70 CONFOKMATION AND ITS DEFECTS 



is speed, any undue thickness in this situation will seriously detract from 

 the lightness of the forehand and prove an obstacle to both velocity and 

 endurance, besides adding materially to the wear and tear of the limbs. 



In a less degree the same remarks will ajiply to the hack and the 

 light harness-horse, in whom thick, fleshy shoulders are not only an eye- 

 sore, but greatly detract from the liberty and harmony of the gait by 

 overburdening the foreliand. 



This condition is often aggravated hy the coexistence of coarse withers 

 and a neck surcharged with muscle. 



In the hunter and chaser, Captain Hayes observes, the " shoulder- 

 blades should be long and olilique, so as to enable him in the best possible 

 manner to resist the shock of landing over a fence. On account of having 

 this special kind of work to do, his shoulders should be more muscular 

 than those of the race-horse. The fact of his shoulders being sloping 

 will enable him to 'take off' more cleverly at any obstacle than he 

 could do were they upright." 



In the draught -horse, in whom range and rapidity of movement is 

 subordinate to 2J0wer, great length and obliquity of the shoulders are not 

 of paramount imjjortance, Init, other things being ecpial, they at no time 

 constitute a serious defect of construction. Ample length, besides affording 

 space for the bearing of the collar, is usually in conformity with a deep, 

 wide chest, while shoulders well incHned increase the length, elasticity, and 

 quickness of the step without materially detracting from mu.scular power. 

 By many an oblique shoulder is regarded as an obstacle to draught. It 

 is said that with such a conformation the horse is incapable of throwing 

 all his weight into the collar. Since, however, " horses cannot be made 

 to fit the harness, it would surely require but little ingenuity to make 

 the harness fit the horse; if at the same time due regard was paid to the 

 line of traction, and the traces attached accordingly, whatever ground of 

 objection to sloping shoulders in the draught -horse may be, would dis- 

 appear ". 



It should be observed that in some of the finest specimens of the 

 " Shire " and " Clydesdale " a sloping shoulder is one of the leading 

 features of their make - up, and the grand stride, limijness, and elastic 

 recoil of the limbs in such animals present a striking contrast to the 

 short, stilty wobble of those otherwise constructed. 



It only remains to notice that as mass is related to power, as length 

 is to speed, the shoulder muscles of the heavy draught -horse should be 

 as large as possible, so that energy and weight together may operate 

 in the collar. 



