32 THE PERFECT HOESB. 



formation. The shoulders should be quite oblique, and 

 the withers high. This height of the withers is essential, 

 because this conformation assists the horse in lifting his 

 fore-quarters over impediments he may meet in his course 

 in road or field. No horse with high withers, if other- 

 wise well made, ever stumbles, or trips even. His action 

 will be high and safe. The obliquity (slope) of the 

 shoulders adds to his capacity to stride, and also to 

 the rider's or driver's ease. In the case of the rider, the 

 saddle-seat is thrown back far enough from the fore- 

 shoulders to insure pliancy, and to escape the jolt, which, 

 if seated farther forward, he would be sure to receive. 

 When a horse with low withers stumbles, the rider is 

 thrown forward so that the line of weight is ahead of the 

 fore-legs ; in which case it is next to impossible for him 

 to recover his horse. There are other reasons why the 

 oblique shoulder and high withers are to be preferred; 

 but those already mentioned are sufficient to suggest to 

 the purchaser and breeder what conformation of the 

 shoulders is most desirable. The law, therefore, is, that 

 in the case of roadsters and saddle-horses, or gentlemen's 

 driving-horses as the phrase is, the withers should be 

 thin and high, and the shoulders very oblique. But in 

 the case of the horse to be bought and kept solely for his 

 speed, or where the breeder is anxious to breed a 2.20 

 colt, speed being the sole thing aimed at, I should breed 

 doivn the luithers decidedly ; because, in order to insure 

 the highest rate of speed, it is essential that the horse 

 should go close to the ground, — '' go low," as the saying 



