SADDLE HORSES 151 



horses dislike to be ridden Is that the weight of the 

 rider comes almost Immediately above their forelegs 

 and feet, so that they are over-loaded in those parts. 



Here is a rule which has few exceptions : The horse 

 that goes down hill easily at a walk or trot has the 

 making of a saddle horse. There Is a great difference 

 among horses In this respect as the reader knows. 

 Some horses, not always the small ones either, seem 

 to travel down hill almost as easily as on level ground; 

 whereas others descend a hill in a hesitating, awkward 

 and often in a sidelong manner as if they feared a 

 fall. These horses are not fit for the saddle. 



Roughly speaking, the qualifications of a saddle 

 horse are as follows: i, sloping shoulders; 2, fairly 

 high withers; 3, a springy pastern; 4, strong but small 

 feet; 5, a short back; 6, a head well carried; 7, a fast 

 walk. 



The necessity for a sloping shoulder and good 

 withers has already been stated. But the withers 

 should not be too high. High and prominent withers 

 are very apt to become galled by the saddle, and 

 horses so formed are wholly unsuitable for cavalry 

 purposes. 



The springy pastern Is essential to the comfort of 

 both horse and rider. A short, straight pastern has 

 the effect of jarring both horse and man, and the 

 concussion thus caused Is bad for the horse, tending 

 especially to injure his fore feet, and to cause unsound- 

 ness In the joints of his hind legs, particularly the 

 hock. A pastern too long is bad also, because of the 

 danger of "breaking down." 



