94 JUDGING HORSES 



in determining the relative merits of animals in low or medium 

 condition. Although the character of the muscles, their 

 length and thickness, vary considerably in different animals, 

 the development of them is a safe guide in determining the 

 ultimate value of an animal, either in draft or light horse 

 service. Between these divisions there is a wide variation in 

 the size, length, shape and thickness of the muscles, yet their 

 relative position and the part which they play in giving an 

 animal its characteristic shape and locomotion are the same. 

 Draft animals have short, thick, muscles which indicate 

 strength, while light animals have long and rather thin 

 muscles, productive of speed. Aside from this difference the 

 position of the muscles on the framework is the same, it 

 being a question of a difference in form or development and 

 not in location. 



Beginning with the head, this portion of the body is 

 largely formed by the peculiar construction of the bony 

 framework in this region, the skin being drawn rather tightly 

 over it. The neck of the animal is constructed almost 

 entirely by the muscles leading from the head to the shoulders. 

 The shoulders are partially formed by the bony framework. 

 However, a large portion of the animal in this region is 

 defined by the development of the muscular tissues. The 

 body proper is formed largely by the position which the 

 ribs assume. Although the contour is not determined by the 

 rib development, the general shape of the body is largely 

 thus defined. The rear quarters are shaped largely by the 

 muscle formation, especially over the croup, the upper thighs, 

 and in the quarters proper. 



The muscular development of the lower thigh or gaskin is 

 of such a nature that it is used as an index to the muscular 

 development of the animal throughout. In an animal which 

 has been highly fattened the natural muscular formation can 

 be determined by this index, as this region does not accumu- 

 late fatty tissue to any appreciable extent. It is therefore a 

 safe guide to the development in other parts because of the 

 close correlation usually existing between this and other 

 regions. The legs, from the knees and hocks down, are 

 formed almost entirely by the bones, tendons and ligaments. 



