70 THE OEANGE COUNTY 



draught. In the latter case, especially for heavy work, the 

 broad chest is eligible, as acting more effectively on the col- 

 lar, both from size and weight. If light draught be required, 

 a moderate size, with depth of girth, is preferable, whist for 

 riding, the chest should be so formed as not to throw the 

 weight too forward, the result of which would be undue and 

 injurious pressure on the legs. 



The back is the next point. If the horse be intended for 

 riding, and speed be required, the back may be longer than 

 for other purposes, as the paces of the horse will be easier. 

 If for general purposes, a moderately short carcass is to be 

 preferred; it will be more compact, stronger, and yet suffi- 

 ciently easy in pace. The back should be straight to the 

 loins, and these should be broad, muscular, and well joined 

 together, no depressions being observed between them, this 

 being a sure indication of weakness. There should, however, 

 be a depression behind the withers, and these should be 

 high; for independent of the additional power gained, the 

 more the fore quarters are raised, the longer will be the 

 stride, and the safer will be the action. The muscles about 

 the withers should also be well developed, as should also 

 those of the chest, which should be well expanded. 



The shoulder is another important point; the greater the 

 angle between the shoulder-blade and the lower bone the 

 greater will be the ease in motion and the more extended 

 the stride, an upright shoulder being inimical to both. An 

 oblique shoulder also gives greater safety, from the centre of 

 gravity being kept well behind the points which support the 

 animal It is not difficult to form a correct judgment of 

 the proper obliquity of the shoulder, for where it is too up- 

 right, it has, of necessity, more muscle, which from undue 

 exercise becomes thick and clumsy. These points should 

 be well attended to in a riding-horse, but for the purpose 

 of draught, in which great power is essential, and the pace 

 of less importance, the upright shoulder is not so disad- 

 vantageous, as giving the horse additional weight to throw 

 into the collar, as well as enabling him to press steadily on 

 every part of it, his hind quarters giving the requisite im- 

 pulse. 



The arm, or the part extending from the elbow to the 

 knee, must next be regarded; and the muscles proceeding 

 from the shoulder-blade and the lower bone of the shoulder, 

 to the junction of the elbow, should be well considered; 

 for upon these depend the free extension of the arm, and 

 !li2 quickness and length of the stride. Here we have an 



