22 



THE HORSE. 



former the angle between the blade (a) and the true arm (ft) is 

 very considerable, while in the latter it is much less. Hence it 

 results, that when the muscles of the blade bring the axis of the 

 arm into nearly the same line with its own axis, the forearm (e) in 

 the oblique shoulder will be thrust forward and raised to a greater 

 degree than in the upright formation, as is shown in the engraving 

 in the parts represented by dotted lines (d e). It follows, there- 



OBLIQUE SHOULDER. 



UPRIGHT SHOULDER. 



fore, that horses intended to have nigh, and at the same time for- 

 ward action, should have oblique shoulders, for without them they 

 will almost to a certainty either have very mean and low action, 

 or, if they do bend their knees, they will put their feet down 

 again nearly on the same place as they took them from, which pe- 

 culiarity we so often see displayed in the cart breed, or those 

 nearly allied to it. This is one of the most important uses of the 

 obliquity of the shoulder-blade as it seems to me, and one which 

 has not been generally admitted by writers on this branch of the 

 subject, though all are ready to admit that in some way or other 

 this formation is essential to good action. Another reason for the 

 obliquity of the shoulder in the riding-horse, is that without it the 

 saddle is not kept back in its proper place, and the horseman's 

 weight being thus thrown too forward, the action of the fore- 

 quarter is impeded. Mere obliquity, however, is not sufficient for 

 this purpose; for, without a proper development of muscle, the 

 blade itself will not keep the saddle in its place. If, therefore, 



