THE SHOULDER. 43 



with a shoulder a little less slanted than the saddle 

 horse. 



The shoulder contains two important bones im- 

 bedded in a mass of strong muscles. One of these is 

 called the scapula^ or shoulder-blade, and the other is 

 called the himeriis. 



The scapula runs from the point of the shoulder 

 below, to the edge of the withers above. Its outline is 

 well marked and easily traced, when the horse is thrown 

 into action. Its length bears an intimate relation to 

 the length of the animal's stride, and consequently it 

 can hardly be too long. The position of its upper ex- 

 tremity should be particularly observed. It ought to 

 lie as close as possible to the ribs and spine. If it is 

 so wide set as to permit a person's fingers to be thrust 

 down between it and the withers, the action of the fore- 

 quarters win be lubberly and unsafe. 



The length and slope of the shoulder are to be esti- 

 mated by the length and slanting position of the 

 shoulder-blade, and not, as is very often the case, by 

 the appearance of the shoulder-top. I have often been 

 amused listening to the obseiwations made by men, who 

 pass for judges, upon a neat little horse which I diive 

 in my gig at present (1851). The fii'st point which 

 attracts then- attention is the shoulder. In their esti- 

 mation it is absolutely perfect ; and their astonishment 

 is great when I tell them it is one of the worst features 

 in his body. They are misled by the height of his 



