ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



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 promi- 

 nent, then whether the elbow is low, well 

 developed, and free from the side, and whether 

 the shoulder point and arm move freely. The 

 slope of the shoulder is of minor importance, 

 though one well laid back is preferable so long 

 as it accompanies a well-placed arm. 



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, and then ride the horse 

 down a hill at a walk, and a gallop, if you want 

 to make still more certain. 



In a well-made horse, the angle formed by 

 the shoulder and the arm, that is to say, by a 

 line drawn from the highest point of the 

 withers to the point of the shoulder, and 

 another thence to just below the elbow should 

 be from 120 to 105 degrees divided into from 

 55 to 60 degrees for the shoulder and a hori- 

 zontal line from the point, and 50 to 60 degrees 

 for the arm and the same line, so that a per- 

 pendicular line dropped from the point of the 



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