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horses that will stumble at every step when the 

 saddle is thrown on as with a pitchfork, will carry 

 safely if it is removed a few inches back, and, if the 

 form of the horse will not allow of its remaining 

 long in its proper position, retaining it there by the 

 aid of a crupper. It is also well understood that 

 a good rise of the shoulder is a strong recommenda- 

 tion of a horse for the saddle ; and the reason ig 

 similar, — it prevents the saddle working forward so 

 far as to interfere with the free play of the shoulder- 

 blade, and it secures the weight of the rider at a 

 proper point in the centre of the body. The crup- 

 per is now superseded by the patent saddle-cloth ; 

 or what is better, because cooler, by simply lining 

 the saddle with plush. 



But though the perfect soundness of the hinder 

 extremities is less material, it by no means follows 

 that all attention to them is superfluous. A horse 

 may not fall because he is spavined, or cuts him- 

 self behind, but he will not work ; and if he does, 

 it will be ungracefully for the rider, and painfully 

 to himself. 



The bone spavin, as it is called, is a very serious 

 complaint, and, unless it receives early attention, 

 not very easily cured. It proceeds from a defi- 

 ciency of that synovial secretion which lubricates 

 the joint; hence the joint becomes inflamed, and 



