38 THE PERFECT HOUSE. 



this projection should be broad and strong, and reach- 

 ing well back from the front of the arm. If you will 

 examine closely the fore-arm of a horse, you will observe 

 that in it are three masses of muscles, the location and 

 use of which are as follows : One is placed on the outer 

 edge of the fore-arm, in front ; the second lies directly 

 behind it : and these are employed to extend and bend 

 the limb. The third lies inside of the fore-arm, near the 

 junction of the leg and chest. The office which this 

 muscle fulfils is this : When the horse is in motion, it 

 confines the arm to the side, keeps it in a straight line, 

 and makes it impossible for the heavy pressure from 

 above to separate the legs too widely. You see that all 

 of these muscles are of the supremest importance ; for 

 in them is held the power of carrying forward the 

 whole machine safely and swiftly. Their duty is labo- 

 rious. Nor can they shirk it: no other muscles can 

 do their work. A weak fore-arm, therefore, is a sad and 

 fatal defect in a horse of whom any severe work is 

 required. Of these three muscles, the first two must be 

 both strong and long. The stronger these muscles, the 

 greater the endurance of the horse ; the longer they are, 

 the greater his length of stride. This is a law, a disre- 

 gard of which in purchasing or breeding will bring its 

 own penalty. 



Of the canon-bone, or leg, this should be said : It 

 should be short, — the shorter the better : for, if it be 

 short, the fore-arm above it is likely to be long ; which 

 is a great desideratum in speed. In size it should be 



