THE HOESE 21 



upper part of the forearm. It is objectionable in 

 a saddle-horse, but of less consequence in harness. 

 If combined with straight shoulders and with 

 heavy forehand (shoulders, chest, neck, and head) 

 and a tied-in condition below the knee, it is dan- 

 gerous in any class of horse, as the animal will 

 always be falling down. Horses with straight 

 shoulders and heavy fore part are " built to fall 

 down," and should be avoided for any class of 

 work. Horses with "calf knees" (Plate 11. 

 Fig. 6) are very lial^le to strain a back tendon 

 when putting extra weight on the fore legs, as in 

 jumping, cantering, etc. 



Long sloping pasterns, like long sloping shoul- 

 ders, are important factors in the prevention of 

 jars, and hence unsoundness. Sloping pasterns are 

 usually an indication of speed. The discomfort to 

 the rider of a horse with bad shoulders is mini- 

 mized by long pasterns, so that it is a point which 

 should never be dispensed with in a saddle-horse. 

 As the harness horse has to do all his work on 

 hard roads, and consequently is subjected to con- 

 siderable shaking if the " springs " (shoulders and 

 pasterns) are not so formed as to reduce it, long 

 sloping pasterns should be looked for in this class 

 also. The amount of jar caused by a horse v:ith 



