8 FORMATION OF 



two hundred winners attached to his name in these 

 days of flying handicaps should set this question at rest 

 for ever. Yet almost invariably the Touchstones have 

 strong and muscular shoulders. 



And, moreover, what can thin and light shoulders 

 consist of but so many bones with a paucity of 

 muscle to work them ? 



Surely the trapezius and the antea and postea 

 spinatus are not useless muscles ; and, if not useless, 

 why should there be so great an objection to seeing 

 them well developed? "Without these muscles the 

 shoulder cannot move, for the scapula must remain 

 motionless. Surely, then, if they are well developed, 

 may we not expect quick and vigorous action ? 



There is yet another point that I must not omit, and 

 which I consider of great importance in a racehorse, 

 which is the inferior extremity of the scapula, or 

 shoulder points. I like to see this point taper gradu- 

 ally, or fine down. That is, the two points of the 

 scapula and humerus should incline towards each other, 

 be well covered with muscle, and yet narrow percep*- 

 tibly to the eye, as you stand in front of the horse ; 

 and immediately behind the scapula the fifth, sixth, 

 seventh, and eighth ribs should appear to swell and 

 bulge out boldly. 



This formation does not render the chest narrow, but 

 ensures more compact and vigorous action of the 

 shoulders, since the points of the bones thus converg- 

 ing, if properly placed, are too far forward to interfere 

 in any way with the capacity and formation of the chest. 



