1 8 Present Varieties of the Horse. 



is pretty straight and level, so that there is a good length 

 from the hip to the haunch-bone ; the line between which 

 two points may either be nearly horizontal, or forming a 

 considerable angle with the ground ; but still in both cases 

 it should be a long line, and the longer it is the more mus- 

 cular substance is attached to it, and the greater leverage 

 will the muscles have. 



The fore-quarter, consisting of the shoulder, upper and 

 lower arm, and leg and foot, should be well set on to the 

 chest ; and the shoulder-blade should lie obliquely on the 

 side of that part, with a full development of muscle to move 

 it, and thrust it well forward in the gallop. Obliquity is 

 of the greatest importance, acting as a spring in taking off 

 the shock of the gallop or leap, and also giving a longer 

 attachment to the muscles, and in addition enabling them 

 to act with more leverage upon the arm and leg. It will be 

 seen, by a reference to the skeleton, that the shoulder-blade 

 does not reach the top of the withers, and that those bones 

 forming that part have nothing to do with the shoulder 

 itself; hence, many high-withered horses have bad and 

 weak shoulders, and some very upright ones ; whilst, on 

 the other hand, many low-withered horses have very 

 oblique and powerful shoulders, and such as to give great 

 facility and pliability to the fore extremity. The shoulder 

 should be very muscular, without being overdone or 

 loaded, and so formed as to play freely in the action of 

 the horse. The point of the shoulder, which is the joint 

 corresponding to the human shoulder, should be free from 

 raggedness, but not too flat ; a certain degree of develop- 

 ment of the bony parts is desirable, but more than this 

 leads to a defect, and impedes the action of this important 

 part. The upper arm, between this joint and the elbow, 

 should be long, and well clothed with muscles : the elbow 

 set on quite straight, and not tied to the chest ; the lower 

 arm muscular and long; knees broad and strong, with 

 the bony projection behind well developed ; legs flat, and 

 showing the suspensory ligament large and free ; pasterns 

 long enough without being weak ; and the feet sound, and 

 neither too large nor too small, and unattended with any 



