Judging Horses 49 
lessens the usefulness of the light horse, especially the saddler, 
as the step is short and stilted and very disagreeable to the rider. 
90. Feet. — They should be round, dense, fine in texture, of 
good size, and perfectly sound. They should be of equal size and 
shape and in line with the pastern. The hoof should have an oily 
coat of natural wax, and should not appear flat, brittle, shelly, 
or contracted. The heel should be rather vertical and abcut 
one-half length of toe. The sole should be concave; the bars 
strong, and the frog large, elastic, and bear the mark of natural 
usage as a buffer. The dark-colored feet seem to be in favor. 
91. Ribs. — These should be well sprung from the spine, of 
good length, and well inclined to the rear. The well-sprung rib 
gives lung capacity, the deep rib gives digestive capacity, and the 
ribs well inclined to the rear add much to the strength of the back. 
92. Body. — The back should be short, strong, and well mus- 
cled. The body should have a short back with a long underline 
which not only adds strength to the back, but gives the legs free 
play and insures freedom of movements. The long back, the 
roach back, and the sway back are all very objectionable. 
93. Loins. — These should be wide, short, thick, and strongly 
joined. This combination results when the ribs are directed well 
backward. If the distance from the last rib to the hip is great, 
the horse is likely to be weak in the coupling and irregular in his 
action. 
94. Croup. — This should be long, muscular, and fairly straight. 
The croup of light horses should be more horizontal than in heavy 
horses. This in connection with its length allows greater play of 
the main muscles, which is favorable to the production of speed. 
While examining the croup, the hips should also be observed, to 
see that they are of equal prominence and squarely placed. 
95. Thigh. — This should be muscular, long, and deep. It 
should be so situated as to extend the muscles as far down towards 
the hock as possible, without giving the leg too straight an ap- 
pearance. Horses show much variation in the muscling of the 
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