THE TRUNK. 



5. Depth of back ribs. To see this we need only to con- 

 trast the Frontispiece, or PI. 32 with PI. 56. 



Without indulging in any tedious repetition, I think we 

 may safely assume that, in all cases, a horse's back and loins 

 should have the appearance of being as short as possible. 



Points of the Hips. — When these parts are very 

 prominent, the horse is said to have "ragged hips." Such a 

 condition gives the animal an angular appearance, and is con- 

 sequently displeasing to the eye. A horse thus formed is 

 more likely to hurt his hips by "catching" them against door- 

 posts, or by lying on a hard surface when he is not supplied 

 with a sufficiency of bedding, than one of different conforma- 

 tion. The fact of a horse having fiat or ragged hips does not 

 appear to influence his usefulness in any way. Among 

 thoroughbreds, certain strains of blood have them prominent. 

 Although it would be more correct to consider the points of 

 the hips along with the hind limb ; I have placed them, for 

 convenience sake, under the present heading. 



Flank. — The only thing to remark about this part is 

 that the "hollow of the flank," which is included between the 

 loins, point of the hip and end of the last back rib, should be 

 well filled up and should be as small as possible. If it is 

 hollowed out, it will indicate that the animal is in bad health, 

 out of condition, or of weak constitution. If the extent of the 

 hollow of the flank be small, the animal will be well ribbed up, 

 a form of conformation which I have discussed on p. igoetseq. 

 It is more essential for race-horses to be well ribbed up than 

 for any other class ; as they can ill afford to make up, by 

 increased length and depth of chest, for any deficiency in this 

 point. Increased depth or increased length of chest, besides 



