119 



" If a section of a horse's body be made 

 immediately behind the play of his shoul- 

 der, we find that the part is here egg-shaped, 

 whilst if we cut him through behind th(3 

 last rib the body is nearly circular in 

 shape ; this difference in shape is due to 

 the arrangement of the ribs as before 

 described. I f we look carefully at the ribs, 

 and I will only direct your attention to the 

 last 11, we find that those behind the play 

 of the shoulder are wide, comparatively 

 straight, and attached to the breast bone, 

 which affords them great support ; their 

 upper surface which forms the back is 

 narrow ; as, however, we pass backwards 

 we find that the ribs present a gradually 

 increasing width of upper surface ; the 

 difference between the upper level surface 

 of the ribs behind the shoulder and that in 

 front of the loin being as much as three 

 inches in favour of the latter. On the 

 width of these level surfaces depends the 

 width of the back, and on them rest 

 indirectly the side -boards of the saddle." 



When once these principles have been 

 grasped, in addition to that already laid 

 down, that the rider should sit in the 

 middle of the saddle, it will not be difficult 



