JUDGING HORSES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 
17 
Ribs. — The digestive organs of the animals lie within the so- 
called barrel. The capacity of the barrel depends upon the ribs. 
If the digestive organs are to have room the ribs must be long and 
well sprung. Ribs close together and close up to the hips are asso- 
ciated with strength and good feeding qualities. Ribs with loose 
coupling not carried close up to the hips indicate weakness and 
poor digestive powers. 
Bach. — Ribs well sprung will give breadth to the back. The back 
should not only be broad but also straight, short, and muscular. Its 
general appearance should be that of great strength and compactness. 
Loin. — The part of the back 
not supported by the ribs is 
known as the loin. If the ribs 
are carried close up to the 
hips the loin will be short. 
With the back is should be 
straight and wide and give 
evidence of strength. 
Underline. — The underline 
should run back well, full and 
low. If it is cut up at the 
flank it will denote the lack of 
capacity associated with a 
horse hard to keep fat. 
HINDQUAETEKS. 
Fig. 9. — Ground surface of a right fore hoof 
of the regular form : a, a, wall ; a— a, the toe ; 
a-b, the side walls ; ~b-d, the quarters ; 
c, c, the bars ; d, d, the buttresses ; e, lateral 
cleft of the frog ; f, body of the sole ; 
Q, Q' , £>", leafy layer (white line) of the toe 
and bars ; h, body of the frog ; i, i, branches 
of the frog ; k, fc, horny bulbs of the heels ; 
I, middle cleft of the frog. 
Hips. — The hips should be 
wide and smooth and free from 
angularity and coarseness. As 
the muscles of the upper region 
of the hindquarters are im- 
portant in the movement of 
heavy loads, there should be plenty of room about the hips and croup 
for thick muscle. 
Croup. — While draft horses are not carried out so well in the croup 
as horses of lighter type, there should be no excessive drooping. A 
steep, short croup does not give room for the necessary muscle, hence 
is an indication of weakness. 
Tail. — The tail itself is not important except as a factor in the ap- 
pearance of the horse and its comfort during fly time. While 
it can not be expected that the tail of a draft horse will be carried 
with the style of a lighter harness horse, it should be attached fairly 
high and carried well. 
