232 THE HORSE. 



breast which were desi2:ned to strengthen the attachment of the shoulders 

 to the chest, and to bind them together, must, when the point of the 

 shoulder lies backward, and under the horse, be proportionably thickened 

 and strengthened, and the horse is thus still more heavy before, more 

 unpleasant, and more unsafe to ride. 



Then, ought every horse to have an oblique shoulder? No! We have 

 been speaking of those which are designed to ride pleasantly, or from which 

 extensive and rapid action is required. In them we have said that an 

 oblique shoulder is indispensable: but there are others which are never 

 ridden ; whose pace is slow, and who have nothing to do but to throw as 

 much weight as possible into the collar. To them an upright shoulder is 

 an advantage, because its additional thickness gives them additional weight 

 to throw into the collar, which the power of their hinder quarters is fully 

 sufficient to accomplish ; and because the upright position of the shoulder 

 gives that direction to the collar which enables the horse to act upon every 

 part of it; and that inclination of the traces which will enable his weight or 

 power to be most advantageously employed. Of this, however, we shall 

 better speak when we come to describe the implements of agriculture, and 

 particularly the construction of wheel carriages. 



An improved breed of our heavy draught horses has of late years been 

 attempted, and with much success. Sufficient uprightness of shoulder is 

 retamed for the purposes of draught, while a slight degree of oblic[uity 

 has materially quickened the pace and improved the appearance. 



Above its junction with the humerus, or low^er bone of the shoulder, the 

 shoulder-blade forms what is called the point of the shoulder. There is a 

 round blunted projection, best seen in the cut (p. 230). The neck of the 

 shoulder-blade then forms a shallow cavity, into which the head of the 

 next bone is received. 



The cavity is shallow because extensive motion is required, and because 

 both of the bones being so moveable, and the motion of the one connected 

 so much with that of the other, dislocation was not so likely to happen as 

 if one of them had been fixed. A capsular Wgameni, or one extending 

 round the heads of both bones, confines them securely together. 



This joint is rarely or never dislocated ; or should it sutler dislocation, 

 the muscles of the shoulder-blade and the lower bone of the shoulder are so 

 strong, that the reduction of it would be impossible. The point of the shoul- 

 der, however, projecting considerably, is much exposed to injury from acci- 

 dent or violence ; even turning in a narrow stall has intlicted a serious bruise. 

 Fomentations of warm water will usually remove the tenderness and lame- 

 ness, but should they fail, hlood may be taken from the plate vein, and, 

 in very obstinate cases, a blister may be resorted to. 



A description of the principal muscles of the shoulder-blade, their situa- 

 tion, attachments, and use, may not be uninteresting to the lover of the 

 horse, and may guide his judgment as to the capability and proper form 

 of that noble animal. 



CUT OF MUSCLES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SHOULDER. 



a and b represent a portion of the muscle (the trapezius, quadrangular 

 muscle), which rises from the longer bones of the withers, broadly and 

 strongly, and from the ligament of the neck (a portion of A\hich is seen at 

 b), and narrowing below, and terminating almost in a jioint, is inserted 

 into a prominent part of the s\nne or ridge of the shoulder-blade. It 

 occupies the space between the withers and the upper part of the shoulder- 

 blade, and is large and strong in proportion to tie height of the withers, 



