34 HOTV TO JUDGE A HOESE. 



cular connection between shoulder blade and chest, 

 the benefit of greater elasticity against the effects of 

 the rebound. But, nevertheless, the latter has a 

 stronger and more destructive effect on the fore leg, 

 being nearer the centre of gravity and eventually 

 burdened with the weight of the rider. Horseman- 

 ship is eagerly bent on attaining a greater develop- 

 ment of the muscles of the back, an increased 

 employment of the hind legs, for the purpose of 

 reducing the weight of the fore hand. 



It is an important part of the examination to see 

 whether the limbs are correctly jointed ; and, by de- 

 viations from the normal formation, whether those 

 joints, being more severely taxed, are built sufficiently 

 strong to offer increased resistance. 



Just as the above-mentioned irregularities may 

 act destructively upon the neighboring joint, so it is 

 with all irregularities of the structure. Perfectly 

 built animals do not exist. It is interesting to 

 observe how irregularities are multiplied by other 

 irregularities, or again counter-balanced. The com- 

 binations in this way are innumerable. Let us now 

 consider some of them. 



THE POSITION or THE HIND LEGS. 



The rump of the horse is supported by four pil- 

 lars, whose portability is fixed by mechanical laws 



