EXTERNAL FORM, AS INDICATED BY POINTS 



11 



very mean and low action, or, if they do bend tlieir knees, they will put 

 their feet down again nearly on the same place as they took them from, 

 which peculiarity we so often see displayed in the cart breed, or those 

 nearly allied to it. This is one of the most important uses of the obliquity 

 of the shoulder-blade as it seems to me, and one which has not been 

 generally admitted by writers on this branch of the subject, though all 

 ai^e ready to admit that in some way or other this formation is essential 

 to good action. Another reason for the obliquity of the shoulder in the 

 riding-horse, is that without it the saddle is not kept back in its proper 

 place, and the horseman's weight being thus thrown too forward, the action 

 of the fore-quarter is impeded. Mere obliquity, however, is not sufficient 

 for this purpose ; for, without a proper development of muscle, the blade 



-"O 



tIPKIGHT SHOULDKR. 



OBLIQUE SHOULDER. 



itself will not keep the saddle in its place. If, therefore, there is a hollow 

 just behind the top of the blade, even if this is slanting enough, you must 

 expect the. saddle to slip forward, and should, in all doubtful cases, be 

 careful to put one on before concluding a purchase. The point of the 

 shoulder should be well developed, but not showing any rough protubex'ances, 

 which are equally objectionable with a flat or ill-developed point. The 

 length of the true-arm is mainly dependent upon that of the blade ; but 

 sometimes, when this is oblique enough, the true-arm is short and upright, 

 and the elbow stands under, or only a little behind, the shoulder-point. 

 This is a very faulty conformation, and is seldom attended with good action. 

 The chief defect in the elbow is seen when it turns inwards, and rubs so 

 closely against the ribs that the finger can hardly be insinuated between 

 them and it. Here the elbow is said to be tied or confined, and the horse 

 is very apt to turn his toes out ; while the opposite formation is indicated 

 by turned-in, or "pigeon" toes, and turned-out elbows. It" does sometimes 

 happen, however, that the toes are turned in or out without affecting the 



