120 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



every step when the saddle is thrown on as with a 

 pitchfork, will carry safely if it is removed a few 

 inches back, and, if the form of the horse will not 

 allow of its remaining long in its proper position, 

 retaining it there by the aid of a crupper. It is 

 also well understood that a good rise of the shoulder 

 is a strong recommendation of a horse for the sad- 

 dle ; and the reason is similar, — it prevents the 

 saddle working forward so far as to interfere with 

 the free play of the shoulder-blade, and it secures 

 the weight of the rider at a proper point in the cen- 

 tre of the body. The crupper is now superseded by 

 the patent saddle-cloth ; or what is better, because 

 cooler, by simply lining the saddle with plush. 



But though the perfect soundness of the hinder 

 extremities is less material, it by no means follows 

 that all attention to them is superfluous. A horse' 

 may not fall because he is spavined, or cuts himself 

 behind, but he will not work ; and if he does, it will 

 be ungracefully for the rider, and painfully to him- 

 self. 



The bone spavin, as it is called, is a very serious 

 complaint, ar^d, unless it receives early attention, not 

 very easily cured. It proceeds from a deficiency of 



