HORSES 115 



the bones of the limbs. As the muscle contracts, it shortens 

 and causes the bone to move in the direction of the pull. The 

 thicker, therefore, the muscle on the croup, the more power 

 can be exerted by the horse. 



Width of Body. — The reason for width of body is the same 

 as for thickness of muscles on the croup. It gives the horse 

 more muscular tissue which is the real object for which the 

 horse exists. This width of body should, of course, not be 

 in the form of fat but of muscle and should give plenty of 

 room on the inside for vital organs and digestive capacity. 

 The latter can easily be determined by noting the spring of 

 rib or levelness and distance from backbone to which the ribs 

 extend, also the width of the underside of the body together 

 with thickness of body wall. 



Constitution. — A horse must also have a good constitution. 

 This is indicated by depth of body at the chest together with 

 width of body at and to the rear of the shoulders. This is 

 the power house of the "machine" or the "factory for develop- 

 ing energy" and no factory or other plant can do more work 

 than its power house will allow. 



This is a matter of such importance that a spectator may 

 go to a horse race and be able in a large measure to pick the 

 winners by their depth of chest. Of course, however, the 

 driver, training, experience, etc., must be considered, but the 

 constitution of the horse is one of the biggest factors. 



Thickness of Muscles. — The muscles should also be strong, 

 heavy and well developed at the thighs, quarters, gaskins, 

 arms and forearms. 



The thigh of a horse corresponds with the ham of a hog. 

 This should be heavily and thickly muscled so as to give 

 power. These muscles and all muscles work the same as the 

 muscles of the croup described above. They are attached to 

 the object they are intended to move and by contraction cause 

 motion. The quarters are the lower back and inner parts 

 of the thighs. Thus, looking at a horse from the side the 

 thigh should be broad, well extended back and well down 

 toward the hock. That is, the horse should be deep, broad 

 and thick at the thighs. 



Looking at the horse from the rear, the split in the crotch 



