ON THE EXTERNAL CONFORMATION. 13 

 is oblique must elevate its lower extremity 

 higher than that which is perpendicular, and 

 consequently will increase the projection of 

 every part of the fore limb. Hence it appears, 

 that an oblique position of the shoulder is most 

 favourable for progression. 



The shoulder may want liberty either by 

 being too fleshy or too lean. In the first in- 

 stance it is overloaded, and in the last, it pos- 

 sesses not muscle sufficient to enable it to per- 

 form its functions with strength and celerity. 



The muscles of the chest contribute greatly 

 to the motion of the lower part of the shoulder. 

 Hence a strong and moderately full chest, is to 

 be preferred to one that is narrow and meagre. 

 It will probably be urged, that horses are some- 

 times possessed of great speed, whose forehands 

 in no wise agree with this description; but such 

 horses are generally endowed v/ith particular 

 powers in their hinder quarters. The fore 



quarters 



