10 ECLrPSE~MAKE OF SHOULDER, 



forward at every leap, in despite of his Ioav fore quarter, — lor running 13 no 

 other than the lea)) reiterated. One leading characteristic, however, denoted 

 all three horses to be of the right stamp in the main : they stood even on their 

 leg-bones and the soles of their feet; that is to say, straight op and down, 

 nearly, from the elbow [N. 16] to the ground before, and from the stifie-pini 

 FN. 30] to the ground behind, respectively ; both these ])arts, viewed sideways 

 in the plate, bemg placed nearly horizontal, as regards each other, on the line 

 [N] ; at least, this was the relative position of the stide and elbow, in the two 

 first-mentioned animals, and of the third 1 do but presume that he was so, 

 for " the history" of his form in this respect leaves us a little in doubt. 



But " the shoulder of Eclipse was a low one," say the published accounts 

 of him ; yet, as this defect, real or supposed, consisted in the inclination of the 

 shoulder-bone [K to N] above the elbow, by reason of the great freedom of 

 the muscles which held it and the shoulder-blade in position, he would, when 

 stepping out with the tore leg, rise higher than when he stood still; a particu- 

 larity that is reversed in horses whose shoulder-blades are set on more nearly 

 upright than those of Eclipse were. This accounts tor the vaulting manner 

 he had, as we read in the printed accounts of his exploits; and his runnirig 

 greyhound fashion, with his chest close to the ground, for he would thereby 

 keep off the ground longer betwixt each leap, until the impetus received from 

 his hind legs was nearer spent than it would have been but for thus holding 

 up his fore feet. On referring to those parts in the annexed plate, they will 

 be found thus drawn. 



8. Viewed in front, the fore legs, upon which the safety and ease of the 

 animal's going chiefly depends, should, to be perfect, be widest next the chest, 

 Fig. 3. approaching each other gradually, until the e3'e, hav- 



ing compared that part with the pastern, scarcely 

 perceives the difference. Here, the leg, taken by it- 

 self, is smaller, though the interval between the knees 

 and the feet does not differ, on account of the width 

 and flatness which ought to exist in the well-formed 

 knee, yet, taken on the outside, considerably more 

 breadth will be found above than below. Such a 

 knee, when flat and finely marked at the joint, is al- 

 ways well covered in a healthy horse, (see section 15), 

 he then throws it out with great freedom, and takes 

 a firm step fairly on the entire bottom of his hoof; 

 but, should the leg be ever so good a one in itself, 

 yet placed too high upon the chest, where it is held, 

 ,not by a socket or insertion of the bone, but by strong 

 ^elastic muscle only, this throws the feet too near to- 

 gether upon the ground ; the horse then treads on 

 the outer quarter of his hoof, and wears away the wall ; and, when tired, is 

 most commonly given to cut. Endeavours are used in shoeing to amend this 

 fault, by paring away the inner crust ; but it is one of those defects in the 

 built which no art can completely eradicate, and has been termed " i»igeon- 

 toed." 



Nor is the matter rendered any better when, by reason of the knees turn- 

 ing v.., the toes turn out, and the horse then treads on the inner quarter ; and, 

 however those of the one or the other description may have the reputation of 

 ffreat speed, it can be for a short distance only, because the action of such 

 horses must be laboured and imuerfect, particularly one of the latter kind of 

 make. He must, consequently," fatigue himself more at every step, and tire 

 sooner than one of the same size, and formed in every other respect similar 

 hut having legs that come nearer in shape to those in the annexed skptch [6g, 



