CROUP. 203 



adding to the weight to be carried, would militate against the 

 possession of speed, on account of its tending to lower or 

 bring back the centre of gravity, and thus to increase the 

 stability of the equilibrium (see p. 67). 



Croup. — The upper line of the croup, from the loins to 

 the root of the tail, should remain convex, even when a fairly 

 heavy weight is carried. This convexity, more or less 

 regular, is 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 con- 

 traction 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 con- 

 clusion, which is fully borne out in practice, that undue 

 straightness of the upper line of the croup indicates weakness 

 of the part. Not being able, at present, to get a living animal 

 from which to obtain a photographic illustration of this bad 

 point, I may refer my readers to the horse of the statue 

 which stands in the centre of Holborn Circus. I may also 

 mention that when a horse is affected by paralysis of the 

 muscles of the loins, the croup will usually assume an abnor- 

 mally flat appearance, especially when weight is put on the 

 back, which, in this disease, can badly support it. The 

 slope of the croup (whether it is " goose rumped " or hori- 

 zontal) will be considered on pp. 232 and 233. 



Anus. — The anus should be prominent, and the tissues 

 around it should be well filled out. It should be firm in 



