of leaping, or of great speed, do not always 

 belong to horses of this form, however perfect in 

 other respects, though health, vigour, strength, and 

 lastingness do. Such horses always feed well and 

 retain their condition. The inquiring reader would 



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