36 MANUAL OF FABM ANIMALS 



soft hoof, dry and broken hoof, flat hoof, low or sloping heels, 

 and large hoof. 



The body should be -short, the back broad, and the ribs well 

 sprung, deep, and inclined well to the rear, thus giving a short 

 loin, which should be broad and thick. The upright shoulder 

 gives undue length to the back, which may become roached or 

 sunken. 



The croup should be broad, thickly muscled, and moderately 

 sloping, although there is considerable difference in draft horses 

 in this regard. A moderately, sloping croup gives a favorable 

 attachment of the muscles for the production of power. In 

 some strains of draft horses, the. croup is so very sloping that it 

 detracts from their general appearance. 



The thighs and quarters should be heavily muscled. The 

 direction of the thigh should, be such as to give the muscles 

 the most favorable attachment for the development of power. 

 This means perhaps, that the lower part of the thigh should 

 be inclined well forward, and that the leg should be moderately 

 sloping from the thigh to the hock. 



The hock of the heavy horse should be closely observed, for 

 in this joint there is perhaps more work done than in any other 

 single part of the body. The hock should be wide, properly 

 set, and clearly defined. The tendons extending from the 

 hocks downward should be lean and well detached, thus giving 

 a deeper-appearing hock and a more favorable attachment of the 

 muscles for developing power. Crooked, narrow, and tied-in 

 hocks are subject to curbs, spavin, and the hke. The hocks of 

 draft horses are likely to be fleshy or gummy, thus indicating 

 a liability to hock troubles and a general coarseness of the 

 organization. 



