CONFORM ATI ON. 437 



It is essential that the chest should be moderately broad, not merely at 

 its inferior part, but also up to the back-bone. This formation does not 

 necessarily interfere with a fine high wither, because the withers, as ex- 

 plained above, are only the spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrae. 

 On the other hand undue or excessive breadth and circularity of the chest 

 is objectionable, because it has the effect of placing the fore-legs too far 

 apart, and thereby causes a rolling motion in .the gait. In cart horses 

 however, in whom speed is not required, a wide circular chest is an 

 advantage. 



The chest cannot well be too deep. Depth increases the capacity of 

 the chest without producing any disadvantage, such as that occasioned 

 by excessive breadth. Again a deep-chested horse always carries his 

 saddle well if the shoulder be proportionately good, whilst with a shallow 

 chest it is pretty sure to run forward. Narrow horses, even though with 

 deep chests, generally lack endurance. They are however pleasant, to 

 ride. Fig. 6 shows a deep, and fig. 6 a shallow chest. 



899. The Radius. 



The Radius or upper bone of the leg (A, fig. 7) should be long in pro- 

 portion to the length of the leg, or in other words the greater the propor- 

 tion of the leg above the knee the better. This bone cannot be too thick 

 and big, nor can it be too fully supplied with muscles.- Muscular deve- 

 lopment in the arm, and in the corresponding portion of the thigh just 

 above the hock, are points of primary importance. Fig. 7 represents a 

 leg, in which the radius (A) is long, whilst the bones below the knee, 

 marked B, are short. In Fig. la the total length of the leg is the same, 

 but the greater part of the length is in the bones below instead of in the 

 bone above the knee. 



900. The Ulna. 



The Ulna or upper portion of the radius, to which in the adult horse 

 it is inseparably united, should be large, long, and prominent. It gives 

 strength to the upper portion of the radius, and when well developed 

 affords a powerful attachment to the muscles and tendons. In a well- 

 made horse the point of the elbow should be full, and clear of the chest. 

 It should not incline inwards, and it should not appear to " dig " into the 

 chest at every step. Nothing looks worse than a horse " tied in " at the 

 elbows, as this defect is called, and animals of this conformation have 

 almost always cramped action. To detect it, the horse must be carefully 

 observed as he walks slowly past, and away from, the spectator. 



901. The Knee. 



The Knee (Plate 35, fig. 8) in common with all joints should be large 

 and prominent. A greater degree of wear and stress comes on the joints 

 than on most parts of the frame. Hence the formation and size of 

 joints are matters of great importance. 



The Knee should be wide laterally, and although prominent, should 

 appear nearly flat when viewed from the front, and small when seen 



