140 BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



shoulder blade is wide and flat, and should be smoothly laid 

 into the body. Muscles are attached to the shoulder blades 

 and play an important part in ease of motion. A long, slop- 

 ing, well laid-in shoulder gives the easiest and fastest motion. 



The withers, the crested, bony prominence between the 

 shoulder tops, is the name given to the spine at this point. 



The arm is the wider, more muscular part just below the 

 shoulder. The width and covering of muscle indicate its 

 strength. 



Fig. 70. The position of the -skeleton of the horse within the body. Repro- 

 duced from "Diseases of the Horse," U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



The forearm lies just below the arm and extends to the 

 knee, and should be long and broadly muscular. A thin, 

 narrow forearm is a weak conformation. 



The knee should be broad in front, straight in position 

 as viewed from in front, should have a good depth, and be 

 well supported below. 



