OUR SADDLE-HORSES. 45 



seen. To understand, however, the best form 

 for a saddle-horse, we must not only often see 

 it, but become practically acquainted with the 

 result by frequently riding well-formed horses. 



Thus few people are now found amongst us 

 who know what constitutes good shoulders in 

 a horse ; persons of experience asserting they 

 should be fine, meaning by this lean at the 

 withers. It is however certain that a young 

 horse's shoulders that is intended to carry 

 more than a very light weight can hardly be 

 too thick at that place, provided they are not 

 thick at the points or lower ends, while in- 

 clining at their tops well back, leaving the 

 greatest obtainable space between the end of 

 the mane and the pummel of the saddle. 

 There is a certain cross bone which con- 

 nects the lower end of the shoulder blades 

 with the animal's fore-legs, which very mate- 

 rially affects action. When this is long it 

 throws the fore-legs too much back, making 

 the animal stand over like a cart-horse ; such 

 a horse, when at all tired, is pretty sure to 

 fall. 1 am here stating Avhat is A B C to a 

 good judge, but I write for the many. 



The shoulders hero recommended, however, 



