The exterior of the horse . teal muscles, HC, of the ischio-tibials. Go, and theextensors of the leg, mn. On the other hand, the degree of inclination of the thigh beingcapable of modifying the value of the coxo-femoral angle, it may bequestioned whether, for velocity, the obliquity of the croup would notbe capable of compensating the excess of obliquity of the crural seg-ment in such a manner as to leave to this angle the same opening and,consequently, the same degree of play. This compensation, as we have seen above, is possible, but onlywithin very narrow limits, because the orientation of
The exterior of the horse . teal muscles, HC, of the ischio-tibials. Go, and theextensors of the leg, mn. On the other hand, the degree of inclination of the thigh beingcapable of modifying the value of the coxo-femoral angle, it may bequestioned whether, for velocity, the obliquity of the croup would notbe capable of compensating the excess of obliquity of the crural seg-ment in such a manner as to leave to this angle the same opening and,consequently, the same degree of play. This compensation, as we have seen above, is possible, but onlywithin very narrow limits, because the orientation of the articularangle soon becomes defective ; its bisecting plane assumes too horizontala direction. Here, as in the arm, the principle is : to a horizontalcroup should correspond a straight thigh. On the other hand, if it be necessary that the femur should pre- POSTERIOR MEMBER. 241 serve a suitable and efficacious opening of the coxo-femoral joint, it isno less obligatory that it should give a proper direction, as well as a. Fig. 72. wide opening, to the angle which it forms with the leg. Observationdemonstrates, in fact, that the femoro-tibial angle always has a wideropening in rapid motors ; this is the factor which prevents the tibiafrom assuming an excessive inclination which w^ould place it in a posi-tion disadvantageous to its movements of extension and flexion andits effectiveness in progression. We therefore believe that a somewhat oblique thigh fulfils all thesediverse requirements. It is the kind of thigh which is best for longstrides, extensive and etiective propulsive movements, and a normal 16 242 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. relation with the vertical axis. This is very different from the classicalteachings of a certain school, that all the superior segments of themembers should incline at an angle of 45 degrees with the horizon ! Finally, one more point of excellence in the thigh consists in itsbeing well away from the median plane towards its inferior
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecthorses, bookyear1892
