SLANTING OF THE SHOULDER. 249 



effect of the strength employed. Now, this new line is but half 

 as long as the distance of the weight from the centre of motion, 

 and therefore advantage is lost in the proportion oi" two to one ; 

 or a strength equal to 4001bs. must he exerted to raise the 2001hs., 

 and so in proportion to the deviation from the right or ^/erpendic- 

 ular line. 



Let the shoulder of the horse be considered. The point of the 

 shoulder — the shoulder joint — is the pivot or centre of motion; 

 the leg attached to the bone of the arm is the weight ; the 

 shoulder-blade being more fixed is the part whence the power 

 emanates ; and the muscles extending I'rom the one to the other 

 are the lines in which that power is exerted. These lines 

 approach much more nearly to a perpendicular in the oblique 

 than in the upright shoulder (see Fig. 33). In the upright one, 

 the shoulder-blade and the bones of the arm are almost in a 

 straight line, and the real action and power of the muscles are 

 most strangely diminished. In this point of view tlie oblique 

 shoulder is most important. It not only gives extensive action, but 

 facility of action. The power ot the muscles is more than doubled 

 by being exerted in a line approaching so much nearer to a per- 

 pendicular. 



The oblique shoulder is less exposed to concussion, particularly 

 n rapid action. The horse is less likely to trip. Nature, as if 

 to supply the deficiency of action and of j)ower in an upright 

 shoulder, invariably accumulates on it more muscle, and there- 

 fore the upright shoulder is proverbially thick and cloddy. 



Then, ought every horse to have an oblique shoulder ? No ! 

 The question has relation to those horses that are designed to 

 ride pleasantly, or from which extensive and rapid action is re- 

 quired. In them it has been said that an oblique shoulder is 

 indispensable : but there are others which are seldom ridden ; 

 whose pace is slow, and who have nothing to do but to throw as 

 much weight as possible into the collar. To them an upright 

 shoulder is an advantage, because its additional thickness gives 

 them additional weight to throw into the collar, which the power 

 of their hinder quarters is fully sufficient to accomplish ; and 

 because the upright position of the shoulder gives that direction 

 to the collar which enables the horse to act upon every part of 

 it, and that inclination of the traces which will enable his 

 weight or power to be most advantageously employed. 



An imxproved breed of our heavy draught-horses has of late 

 years been attempted, and with much success. Sufficient up- 

 rightness of shoulder is retained for the purposes of draught, 'while 

 a slight degree of obliquity has materially quickened the pace 

 and improved the appearance. 



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