28 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



once rejected. These shoulders are usually ac- 

 companied by low withers, and fore-legs placed 

 too far under the body, 

 which arrangement causes 

 the rider an unpleasant jar 

 every time a fore-foot touches 

 ~sW/ the ground. Moreover, the 



gait of the horse is con- 

 Fig. 6. straight or upright strained and not always 



shoulder. The angle at the 



joint being more than 45. safe, and if he be used much 

 under the saddle his fore-feet will soon become 

 unsound. This straight, upright shoulder is 

 characteristic of the coarser breeds of horses, 

 and is frequently associated with a short, thick 

 neck. Such horses are not only unfit for the 

 saddle, but, when any speed is desired, are un- 

 suitable even for a pleasure carriage. (Fig. 6.) 

 The haunch of the low-bred horse is gener- 

 ally large, but not so well formed as that of the 

 thorough-bred. This portion of the Arabian 

 courser is wide, indicating strength, and force 

 to propel himself forward, while his tail, stand- 

 ing out gayly when he is in motion, projects in 

 a line with his back-bone. His forearm is large, 

 long, and muscular, 1 his knees broad and firm, 



1 "There is, however, a medium in this, and the advantage 

 of length in the arm will depend on the use to which the horse is 

 applied. The lady's horse, the cavalry horse, every horse in which 



