CO MP ENS A TIONS. 269 



Ribs "■ flat- sided." — Good depth of body at lowest point 

 of back ; flanks well ribbed-up. 



Too Jwllow in the back. — Light forehand, sloping shoulders, 

 and in all cases, broad, powerful loins, which is the special 

 kind of compensation in this instance. 



Loins too light., and flanks badly ribbed-up. — Light fore- 

 hand ; shoulders and pasterns oblique ; light abdomen ; well 

 rounded barrel ; strong hind quarters ; good gaskins ; 

 "straight-dropped" hind legs. 



Hind quarters too light. — Light forehand ; shoulders and 

 pasterns oblique ; light, but well rounded barrel ; muscular 

 loins ; good gaskins ; " straight dropped " hind legs. 



" Sickle-hocks,'' — With this defect in a saddle horse which 

 would be required for fast work, it would be well for him to 

 have good length of hind legs, the possession of which 

 will presuppose that of a horizontal pelvis ; and the com- 

 pensations mentioned in the preceding paragraph, with the 

 exception of " straight dropped " hind legs, which is the 

 opposite kind of conformation to that which we are con- 

 sidering. 



