196 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



approximately 50 lbs. on the forelegs. Readers 

 who are skeptical of the value of the " distribution 

 of the rider's weight " as an aid will do well to bear 

 this fact in mind. 



Veterinary science supplies us with certain in- 

 formation concerning the mechanism of the horse 

 which every trainer ought to be in possession of if 

 he is to get full value out of his work. Without en- 

 tering into technical detail, the chief muscle which 

 advances the foreleg runs from the top of the head 

 to the bone below the blade-bone. Its origin is 

 from the back of the head and the first four bones 

 of the neck (see Fig. 9, the point of attachment to 

 the blade-bone or humerus is marked with a cross). 

 If we artificially shorten this muscle by pronounced 

 flexion of the neck we interfere with free shoulder- 

 action, reduce the horse's speed, and cause him to 

 resort to increased knee-action to raise his forelegs. 

 Veterinary experts also tell us that the joint between 

 the head and the first bone of the neck is not con- 

 structed for a facial angle approaching the perpen- 

 dicular; that the bones of the neck are not suitably 

 arranged for continuous curvature ; and that the 

 tissues of the throat are displaced if the nose is 



