THE PELVIS 207 



line from the toe, through the bones of the hind limb, the 

 pelvis, and the body, to the centre of pressure of the collar 

 on the shoulder. In Fig. 139, the line of propulsion is similar 

 to that in heavy draught, except that it passes through the 

 centre of gravity, instead of the centre of pressure on the 

 shoulder by the collar. It is evident that the straighter, or 

 less convex, this irregular line is, the more effective will be 

 the propulsion. In draught, therefore, shortness of the hind 

 limbs, as compared to the fore hand, will be an advantage (as 

 I have also pointed out on p. 61), in that it will tend to 

 render the line of bones through which propulsion takes 

 place, straight. As good length of hind limb is a necessity 

 in the galloper ; any reduction in the convexity of this line 

 will have to be obtained by the opening out of its angles, and 

 not by curtailing the length of the hind limb. Thus, the 

 hind leg will be stretched out as much as possible to the rear 

 (compare Figs. 94 and 139), and the direction of the pelvis (as 

 a point of conformation) will be more horizontal than in the 

 draught animal The so-called horizontal croup is not alone 

 a great beauty in the saddle horse, but it is also a decided 

 mark of speed. If the pelvis or croup (which in this case is 

 practically the same thing) be too level (pp. 175 and 176), 

 we may suspect that the back is weak. 



I need hardly point out that the pelvis is more upright 

 when the animal is standing still, than when he is in move- 

 ment; and when he has no burden on his back, than when he 

 is mounted. 



In jumping, the conditions are different from those of 

 galloping or draught ; for special provision has to be made 

 in the leap for raising the fore hand when the horse " takes 

 off" If we refer to Fig. 195, we shall see that the more a 

 horse, at that moment, gets his hind legs under him, the 

 easier will it be for him to raise his fore hand. The more 

 sloping is the conformation of the pelvis, the more will the 

 hip joints be lowered and brought forward. Hence a '' goose- 

 rumped " horse will be able to get his hind legs more under 

 him, than if his pelvis were more or less horizontal. The 



