CROUP, 175 



Points of the Hips.— When these parts are very 

 prominent, the horse is said to have ** ragged hips." Such a 

 condition gives the animal an angular appearance, and is con- 

 sequently displeasing to the eye. A horse thus formed is 

 more likely to hurt his hips by knocking them against 

 door-posts, or by lying on a hard surface when he is not 

 supplied with a sufficiency of bedding, than one of different 

 conformation. The fact of the hips df a horse being flat or 

 ragged does not appear to influence his usefulness in any 

 way. Among thoroughbreds, certain strains of blood have 

 them prominent. Although it would be more correct to 

 consider the points of the hips along with the hind limb ; 

 I have placed them, for convenience' sake, under the present 

 heading. 



Flank.-The only thing to remark about this part is 

 that the '' hollow of the flank," which is included between the 

 loins, point of the hip and end of the last back rib, should be 

 well filled up and should be as small as possible. If it is 

 hollowed out, it will indicate that the animal is in bad health, 

 out of condition, or of weak constitution. If the extent of the 

 hollow of the flank be small, the animal will be well ribbed up, 

 a form of conformation which I have discussed on p. 163, etseq. 

 It is more essential for race-horses to be well ribbed up than 

 for any other class ; as they can ill afford to make up, by 

 Increased length and depth of chest, for any deficiency in this 

 point. Increased depth or increased length of chest, besides 

 adding to the weight to be carried, would militate against the 

 possession of speed, on account of its tending to lower or 

 bring back the centre of gravity, and thus to increase the 

 stability of the equilibrium (p. 54). 



Croup. — The upper line of the croup, from the loins to 

 the root of the tail, should remain convex, even when a fairly 

 heavy weight is carried. This convexity, more or less 

 regular, is caused by the prominence of the inner angle of the 

 pelvis ; by the action of the muscles which flex the back ; and 



