Re: [RC] conformation question: hip size/proportions - Renie M burnett
From the book The Horse by J. warren Adams, Texas A&M, A.
Borton, Univ. of Mass., H.F. Hintz, Cornell Univ. & L.Dale Van Vleck, Univ.
of Neb. "The main role of the hindquarters is to provide the force for
propulsion, and everything about their structure should reflect speed, power,
endurance, and athletic ability. They should be long and well
muscled;....The croup or rump should be long, uniform in width, muscular, and
evenly turned over the top. The length and width of the croup are
important conformational considerations because long muscles are associated with
speed and endurance, and width of muscling is related to strength and
power. The length of the croup is measured from the hip to the buttocks;
the slope is the inclination of the line to horizontal...The short, steep croup
is faulted because it is often associated with sickle hocks and places undue
strain on the hind legs."
