The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

RIBS

.—The ribs of a horse are too well known to require description; it being only applicable to observe, that the conformation of the carcase in a material degree constitutes one feature of the complexion requisite to the standard of beauty. A horse should have a round barrel (or body) to be handsome; if he is flat in the ribs, he is then said to be flat carcased, is generally tucked up, high in the hip-bones, hollow in the flank, and commonly a bad feeder, particularly after a little hard work, which prevents his being held very high in estimation.