CHOOSING A HORSE 27 



the animal "breaking down." There should be freedom from 

 wind puffs and bony growths, as in the cannon. 



The feet should be round, dense, fine in texture, of good size, 

 and perfectly sound. They should be of equal size and shape 

 and in hne 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 about 

 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. 



The ribs 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. 



Body. — The back should be short, strong, and well muscled. 

 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. 



The loin should be wide, short, thick, and strongly joined. 

 This combination results when the ribs are directed well back- 

 ward. If the distance from the last rib to the hip is great, the 

 horse is likely to be weak in the couphng and irregular in his 

 action. 



The croup 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. The short, oblique croup interferes with the utility of 

 the light horse and detracts from the general appearance. While 

 examining the croup, the hips should also be observed to see 

 that they are of equal prominence and squarely placed. 



The thigh should be muscular, long, and deep. It should be 

 so situated as to extend the muscles as far down towards the 



