THE SELECTION OF A HORSE 5 



withers, and it does not follow because the withers arc 

 high and run well into the back that the shoulder is a 

 good one ; a nice sloping, w^ell- developed, light shoulder 

 often accompanies a low wither. Each point must be 

 examined separately ; a line drawn from the highest 

 point of the withers along the spine of the shoulder 

 blade to the point of the shoulder gives the slope of the 

 shoulder, and a vertical line dropped from the highest 

 point of the mthers should pass behind the elbow, when 

 the horse is standing naturally. As already stated, 

 it is important that the arm from the shoulder point 

 to the elbow should be long and not be very oblique ; 

 horses wdth high knee action, that do not get over the 

 ground, will generally be found to have an excessively 

 oblique arm, forming an angle of 45 degrees and under, 

 though in many cases they may have a beautiful sloping 

 shoulder. 



To judge a shoulder, have the horse walked and 

 trotted past ; and notice as he moves away, first 

 whether the point is light and not prominent, then 

 whether the elbow is low, w^U developed, and free from 

 the side, and whether the shoulder point and arm move 

 freely. The slope of the sho alder is of minor import- 

 ance, though one well laid back is preferable, if the arm 

 is wtII placed and the fore legs well forward, an open 

 angle is the point to look for. Chinese ponies are very 

 fast and good jumpers, though their shoulders are ver}^ 

 straight, and this is accounted for by the fact that the 

 arms drop unusually straight, and their hind quarters 

 being exceptionally strong, drive them along, whilst 

 the fore legs can stretch well out. 



The best way to find out whether a horse has a 

 free use of his shoulders or not, is to put on a saddle 

 in its natural place so that the girth fits into its groove, 



