Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 47 



One of the first qualities of the saddle horse is to carry 

 his saddle well, that is, with the girths naturally well behind 

 the elbows. The other points of beauty and strength are a 

 well-shaped head, above all, well attached; an open, in- 

 telligent eye; a neck well proportioned and well put on; 

 withers prominent, sloping far to the rear, a little higher 

 than the croup; a sloping shoulder; humerus long and well 

 letdown; forearm powerful, wide and muscled; the chest 

 ogival and deep; the back well held up; the loin wide, with 

 good muscles behind the saddle. The croup symmetrical, 

 long, slightly inclined, and muscular; haunches wide and 



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prominent; the muscles of the buttocks, thighs, and gaskins 

 well developed, and descending as low as possible; the flank 

 short and full; knees low, wide, thick, and clean; cannons 

 strong and short; hocks wide, straight, and well let dow^n; 

 the feet tough and dry, correctly sloped, symmetrical; 

 density in all tissue. These points taken together will 

 generally favor the balance as well as the useful gaits of 

 the horse, which are a walk, free and extended; a trot, 

 starting from the shoulder, long, easy, and regular; a gal- 

 lop, sweeping, powerful, and extended. 



Quality. — Quality results from the hardness or resist- 

 ance of the organs in the fulfilling of their functions — from 

 the blood which supplies the energy for the organism to 



