THE BODY AND LIMBS. 25 



rather than a defect, if not carried to the extreme. This, 

 however, is ordained for wise purposes ; for by such a posi- 

 tion of their fore extremities the pelvis is raised higher, and 

 the foal thereby becomes more conveniently placed, and less 

 likely to be ejected. Few rules can be laid down for ob- 

 servance in the exterior conformation of the horse that are 

 of so general application, as that a short and upright 

 shoulder, particularly if united to an inclined direction of 

 the whole limb backward, is a sure mark of an unsafe pacer, 

 and commonly, though not so universally, of a slow one 

 also. Thus, by a slanting position of the shoulder-blade 

 in one direction, and of the true arm-bone in the other, 

 both elasticity and speed are gained ; while the perpendicu- 

 larity of the parts below, as of the arm, generally so called, 

 or upper part of the fore leg, and of the canon, give 

 columnar support. 



The part between the points of the arras or shoulders is 

 called the breast, chest, or counter ; and our judgment of its 

 form must be regulated by the variety in the animal. In 

 the saddle-horse, it should be only moderately wide : when 

 very confined, the lungs have not sufficient room for 

 expansion, or otherwise they must press backwards and 

 interfere with the stomach ; and we do actually find that 

 narrows-chested horses have seldom a good digestion, and 

 consequently are seldom durable. On the contrary, when 

 the breast is too wide, particularly when it projects and 

 hangs over, the fore legs are apt to incline backwards : such 

 a horse must be weighty, and consequently unsafe as a 

 roadster in his mode of going. This form, however, is 

 peculiarly favourable to the draught horse, particularly for 

 those employed to move heavy loads. 



The elboiv of the horse, like that of man, is formed of the 

 olecranon, but in the animal is applied to the chest ; conse- 

 quently the true arm of the horse, speaking comparatively 

 with the human anatomy, is contained in the space between 

 this and the shoulder points. The elbow should by no 

 means incline inwards, or it will confine the action, force 

 the toe outwards, and sometimes occasion cutting. If it 

 incline outward, which is less common, it is unsightly, and 

 gives the toes an inward determination, and a rolling 

 gait in the trot. It should, therefore, stand on a level 



