60 THE AMERICAN ELOUD-IIORSE. 



two points may be either nearly horizontal, or forming a con- 

 siderable angle with the ground ; but still in both cases it 

 should be a long line, and the longer it is the more muscular 

 substance is attached to it, and the greater leverage will the 

 muscles have. 



The fore-quarter, consisting of the shoulder, upper and lower 

 arm and leg and foot, should be well set on to the chest ; and the 

 shoulder-blade should lie obliquely on the side of that part, with 

 a full development of muscle to move it, and thrust it well forward 

 in the gallop. Obliquity is of the greatest importance, acting as 

 a spring in taking off the shock of the gallop or leap, and also 

 giving a longer attachment to the muscles, and in addition en- 

 abling them to act with more leverage upon the arm and leg. 

 As the shoulder-blade does not reach the top of the withers, 

 and as the bones forming that part have nothing to do with 

 the shoulder itself, many higji-withcred horses have bad and 

 weak shoulders, and some very upright ones ; whilst, on the 

 other hand, many low-withered horses have very obliq-ue and 

 powerful shoulders, and such as to give great facility and plia- 

 bility to the fore extremity. The shoulder should be very 

 muscular, without being over-done or loaded, and so formed 

 as to play freely in the action of the horse. The point of the 

 shoulder which is the joint corresponding to the human shoulder, 

 should be free from raggedness, but not too flat ; a certain degree 

 of development of the bony part is desirable, but more than 

 this leads to defects, and impedes the action of this important 

 part. The upper arm, between this joint and the elbow, 

 should be long, and well clothed with muscles; the elbow set on 

 quite straight, and not tied in to the chest ; the lower arm muscu- 

 lar and long ; knees broad and strong, with the bony projection. 



