22 HOESES AND HIDING-. 



better placed fore legs, much less that the large- 

 boned horse's fore and hind legs combined should be 

 capable of supportmg a greater weight than the 

 lighter-boned horse's legs, which are more perfectly 

 and evenly adjusted. 



For this reason people often look upon the size 

 of a horse's fore legs below the knee as an enhance- 

 ment of his value and an improvement in his pro- 

 portions, when it is simply a provision of nature to 

 counteract a defect in the horse's shape which the 

 horse would be better without. 



In choosing a horse, therefore, I would lay down 

 as a rule, that even for strength alone, other thmgs 

 being equal, the position of a horse's shoulder and 

 fore legs is of more importance than the size of them. 

 In choosing a horse, therefore, you should bear in 

 mind that a horse with a large muscular shoulder, 

 and with his fore legs considerably behind the front 

 of his breast, is no stronger, and is less pleasant and 

 safe, than a horse whose shoulder and fore legs are 

 lighter and better placed. 



I would also point out that by using a shorter or 

 longer saddle the weight of the rider can be placed 

 nearer to or further from the hind legs or the fore 

 legs at will, and that, in fact, with the same sized 

 saddles on both horses, the formation of the good- 

 shouldered horse will of itself place the saddle, and 

 consequently the weight on the top of it, further 

 back and nearer the hind legs, and thus throw less 

 weight upon the fore legs. 



