MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 7 



Shoulders: The shoulders should not be as long and sloping as with 

 a light driver, but more upright, being well set into the back, a happy 

 medium between the straight and sloping shoulder, giving the best 

 power and movement for the Artillery horse. Too straight a shoulder 

 promotes excessive concussion and bone trouble of the limbs and feet. 

 Smoothness of shoulder is essential, for roughness and prominence will 

 be sure to involve soreness and trouble from fit of collar. 



Chest: The chest should be full and deep, indicating large capacity 

 of the vital organs. Narrowness behind the shoulders is quite com- 

 mon, and indicates defective constitution. Too much thickness of 

 chest, an unusual occurrence, may cause a swaying movement in action. 



Arm: The arm must be large and muscular, and placed so as to 

 bring the legs in proper position under the body, not standing out 

 at the corners. 



Forearm: The forearm should be comparatively long, broadly and 

 strongly muscled in its upper part and gradually tapering to the knee. 

 A powerful forearm on the Artillery horse' is slightly important and 

 its value is not likely to be overestimated. 



Knee : The knee must be broad, as viewed from the front, be well 

 carried back and be amply supported from below. This part should 

 be neat and cleanly jointed. A knee bent backwards is called a "calf- 

 knee" ; the opposite condition is known as "knee-sprung." 



Pastern: The pastern is an important part of the leg. It should 

 be fairly long, be perfectly smooth and free from extra flesh and stand 

 at an angle of about 45 degrees. At this slope concussion is received 

 in perhaps the least degree, and with least injury to the foot and leg. 

 There is some difiference of opinion among horsemen on the length 

 of the pastern, some preferring one reasonably long and others one 

 of medium length. The slope is more important than the length, 

 but no doubt better feet prevail where the pastern tends toward length 

 rather than shortness. Sidebones, ringbones and other foot troubles 

 are most prevalent with short, straight pasterned Artillery horses. As 

 the horse naturally places the foot in action the pressure first comes 

 on the frog and is then distributed over the rest of the foot. If the 

 pastern is straight, the toe and front of the foot strike first and thus 

 the concussion is greatest. 



Cannon: The cannon bone is round, but has tendons extending 

 down its back edge, more or less separated from the bone. As viewed 

 from one side the cannon and its attachment should be deep, amply 

 supporting the knee: and viewed from rear and front, should be quite 

 flat, thus representing the strongest conformation. Often the cannon 

 is tied in beneath the knee, which indicates weakness. A long or 

 rounded cannon shows faulty conformation with the best development. 

 A fair girth at the smallest point is 9^ inches. A large girth, however, 

 does not always indicate proper development as the leg may be coarse 

 and out of proportion. 



Fetlock : The fetlock must be smooth and deep with no roughness. 



