ON PROGRESSION. 197 



derately, and the leg appear to be suspended in 

 the air for an instant*; the foot also should 

 alight perfectly flat on the gi'ound. But to be 

 capable of a free unembarrassed walk, it is ne- 

 cessary that the horse should be well shaped in 

 Ills fore quarters and \eg^; for a quadruped that 

 is not firm on his center of gravity when he 

 is standing still, can never be firm during pro- 

 gression. It will therefore be expedient to re- 

 capitulate some remarks on the external con- 

 formation contained in the former part of this 

 work, viz. that the shoulder should be oblique, 

 and the fore legs stand perfectly straight from 

 the chest to the ground. If the fore legs are 

 short in comparison with the hind legs, or if 

 they incline too niuch under the body, the 

 horse will step short, and on his toe. If the 

 chest is narrow, and the toes turn outwards, the 



* This temporary sus|:>ension of the hg in the 



air 



during the walk is a tolerably certain sign that the horse 

 is sound ; for an unsound horse is unable to sustain his 

 weight on one leg only, long enough to accomplish it. 



O 3 legs 



