224 JUDGING HORSES 



Pasterns. — Long and gently sloping pasterns, which are 

 conducive to rapid, springy, and enduring action, are es- 

 sential in light horses. 



Feet. — For work upon hard roads the feet should be of 

 the best material. Large size is also very essential. Small, 

 contracted, flaky hoofs are undesirable. 



Body. — The body of the horse should show the points 

 that indicate stamina and endurance without too much 

 tendency toward fleshiness. The chest should be roomy, 

 giving capacity for the vital organs. Since thickness is 

 undesirable, depth should be sought in this region. Deep, 

 well-sprung ribs furnish capacity for food. The back should 

 be broad, providing place for attachment of muscles, but 

 great breadth may give the animal a " drafty " appear- 

 ance, which is undesirable. The loin should be wide, thick, 

 and short from the last rib to the hip. The flanks should 

 be well let down and full, making the underline straight. 

 A horse too high in the flank will be hard to keep and will 

 have poor endurance. 



Hindquarters. — The hindquarters should be studied 

 very carefully, because upon the shape of these depends 

 the speed ability of the horse. The hips should be level 

 and wide without losing sight of the t3^e of the animals. 

 The croup should be well muscled, long, wide, and level, 

 carrying out the symmetry of the horse. The long, level 

 croup is found on the speedy horse. The thighs should be 

 deep, strong, and muscular, without the plumpness found in 

 the draft horse. The angle fornied by the junction of the 

 thigh bone and the hip bone should be large and open so 

 that greater freedom for articulation may be obtained. 

 The quarters should be well muscled and deep without the 

 fleshiness found in the same region in the draft horse. The 



