LESSON YII. 



THE FORE LIMBS. 



Having come to some general conclusions regard- 

 ing the fore extremity, it will be easy for us now to 

 go quickly over a consideration of each part separ- 

 ately. 



61. — The shoulder blade must in all classes of 

 horses be of good length and breadth to afford space 

 for the attachment of the many powerful muscles 

 which take their origin from it. In the race horse it 

 must be placed very obliquely, in order that the 

 great length of arm required can be placed suffi- 

 ciently downwards and forward, so as not to inter- 

 fere with the saddle girth. The arm bone, and 

 consequently the arm must be longer than in any 

 other class of horse, and the angle between it and 

 the scapula also be very great. The fore-arm also 

 of the racehorse must be long. These conditions 

 necessitate that the * knee' of the racer be very near 

 the ground, and as the pasterns must be duly long, 



