276 THE FORE LIMB. 



marked depression (p. 269), we may with reason conclude 

 that the animal, being furnished with a good surface 

 for the collar, was evolved for draught rather than for 

 speed. Here we must not be led astray by the appear- 

 ance of any undue thickness of the neck muscles which 

 may fill up this dip ; for the fact of their being mas- 

 sive would be even more prejudicial to the galloping 

 pretensions of the horse, than if the shoulders were some- 

 what " loaded." As the neck projects beyond the fore 

 legs ; weight in it, by its increased leverage, will interfere 

 with the action of the fore limbs to a proportionately 

 greater degree than weight in the shoulders, which will 

 be placed more or less above this bony and muscular 

 spring, to which I have alluded in Chapter VIII. (2) By 

 the comparative width between the fore legs, which has 

 been discussed on page 243, et seq. (3) By the compara- 

 tive " thinness " or " thickness " of the withers. As a 

 rule, any undue thickness of the withers will be specially 

 well noticed, by the rider, at a point on each side, as I 

 have already said, about 4J- inches below the top of the 

 withers. This is a peculiarity of shape with which every 

 experienced hunting man must be familiar. A study 

 of Figs. 348 and 349, which have been drawn from 

 actual measurements, will further elucidate my meaning. 



Special attention should be directed to the fact that 

 obliquity and lightness of shoulders, by tending to render 

 the animal's action perfect, are indispensable requisites 

 for enabling him to " stay " over a distance of ground. 

 I have seen many "' sprinters " which have had upright and 

 loaded shoulders ; but I have never known a genuine 

 stayer — like what Ormonde, St. Gatien, or Robert the 

 Devil was — have that kind of conformation. 



In the shoulders of the draught-horse, there should be 

 plenty of power and a broad bearing surface for the 

 collar, into which the animal should be able to put all 

 his weight. It will be found that the deductions made 

 on page 78 are, generally, in accordance with the 



