THE SHOULDER. 41 



terially assist in raising his fore-quarters over the 

 fence, whilst the slanting direction of the shoulder will 

 increase his stride in the gallop, lie will also be light 

 in hand (the neck must be hollowed out in front of the 

 withers, as akeadj described) and safe to ride, as the 

 backward position of the saddle-seat ^yill thi'ow the rider's 

 weight to a proper distance behind the fore-leg. If 

 the rider were placed directly over the fore-leg, as he 

 would be with an upright shoulder, it would be impos- 

 sible for the horse to recover his balance in case he 

 might happen to make a stiunble. The lowering of 

 the fore-quarters dming the stumble, would place the 

 weight of the rider in front of the leg, and then it 

 would be out of the question for either the man or the 

 horse to make a recoveiy; they must inevitably go 

 down. Besides, if the horse never stumbled, the po- 

 sition in which he cames his weight would be very 

 unfavoiu-able for his action in the trot or gallop, as he 

 could never di'aw his hind-legs, from which alone he 

 pitches, sufficiently far foi-wards to get them, as a ful- 

 crum, under his rider. His action would be so much 

 interfered with by the weight on his shoulders, that he 

 would be easily fatigued, if kept at a fast pace. 



There should be no difference in the shape of the 

 shoulder between the roadster, the hunter, and the 

 steeple-chaser. They aU require the same sort of ac- 

 tion in the fore-quarters. But the flat-racer differs 

 from them in one point — he should not be so high on 



