JUDGING HORSES IX SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 



17 



Ribs. — The digestive organs of the animals Lie within the so- 

 called barrel. The rapacity of the barrel depends upon the ribs. 

 If the digestive organs are to have room the ribs must be long and 

 well sprung. Ribs close together and close up to the hips are asso- 

 ciated with strength and good feeding qualities. Ribs with loose 

 coupling not carried close up to the hips indicate weakness and 

 poor digestive powers. 



Bad'. — Ribs well sprung will give breadth to the back. The back 

 should not only be broad but also straight, short, and muscular. Its 

 general appearance should be that of great strength and compactness. 



Loin. — The part of the back 

 not supported by the ribs is 

 known as the loin. If the ribs 

 are carried close up to the 

 hips the loin will be short. 

 With the back is should be 

 straight and wide and give 

 evidence of strength. 



Underline. — The underline 

 should run back well, full and 

 low. If it is cut up at the 

 flank it will denote the lack of 

 capacity associated with a 

 horse hard to keep fat. 



HINDQUAETEKS. 



Fio. 9. — Ground surface of a right fore hoof 

 of the regular form : a, a, wall ; a— a, the toe : 

 a-b, the side walls ; b-d, the quarters ; 

 c, c, the bars ; d, d, the buttresses ; e, lateral 

 cleft of the frog ; f, body of the sole ; 



0, (/', O", leafy layer (white line) of the toe 

 and bars ; h, body of the frog ; i, I, branches 



of the frog ; k, ft, horny bulbs of the heels ; 



1, middle cleft of the frog. 



Hips. — The hips should be 

 wide and smooth and free from 

 angularity and coarseness. As 

 the muscles of the upper region 

 of the hindquarters are im- 

 portant in the movement of 

 heavy loads, there should be plenty of room about the hips and croup 

 for thick muscle. 



Croup. — While draft horses are not carried out so well in the croup 

 as horses of lighter type, there should be no excessive drooping. A 

 steep, short croup does not give room for the necessary muscle, hence 

 is an indication of weakness. 



Tail. — The tail itself is not important except as a factor in the ap- 

 pearance of the horse and its comfort during fly time. While 

 it can not be expected that the tail of a draft horse will be carried 

 with the style of a lighter harness horse, it should be attached fairly 

 high and carried well. 



